Killington, VT – Workers continue cleanup efforts at Killington Resort, one of the Northeastern ski areas hardest hit by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Even so, officials have now canceled all events and reservations at the central Vermont resort through much of September.
Work is presently focusing on Killington’s base lodges, roads, lodging properties, snowmaking pump houses and other water damage brought by tropical storm Irene. The most significant damage occurred at Killington’s K-1 Base Lodge, where the Superstar Pub collapsed due to flood waters surging from Roaring Brook. Phone, water and power have now all been restored at the resort after those services were disrupted when the storm traveled inland into Vermont on Sunday.
Roads leading into and out of Killington, however, remain limited. Killington was reunited with the rest of Vermont on Wednesday when access to the area was restored from the east along U.S. Route 4. Roads damaged by flood waters remain impassable to the north, south and west of the resort. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Vermont Authority of Transportation are diligently working to build roads, and the National Guard continues to provide supply drops of food, water, blankets and cots to the Killington, Mendon and Pittsfield communities.
The Command Center, located at the Killington Fire and Rescue Station, continues to ensure food, water, shelter and medical needs and prescription refills are provided for residents in surrounding areas. Killington Resort is offering temporary housing at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel for local residents in Killington, Pittsfield, Bridgewater and Mendon, from Wheelerville Road and east, who either lost their home or have had their home deemed uninhabitable due to damage from tropical storm Irene. Stays can last for up to one week. Residents in need of temporary housing may go directly the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and check in at the front desk, and reservations are not required.
“Most of our infrastructure received only minor damage,” stated Chris Nyberg, president and general manager for Killington Resort, “Right now, we are most concerned about our community and employees and we will continue to assist those in need.”
As the restoration process continues over the next couple of weeks, all special events at Killington Resort and Pico Mountain have been canceled or postponed through Sept. 18. Killington Resort Lodging will begin to accept reservations starting Sept. 23.
“We plan to reopen the Killington Golf Course, K-1 Lodge, hiking and K-1 Express Gondola as soon as possible,” said Killington Resort spokesperson Sarah Thorson. “The Pico Mountain Adventure Center, Pico Disc Golf and Pico Mountain Stables are closed for the season as well as the Mountain Bike Park and Shop.”
“Mountain biking is closed for the season so we can maximize our efforts cleaning and restoring mountain facilities and infrastructure for the winter season,” explained Jeff Temple, Killington’s director of mountain operations. “In addition, we are working on a number of summer capital improvement projects that we need to complete.”
The Pico Sports Center and VAC child care are not operating until further notice.
“Our intention is to kick off the foliage season with the annual Killington Brewfest, Oct. 1 featuring over 75 craft beers on tap and we plan to open on schedule for the 2011-12 winter season,” Thorson added.