Sunnyside Replacement Part of Nearly $16 Million In Capital Investments
The iconic Sunnyside Lift within the Mary Jane Territory at Winter Park Resort is getting a much-needed upgrade with the addition of a new high-speed, six-passenger chairlift for the 2019-20 season, part of $16 million in investment for next season.
The three-person, fixed-grip Sunnyside, which was installed in 1989, will be replaced by a $6 million Leitner-Poma detachable high-speed six-pack, increasing uphill capacity by 800 people per hour and reducing the ride time from eight minutes to 3.8. This increased efficiency will also greatly reduce lift lines at the bottom of Parsenn Bowl and facilitate ingress/egress through the Lunch Rock area.
In addition to the new chairlift, over $1 million will be invested in summer operations, part of an ongoing plan to revitalize Winter Park’s summer offerings. Two new base-area ropes courses will be added for this summer, along with an indoor/outdoor climbing wall, and landscaping improvements that integrate with the new village and gondola plazas to create more areas for guests to simply relax and enjoy Colorado’s incredible summer days. Winter Park will also undergo significant enhancements to its hiking trails, furthering the resort’s commitment to on-mountain hiking, while also investing an additional $250,000 in bike trail improvements at Trestle Bike Park, the country’s premier downhill mountain bike park.
The resort also plans on spending $7 million in maintenance projects, improving service of lifts, slope-maintenance, and food/beverage offerings throughout the resort. Over the last two seasons, over $50 million has been invested into Winter Park Resort, with this year’s improvements adding to the momentum created by the popular new gondola and village plaza projects from last year.
Winter Park’s new additions are just part of Alterra Mountain Company’s plans to invest $181 million in capital improvements across its 14 North American mountain destinations for the upcoming year. These capital projects are part of an ambitious improvement plan totaling more than half a billion dollars through the 2022-2023 season, focused on elevating the guest experience at all destinations.
The Ikon Pass, of which Winter Park is a part along with 37 other world-class destinations, goes on sale tomorrow.
For more information, please visit: www.winterparkresort.com.
