Hi Folks.
Here’s a midsummer update of the projects we are currently engaged in as we ready for the upcoming season.
The big construction project is the new Medical Clinic and Ski Patrol HQ – which is located in the main base area between the bottom of Daisy and the vehicle shop. The new building will double the space for the Medical Center and provide a state-of-the-art facility for medical response. It will also house a larger base of operations for our expanding ski patrol operations. There will also be room for parking and transportation offices. The building is a significant upgrading that will provide improved working environments for our clinic, patrol and transportation staffs. We are following LEEDS standards in the construction of the new building, which furthers our commitment to sustainability and to safety.
The Schuss is undergoing a major remodel. The front counter has been redesigned to move the line more efficiently and reduce the order to pick up time. We’re replacing the equipment and appliances in the kitchen and the tables out front. All the food and beverage areas are undergoing general equipment upgrades and equipment replacement designed to improve quality and service for the guest as well as allowing us to become more energy efficient in those operations.
We are also remodeling the North Lodge bathrooms on the slope level, similar to the improvements we made to the 1st floor bathrooms last year. Speaking of bathrooms – our season locker holders will be glad to hear that we are installing a unisex bathroom in the locker room. No more having to run upstairs.
There’s some big news in the “Fun Zone” – we’re replacing our rope tow with a WonderCarpet skier/rider conveyer. It’s 280 feet long and is fully enclosed. It’s a far more comfortable uphill conveyance than a standard WonderCarpet and certainly the rope tow it replaces. The whole length is supported on a deck that can be raised and lowered with the snow depth allowing us to open this lift reliably on time, regardless of snowfall. It will make the first-time experience for beginners and especially kids even more enjoyable.
It is a very busy summer for our I.T. department. We’re significantly upgrading our season pass software, allowing greater flexibility for picture taking and products in the future. We’re also installing direct to lift access with a scanning system at our chair lifts. Our lift attendants will have scanners to read tickets and passes. This will allow certain products – such as the 10 Time Pass – to bypass the ticket window and go direct to the lift. We’ve also changed over to a new email server and phone system – internal improvements that ultimately will improve communications both within our company and with our guests.
We’ve placed a significant order for new rental equipment – Salomon skis, snowboards, boots and bindings. We’re in our third year of partnership with Salomon and have basically replaced all of our rental equipment during the partnership.
We've purchased three Prinoth 350 snow cats all with terrain master tillers and blades to replace older cats. Meadows continues to differentiate itself from other ski resorts with one of largest and current snow cat fleets, and highly skilled team of professional groomers who are also riders and skiers.
Our web site skihood.com is undergoing a redesign that eventually will improve social networking capabilities on the site. It will still provide our guests with the most updated mountain information, as well as the place to purchase season passes and eTickets.
Over at Cooper Spur Ski Area we are building a new ticket office – which will expedite ticket lines. In the past all business had to go through the rental shop – now those that only need lift tickets will be served much faster.
This is just a quick listing of the more visible projects we are working on this summer. This is over and above the general lift and facilities maintenance that occurs every season, which is also considerable.
Season passes will be going on sale September 1, just a month away, so get ready. The season will be here before we know it!
Onward!
Your Meadows Team