Windham, NY – New York State’s Windham Mountain Resort has invested $7 million in capital improvements for the 2013-14 ski and snowboard season. Projects at the resort in the northern Catskill Mountains include an expanded beginner area, a new entry and modernized parking lot, a new trail on the resort’s west peak along with glade skiing, investment in snowmaking infrastructure, construction of a new expanded compressor and maintenance building and improvements at Windham Country Club.
“The investment we have made this summer and for the coming winter will continue the transformation of how our resort does business,” said president and general manager Chip Seamans. “We are committed to enhancing the resort’s customer experience and expanding our year-round offerings.”
Visitors will immediately see a large portion of the investment when arriving at the resort. The access road and main driveway to the base lodge now takes a new route to create space for the extensive beginner area expansion project. The expansion includes four acres of beginner terrain with two conveyor lifts for skiers and riders to learn the sport.
A new intermediate trail on Windham Mountain’s west peak has been cut and will be outfitted with snowmaking for the coming winter. The trail will connect to a formerly natural snow-only trail, Upper Wipeout, a portion of which has also been upgraded to include snowmaking for 2013-14. Additional acreage has been cleared for glade skiing on the west peak.
Windham Mountain’s snowmaking system is also undergoing impressive changes with over $1.5 million in infrastructure upgrades. After several years of investment to improve efficiency and quality, the core of the system is now being upgraded. Four high-efficiency compressors will replace the nine current compressors, and a mid-mountain booster pump will increase the quantity of snow made on the top half of the 3,100-foot mountain.
Since the current ownership group of Windham Mountain acquired Windham Country Club in March, the resort has invested $1 million in the facility beyond its initial purchase price. Construction is currently in progress on five holes. New irrigation has been added, certain holes redesigned or restored, and the entire five holes, tees, fairways, and roughs have been sodded. It is expected that the five holes, along with the 13 original holes, will be open for play by Labor Day weekend or shortly thereafter. The clubhouse is also newly renovated with the addition of Windham’s newest restaurant, Mulligan’s Pub.
Overall the resort’s improvements at Windham Country Club and Windham Mountain have resulted in the creation of 50 jobs directly related to the projects. The new beginner terrain will create winter season jobs including lift operators, parking staff and shuttle drivers. The addition of Windham Country Club offers opportunities for year-round employment and officials are confident that 10 or more year-round jobs will be created as a result the $7 million investment.