Bolton Valley Resort
New Terrain Parks Open!
We proudly announce the Grand Opening of 3 new terrain parks - Vermont's ONLY Burton Progression Park, and 2 size specific parks designed by the world renowned Snow Park Technologies.
Vermont's only Burton Progression Park
Following months of planning and weeks of intense snowmaking and snow sculpting, Bolton Valley Resort opens Vermont’s first and only Burton Progression Park. The park was constructed by Snow Park Technologies (SPT), the builders of parks for the XGames, US Open and world-renowned Northstar at Tahoe parks. Bolton is one of only four SPT parks in the East and the only one in Vermont.
“We’re committed to providing our skiers and riders the best possible experience. By working with SPT, and through our partnership with Burton we’re fulfilling that promise,” said George B. Potter, Bolton Valley’s General Manager. “Bolton Valley is thrilled to be offering this unique feature and learning center for freestyle skiers and riders.”
The Progression Park includes small features for entry-level park skiers and riders, and those who wish to learn new tricks in a safe environment, explains Zach Hoag, Bolton Valley’s Snowboard School Director. The park is comprised of one jump line and one rail/box line. Each jump or rail/box has a drop and a stop zone “meaning that these features are meant to be hit one at a time. Fencing also helps to individualize each feature as its own safe practice zone,” added Hoag.
Among the Burton Progression Park features are three small tabletop jumps, one small box with ride-on setup, one small box with gap-on setup, one small flat bar rail and one small C-box.
“Bolton Valley is Vermont’s only Burton Learn To Ride Freestyle Center and offers a full line of freestyle men’s and women’s snowboards in our rental shop,” continued Hoag. We provide freestyle instruction in both group and private sessions in the Progression Park. There is also a freestyle clinic Saturdays at one o’clock. This is a three-hour clinic priced at just $45.”
Snow Park Technologies Parks - the only SPT Parks in Vermont!
In addition to the Burton Progression Park, Bolton Valley opens two additional SPT parks. The medium park serves skiers and riders who have graduated from the smaller Progression features and are ready to move to the next level. The park consists of a jump line and a rail line tailored to intermediate freestyle abilities. The Medium Park features include a line of two progressive jumps, one rainbow box, one up-flat-down box and one flat box.
The Large Park includes a line of three progressive jumps, one flat box, one flat-down box, one up box, an up-down box, two C-boxes and three street-style rails.
For complete information on the Bolton Valley Snow Park Technologies parks and features, contact Zach Hoag at (802) 434-3444.
Year One of Local Ownership Brings Major Investments in People, Programs & Technology
People, programs or infrastructure? When it comes to priorities for Bolton Valley, the new owners decided sometimes you just have to say “all of the above!” So heading into their first full season of ownership, Larry Williams and Doug Nedde have invested heavily in a variety of new programs, expanded snowmaking, renovated retail and rental infrastructure and successfully recruited new managers to help deliver an ever-better experience to Bolton Valley skiers and riders.
George Potter, a 20-year ski industry veteran with experience in all facets of resort services, has been named Bolton Valley General Manager. George arrived at Bolton from Pico, where he served as GM for the past nine years. Also new this season is Brian Burnell, the resort’s Food and Beverage Manager, who was recruited from Sunday River Resort in Maine. Jonathon Brown will manage Base Area Operations, after handling similar duties for Killington for the past two seasons.
“We know that regardless of how state-of-the-art we are in various technologies and programs, unless we have the very best personnel we can find to manage and run the resort we’ll fall short of our goal to provide a great experience for our skiers and riders,” said owner Larry Williams. “Our new management team was instrumental in helping identify programs and equipment we needed to improve heading into the season. It started with snowmaking and then into areas where we could better serve our guests.”
Snowmaking & Grooming Upgrades
For the 2007-08 season, Bolton has 40 new snow guns and two fan guns, which produce more snow while utilizing less energy. The snowmaking system also received a new mid-mountain compressor and compressor house, which will enable more snow to be made on the upper mountain more efficiently. The resort’s snowmaking pumps have all been rebuilt and the snowmaking department has been placed under the supervision of Ted Williamson, who joined Bolton this season after more than 25 years of snowmaking experience at Killington, Pico and Sugarbush. In addition to significant snowmaking upgrades, Bolton rebuilt its groomers over the summer.
Cafeteria Improvements
Fresh food that tastes good and is priced fairly is the guiding mantra of the Bolton Food and Beverage staff. Menus have been carefully crafted at each dining venue at the resort, including the cafeteria, where the resort has invested in a Sandwich-Salad station to better serve guests. Additional improvements are planned in the cafeteria over the course of the season.
Burton Learn To Ride
Bolton riders and aspiring riders will be greeted by a Burton Learn To Ride Center at the resort this season. The latest and best equipment, coupled with Burton’s signature learning method and dedicated Bolton coaches take riding to a whole new level. Bolton has always been a favorite among local riders and will be even more popular with the new LTR Center and Burton Progression Park.
New Retail & Rental Shops
Bolton’s rental shop received a complete overhaul during the off-season and now offers more space and greater seating area. The flow of the shop was redesigned to give guests a more relaxed and efficient experience. The shop provides Dynastar alpine skis and telemark equipment from Black Diamond and Rossignol. The retail shop has been relocated to its own location across the village square. The shop carries a full line of soft and hard goods, including Anon Goggles and Predator outerwear.
Parking & Ticketing
The Bolton experience begins when guests arrive at the parking area. That experience will be hassle free this season, as the parking configuration has been revamped to improve flow and maximize space. Next stop is the ticket booth, where the installation of new computer systems will speed the process and mean less time in the ticket line and more time on the hill!
Sports Center & Nordic Center
Much of the fitness equipment at the sports center was reconditioned over the summer and additional equipment purchased. The Sports Center is also home to the Bolton Nordic Center, which offers group and private instruction, guided backcountry tours and women-specific programs.
Bolton Valley is considered by many to be the gateway to New England’s best backcountry terrain, and it’s no wonder. Set amidst the resort’s 5,000 acres in Vermont’s Green Mountains, Bolton Valley’s 100 kilometer Nordic trail system gets snow earlier and keeps it longer, thanks to the center’s 2,100 foot base elevation. There are trails suitable for Nordic skiers of all abilities, with views as stunning as the snow is amazing! We provide 35km of machine-tracked trails and 35km of skating terrain. Trails are also open to snow shoe enthusiasts of all levels. Enhance your experience by exploring the awesome beauty of Bolton’s wilderness with one of our Nordic Pro guides. Guided tours, lessons and rental equipment are available at the Nordic center, located within the Bolton Valley Sports Center which, in addition to housing the Nordic center, features a pool, hot tub, workout area and basketball and tennis courts.
Bolton Valley is Vermont’s Big Mountain Value
What a concept, provide a flexible ticket program that enables skiers and riders to choose what part of the day or night they want to ski and ride and price it AFFORDABLY. Bolton Valley calls it Pik Ur Tik, because skiers and riders can choose when they want to access Bolton’s great terrain, and allows them to do starting at $32, for up to 11 full hours of fun. Bolton has segmented the week and the day to meet the diverse needs of mountain enthusiasts. Monday and Tuesday, ski or ride from 9am to 4pm for $32.00. Wednesday is super value day: lift access is just $32, ski or ride from 9am to 8pm, non-holiday weeks. All day, all night, all ages! Thursday-Sunday, non holiday, the day is segmented from opening to close, $55; late day, 1pm to close, $49; and Night ticker, 4pm to close, $39. During holiday periods, all-day tickets are $59, late day tickets are $52 and the night ticket is priced at $42.
Big Mountain Skiing and Riding
Size really does matter and Bolton Valley measures up in every way . . . vertical; terrain; annual average snowfall; and base area amenities that aren’t too small, aren’t too big, they’re just right. More trails and skiable/rideable terrain than Mad River Glen, more vertical than Mount Snow and more value for skiers and riders than any Vermont resort, day and night puts Bolton Valley in a league by itself! Tumbling from a 3,150-foot summit amid a spectacular 5,000-acre setting, Bolton’s 64 trails provide real big mountain challenges for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders, and plenty of forgiving terrain for first-timers and novices. There’s always room to turn, without worrying about who’s on your elbow. All Bolton’s great terrain is accessed via six lifts, including two quads and three double chairs. The new Vista Quad whisks skiers and riders to the summit of Vista Peak (one of Bolton’s three mountain areas) for some of Vermont’s most spectacular black diamond and blue trail skiing and riding. It’s also home to Vista Bowl, where even more snow piles up, providing one powder stash after another in the Vista Glades. Intermediate and advanced skiers and riders rave about the Timberline Area terrain, nearly a dozen trails and glades served by the Timberline Quad. In addition to Bolton’s marked trails, there are glades and off-piste opportunities that will astound those who find the “local” lines throughout the more than 1,000 acres of terrain available to adventurous skiers and riders.
Here’s how Bolton stacks up:
Vermont Highest Base Elevation: 2,100 feet
Summit elevation: 3,150 feet
Vertical: 1,704 feet
Lifts: 2 quads, 3 doubles, surface lift
64 trails: 27% novice, 47% intermediate, 26% advanced
Location, location, location
It’s as important when it comes to natural snowfall as it is when it comes to locating a business or selling a home. Bolton’s elevation and location are aligned perfectly to ensure the mountain is in the path of many winter storms, and is positioned to benefit from lake effect snows and squalls off Lake Champlain. It all adds up to more than 300 inches of annual average natural snowfall! At 2,100 feet, Bolton has the highest base elevation of any Vermont winter resort, which assures natural snow early and late season as well as during the height of winter. The resort’s 3,150-foot summit is the first stop for winter storms that whip up on Lake Champlain. The lake-effect storms mean Bolton often receives snow when other resorts are left dry. Mother Nature gets a helping hand from Bolton’s revitalized snowmaking system that this year is improved by the addition of low-energy fan guns. These state-of-the-art snowmaking systems can stir up a blizzard, using less energy and more water than traditional systems. The result is additional quantity and much higher quality machine made snow that Bolton applies to its most popular trails. Bolton’s Signature Snow is made by some of the industry’s most experienced and dedicated snowmakers. Bolton recently added several new positions to assure even more and better machine made snow when Mother Nature takes a break.
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