Cranmore Mountain Undergoes $6 Million Facelift
New Mountain Coaster, Lifts, and Children’s Center Top List of Improvements
Cranmore Mountain, under new ownership announced earlier this summer, has infused the North Conway, NH resort with millions of dollars of improvements. The resort has undergone a $6 million facelift in time for 2010-2011 winter operations.
South Quad Installation
Cranmore installed a fixed-grip quad chairlift to replace the South Double. The new lift, a Doppelmayr eco-Drive fixed grip quad, doubles the capacity of the current South Slope lift. The new lift occupies the same footprint as the current double chair, and is 2,622 ft long.
South Double Relocation - the New C-More Double!
The existing South Double chair was relocated to a new location near the Beginner Basin area (near the former North Chair line). It recycled most of the parts of the South chair but features new lift towers and is 1,050 ft. long. It runs about half way up the former Lift Line slope.
New Learning Terrain
Cranmore has changed some of the trail layouts in that area of the mountain to accommodate the new lift and to provide additional beginner terrain in what is now some underutilized trails. The new learning trails are themed with penguin species, including the relocated double chair, named after Cranmore’s penguin mascot, C-more.
Expanded and Relocated Tubing Park
Another highlight for the season is the relocation and enlargement of Cranmore’s tubing park. Its lanes increased from seven to ten and feature a new Sun Kid surface lift in addition to a handle-tow lift.
Mountain Coaster Installation
The tubing park was relocated to accommodate a new Mountain Coaster installed in the approximate location of the former tubing park. The Coaster was installed by Wiegan, and is the same manufacturer as the Mountain Coaster installed at Jiminy Peak and other resorts throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Improved Snowmaking
Other on-mountain improvements include a significant investment in snowmaking equipment including the installation of 70 new energy-efficient tower guns. Last winter Cranmore installed 80 new guns and it significantly improved the quality and quantity of snow being produced, especially in those critical early season period. The new guns will allow Cranmore to open more terrain earlier than ever while also consuming less energy. Cranmore also retooled and improved its snowmaking systems and tactics to increase output and efficiency.
New Arlberg Children’s Center
The centerpiece of the $6 million capital campaign is the conversion of the former Arlberg base lodge into a state-of-the-art Children’s Center. Its facilities are now reserved for kids enrolled in Cranmore’s Penguin and Adventure Camps, and home to the Cranmore Play Room for Young Children. Families will enjoy unparalleled convenience as the Center will have its own ticketing and reservation center, rental services and lesson drop off areas.
Additionally, the Children’s Center will offer extended hours of operation for both online, phone and in person reservations and services during busy weekend and holiday periods. Families may call or stop in until 8pm on Fri., Sat. and holiday nights to reserve spots in Cranmore’s children’s programs. Those arriving for a weekend or vacation can stop by the Center until 8pm as well to make reservations, pick up tickets, get fitted for rental equipment and talk to a snowsports school representative. The extended hours will allow families to prepare for the day in advance and have a more relaxed and organized beginning to ski day following. Visitors may also reserve kids camps online in advance at www.cranmore.com up to midnight of the date of arrival.
The New Artist Falls Lodge
The building housing the Cranmore Fitness Center has been rechristened the “Artist Falls Lodge” after undergoing extensive renovations. It will be modified to accommodate the new Artist Falls Deli serving sandwiches, pizza and beer; plus ticketing for the Mountain Coaster and Tubing Park. The Fitness Center will continue to operate as the Valley’s largest health club with a full array of cardio and weight equipment, group fitness classes, personal training and more. The Fitness Center just invested thousands of dollars in new cardio equipment including the new TRX suspension training systems, the latest in fitness programming.
