Stratton Mountain Lift Replacement

Stratton Mountain Resort offers 99 trails on 670 acres of terrain, and some of the fastest lifts in the East. When Alterra added this resort to its portfolio, it spent time with Stratton’s leaders, the community, and guests to understand opportunities to enrich this destination. The result: a plan for $10 million in capital projects to enhance on-site experiences, while retaining the mountain’s authentic character. The high-speed Snow Bowl lift was designed to enhance flow, access, and reliability. With a speed of 1,000 feet per minute, the new lift increased uphill capacity to 37,528 skiers per hour and reduced ride time from 14 to five minutes. VHB was brought in midway through the project to augment the development team and get the new lift designed, permitted, and built. Our team’s strong relationships with state agencies and local regulators enabled us to create a recovery plan to meet opening schedules. We identified key project milestones and critical path items, including inventories and analysis of wetlands, steams, and wildlife habitats. Our environmental and survey teams expedited the topographic surveys and natural resource studies that were essential to lay out the lift and demonstrate compliance with state regulations. With ski season rapidly approaching, we secured the state land use permits, and the project moved swiftly through to construction. The Snow Bowl lift was competed in an unprecedented timeframe, avoiding the closure of critical ski terrain for the season.