GREAT THINGS TO COME
What is great today will be spectacular tomorrow. Since national ski magazines began rating ski resorts nearly two decades ago, only one Tahoe resort has consistently ranked among North America's top 10 for snow, terrain challenge and variety: Kirkwood. And over the next decade, it’s going to get even better.
One of the more challenging questions we’ve been asked over the past decade is how Kirkwood can continue to attract more people, yet maintain our trademark reputation of great conditions, short lines and lots of room on the mountain. The answer lies in the numbers:
1) The current plan will provide Kirkwood over 1,100 new additional lift-accessed acres when complete.
2) At full build out, Kirkwood’s lift capacity will increase from 16,000 skiers to 27,000, an increase of nearly 70%.
3) The combination of new terrain and lift capacity dramatically outpaces the increase in daily capacity - 70% more lift capacity and new lift accessed terrain, versus a daily capacity increase of just 40%.
What exactly do these numbers mean? As Kirkwood attracts more skiers at one time, it will increase its lift capacity and lift served terrain by a greater percentage, in effect keeping lift lines and terrain density at or below present levels, which are among the shortest and lowest in skiing.
Here’s a summary of the major lift improvements proposed over the next several years*:
1) The opening of several hundred acres of new lift served terrain at Lookout Vista and Covered Wagon Peaks (completed for the 2008/09 season).
2) The conversion of Chair #4, a fixed quad, into a high speed quad, increasing capacity by 33%.
3) The installation of a triple chair up Thimble Peak, opening up tremendous advanced/expert skiing above the existing Chair #4.
4) The installation of a surface tow up Red Cliffs, behind the existing Day Lodge, allowing easier access to terrain currently served by snowcat.
The net affect of all these improvements? A dramatic increase in lift capacity, much quicker movement from one side of the mountain to the other including Timber Creek. View the Mountain Map for more information.
*Note: All of these improvements were subject to approval from the United States Forest Service. All, with the exception of #3, are included in the current Mountain Master Development Plan, which was approved late in 2007.
One of the most commonly asked questions is when these improvements will be completed... With our approval at the end of 2007, Kirkwood Mountain Resort has received the green light to begin on-mountain and off-mountain improvements and as timing and funding permits we will move forward.
