Mt. Bachelor announces new east side chairlift
Mt. Bachelor and its parent company Powdr Corp. announced Thursday they have signed a contract with lift manufacturer Doppelmayr to install a new east side chairlift in time for the 2016-17 holiday season.
NewsChannel 21’s A.J. Kato is at a meeting with reporters on today’s big announcement and will have more on Fox @ 4 and on KTVZ at 5/6. Here’s the rest of the resort’s announcement, in full:
The high-speed detachable quad chairlift, which represents a capital investment of approximately $6 million, was approved by the U.S. Forest Service in 2013 as part of Mt. Bachelor’s 10-year Master Development Plan. The lift’s strategic location on the mountain’s east side will provide greater protection from the elements during storm cycles and inclement weather.
“This is an exciting milestone not only for Mt. Bachelor, but for the entire Central Oregon community including our season pass holders, who have been anticipating the new lift and terrain since the Master Development Plan was approved in 2013,” said John McLeod, interim general manager of Mt. Bachelor.
“It represents a significant capital investment and underscores Powdr Corp’s commitment to Mt. Bachelor’s future. The additional terrain pushes us over the 4,000 skiable acres mark to make Mt. Bachelor the fifth-largest ski area in the United States.”
Named Cloudchaser, based on its location and the unique weather patterns that Mt. Bachelor creates, the chairlift will be installed this summer. The lift will serve 1,448 vertical feet, and opens up an additional 635 acres of lift served terrain between the existing Sunrise getback and the low east catchline. This additional terrain will bring Mt. Bachelor’s total skiable acreage to 4,318 acres.
“Finding capital for this new lift at Mt Bachelor has been a priority for our company, and we’re thrilled to now be making this investment in the Central Oregon community,” said Tim Brennwald, EVP and chief operating officer at Powdr Corp.
“The additional terrain that this lift serves will provide an entirely new way for pass holders and guests to experience the mountain’s east side, and cements Mt. Bachelor as the premier destination ski resort in the Pacific Northwest.”
Cloudchaser represents the biggest capital investment project to date under Powdr Corp’s ownership of Mt. Bachelor. Other major projects have included replacement of the Pine Marten lift, renovation of the West Village lodge, design and approval of the current Master Development Plan, and the installation of the Summer Downhill Mountain Bike Park.
“Projects of this magnitude don’t happen overnight, but from the time we first scouted the east side terrain for the possibility of a new lift we knew Cloudchaser would be a special addition to the Mt. Bachelor experience,” said Tom Lomax, director of mountain operations for Mt. Bachelor. “Today’s announcement is the fulfillment of a vision that has been many years in the making.”
To commemorate the milestone, Mt. Bachelor will be holding a Cloudchaser Celebration from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, May 7, with free skiing, live entertainment, food and beverage specials, and other planned activities. Additional details on the Cloudchaser Celebration will be available soon at www.mtbachelor.com.
About Mt. Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor is the largest ski resort in the Cascade Range, offering 3,683 acres of lift-accessible terrain. The mountain features 10 lifts, seven of which are Express Quads, plus two tubing lifts and two beginner carpets and an average annual snowfall of 462 inches. Mt. Bachelor also features 5 terrain parks, a superpipe, 56K of groomed and tracked cross country trails, snowshoeing, tubing, sled dog rides and summer attractions including downhill mountain biking. For weather conditions, news, and events visit www.mtbachelor.com.
