What’s New in Vermont for the 2025/26 Season
Photo by Peter James Eisenhaure on Unsplash
SeniorsSkiing is now a proud partner of Ski Vermont, the association representing the state’s downhill and XC areas, which have been busy all summer adding and upgrading new trails, lifts, snowmaking and guest amenities. That’s a great quartet, and it describes what skiers, snowboarders and X-C will find in Vermont this new season
Here are the details, in alphabetical order, the only fair way.
Bromley
Bromley has replaced signage across the mountain, added new high-efficiency snow guns on Corkscrew and Lower Boulevard and the base lodge a fresh new coat of paint. Arena Snowparks is slated to return from Canada this season to craft an incredible terrain park. There’s also a revamped First Timer Lesson Package to encourage newbies, and rental shop has been revamped to eliminate the staircase.
Burke
Burke made headlines in 2025 after being unleashed from receivership with new owners, Bear Den Partners. The small group, led by skiers, snowboarders, bikers and mountain sports enthusiasts, comes to the role with more than 100 years of collective experience recreating on Burke Mountain. SeniorsSkiing wishes them great success operating this family-friendly gem.
The resort’s snowmaking system has been reconfigured for increased energy efficiency, including the addition of 150 new HKD and SMI snow guns. That more than doubles snowmaking capacity and should allow Burke to open earlier than in the past several years.
This season the Jbar will be operational with totally rebuilt line equipment and a new gearbox. Located in Burke’s dedicated learning hill, the Jbar provides the learning area a dedicated lift for those starting their skiing or riding journey. Burke’s two high speed quads and the Jbar were overhauled to operate more efficiently.
This season will also mark the first official season as a member of the Indy Pass. For passholders, that means two free days at Burke, and a great way to celebrate skiing/riding at other independent resorts in North America.
Jay Peak
The centerpiece of improvements is a $500,000 snowmaking investment, which include 49 new energy-efficient HKD Low E air-water snowmaking guns (32 on Queen’s Highway and 17 on Perry Merrill), the first step in a 10-year upgrade plan. The upgrade will improve the connection between the Tramside and Stateside areas, making it easier to navigate the mountain.
Jay now operates the largest fully automated air-water snowmaking system in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and is partnering with Efficiency Vermont to retrofit older snowmaking guns with updated nozzles that cut energy demand while improving snow consistency. There’s more energy news at the Ice Haus Arena, which now be resurfaced with a new electric Zamboni, reducing emissions while maintaining the ice for skaters and hockey players.
Killington
Killington Resort continues its multi-year transformation, investing $38 million (an increase from the initial $30 million) in upgrades across the resort. That includes an additional $22 million in for its second year of independent ownership, bringing the two-year total for capital investment to $60 million to upgrade aging lifts, among other improvements.
The cranky old Superstar Express Quad, which has been in operation since the 1987 season, is being replaced with a high-speed, six-person Doppelmayr detachable lift. It features a diesel generator which can operate at full capacity in the event of power supply issues. The new lift also is expected to be more wind resistant thanks to its heavier chairs.
The second-generation Skyeship Gondola cabins have been replaced with 116 brand-new cabins. They will be housed in the newly upgraded Northbrook Gondola barn, which will be heated, ensuring they are free of ice and in good condition each morning.
The Learn-to-Carpet surface lift on Snowshed is being replaced with an extended version of the Progression Carpet II, which is being relocated from Ramshead, offering beginners an enclosed ride, shielded from the elements, making access to signature learning terrain more comfortable. The Ledgewood Yurt, one of the resort’s most unique slopeside dining experiences, has been rebuilt with a new roof, wood siding and an expanded kitchen area.
Mad River Glen
The legendary skiing-only destination has painted its lifts and will continue offering the area’s unique winter Naturalist hikes. Known for its reverence for natural snow, it maintains a fleet of groomers and other vehicles—all of which will be maintained using the new hydraulic lift installed this summer.
Magic Mountain
The new, larger Abracadabra beginner area will work in tandem with the current Nelson Family Learning Area’s 100’ conveyor lift to bring a more graduated learning experience before novice skiers advance to the mid-mountain chairlift. The new advanced beginner area will also allow night skiing to be open for more levels, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Holidays, with instructor-led ski and ride lessons available. Previously, this was the location of the Terrain Park, which moves to the lower skiers left side of Hocus Pocus (underneath Black Quad).
There’s also improved snowmaking from Black Line down to Show Off. This will allow for a more consistent snowpack on the lower mountain, on groomed terrain, and on high-traffic beginner and intermediate trails.
Middlebury Snowbowl
The Bailey Falls lift returns after a two-year hiatus. While the lift serves runs reliant on natural snow, the aspens that border it serve as a natural windbreak, making the lift more resistant to wind holds. There’s also improved snowmaking, including Allen West up to the summit.
This season, the area upgrades to a new RFID and a modern point-of-sale system. That means you can purchase tickets online, reload passes, reserve rentals, and book lessons in advance. The long-awaited upgrade includes the ability to offer combo passes that work at both the Snowbowl and Rikert Outdoor Center. Fans of alpine and XC will be able to purchase one pass for both areas at a 10% savings.
Mount Snow
This popular resort has been giving generations of skiers and riders their first taste of sliding on snow for more than 70 years. More than 900 high-output, low energy snow guns are capable of 83% snowmaking coverage via the world’s most powerful snowmaking system. Using state-of-the-art technology, providing reliable and premium coverage even when natural snowfall is light.
Okemo
This is the 70th season for Okemo, with multiple celebrations scheduled throughout the season, including a special birthday bash on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Pico
Flexing its independent-ownership muscles alongside sister mountain Killington Resort, Pico enters the season with updated snowmaking as part of the over 1000 new low-energy snow guns installed across the two ski areas over the last year. That improves snowmaking efficiency, which saw upgrades that tripled its snowmaking capacity coming into the 2023-24 season.
There also are plans to replace the Bonanza Double, which has been in operation since 1965, with a new magic carpet surface lift.
Saskadena Six
This past summer the nearly 50-year-old Chair Two double lift was disassembled and removed after a top engineering team determined that it could not be restored. While a new lift may be built in the future, for this season, access to the Chair Two side, including the Milky Way terrain park, continues via Duane’s Drop and The Gully trails. There are plans to auction the old chairs for a community fund-raising event.
This is the area’s 90th season (1936-2026), with plans for special events all winter. As the longest running snow sports school in the country, Saskadena Six remains committed to consistently providing enjoyable recreation, a safe environment, and memorable experiences for all.
Smugglers Notch
This season includes snowmaking upgrades and a new snowcat for more efficient operations and enhanced snow quality across all three mountains, Madonna, Sterling and Morse, and a new digital baseline of the mountain’s natural terrain snowmakers can see real-time measurements of snow depths on the mountain. The improved precision allows them to know exactly how much snow is needed in a given space, improving water and energy efficiency while helping cover terrain faster than before.
Guests can continue to enjoy the Nordic Center and Activities introduced last season, including the popular Scavenger Hunt, Adventure Dinner, Moonlit Mile, and biathlon experiences.
Stowe
This season marks the 90th anniversary of Stowe’s iconic Ski and Ride school, and the 30th year of Stowe Parks, with special events throughout the season. Also, Midway Lodge has been upgraded, including a new Tower 5 bar.
Stratton
This summer American Express was upgraded with modernized components, allow for a more reliable lift experience with smoother overall operations. There’s also an additional 200ft of 30-foot wind fence adjacent to the summit gondola to help decrease wind-related holds and delays. Snowmaking has been improved on Way Home and in the Main Base Area, including on Sun Bowl Super Trail
To better accommodate housing needs of its employees, Stratton purchased four properties in Manchester, VT, about 20 minutes away from the resort, and upgraded them with new roofs, electrical systems, heating, interior and exterior paint, appliances and furnishings.
Trapp Family Lodge & Resort
Summer projects included widening trails like Parizo and Slaton Pasture Trail, as well as improving drainage in several places. The Outdoor Center team continues to add fun events like Sunday Fundays that are full of guest speakers, a Poker Ski, treats on trails, and other fun non-competitive events for skiers of all ages.
Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center
This season it becomes one of just seven Nordic ski areas in the state with ability to make snow. The purchase of an HDK fan gun will produce snow to keep skiers, snowshoers, and fat-tire bikers on the trails this winter. The addition follows last season’s temporary rental of a snow gun when periods of the season lacked natural snow. The new equipment snow to keep 5m of core trails in the over 45km network covered, regardless of natural snowfall, and extend the season.
For more information about one or more of these Vermont destinations, check the Ski Vermont website https://skivermont.com/whats-new
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It’s always a pleasure to read Ms. Kanter’s well written and informative posts. Thanks.