Brundage Ski Resort had its first opening since 2005 welcoming skiers and snowboarders to the slopes this weekend.
New this year is the 18,000 square foot Mountain Adventure Center, which offers a new center and ski shop for guests to enjoy a day at Brundage.
“This is another step in our evolution to modernize our facilities,” said Ken Rider, general manager of Brundage Mountain Resort.
Inside, this new facility features a music store with brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment to get people ready to hit the slopes. If you don't have equipment, the new spacious rental area can get people in and out quickly.
The Mountain Adventure Center includes the mountain sports school and daycare, retail facilities, guest services, a place to get your tickets inside and out, and the base camp cafe which also has a window outside so people can streamline the process.
“It’s right on the snow front,” Rider said. “You come in through the parking lot, come out the other side and you’re at the bottom of the Bluebird Express.”
It is the culmination of the second phase of a ten-year improvement plan this includes opening an independent fire department as well as expanding its EMS services.
Brundage completed the first phase of his plan last year by adding a new ski patrol building and replacing the slow Centennial Triple with a new high-speed quad. The third phase will include the Northwoods residential area which will help Brundage finance this $15-20 million project.
As for the Mountain Adventure Center, it was designed with a low profile so as not to detract from the natural beauty of the surrounding area. It features large windows, new bathrooms, 146 day lockers of varying sizes and 166 seasonal lockers in a private area with shoe dryers.
Guests can store their equipment overnight with the option of purchasing a warm, eco-friendly wax so their skis or snowboard will be ready when they arrive for a day on the slopes.
Brundage will keep Smoky's, Main Street Marker and Upper Lot in the old lodge which will also be an employee location due to the additional space created by the Mountain Adventure Center.
“We just added an employee locker room. It's called the hub,” Rider said. “We have 200 lockers for our employees and they are very excited about it. This is one of the first times we can provide this type of space for our employees so we can focus on their experience as well.”
The season couldn't have gotten off to a better start with Brundage opening early Friday.
The early opening gives families the opportunity to come ski on uncrowded slopes while schools are off for the Thanksgiving break.
