The largest indoor skiing facility in North America has been proposed to be built on an old landfill 20 miles outside D.C. Fairfax County officials announced on Wednesday that a proposal to build a 450,000 square foot indoor snow sports facility that would include a 1,700-foot ski slope has been submitted by a Virginia-based company called Alpine-X.
Also Read: First Indoor Ski Lift In America Set To Open This Fall
The proposed facility would be built on Fairfax County’s I-95 landfill in Lorton which is in the process of closing. Once finished the facility would have 280 vertical feet of indoor slopes serviced by an indoor gondola. The space would include “competition ready” slopes, a terrain park and bunny slopes.
The indoor ski slope proposal is environmentally sustainable and will incorporate energy efficient technologies. Also the facility could also be used by military or law enforcement for cold-weather and snow training (snowball fights?) Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity is optimistic about the benefits of a the potential facility:
“New jobs, exciting new snow sports opportunities, the potential for high school ski teams, new hotel and restaurant amenities for the South County area, premier national competitions and financial benefits to our taxpayers from the lease, sales tax, and hotel tax revenue streams.”
Fairfax Peak proposed snow sports complex may include:
- Multiple ski slopes at approximately a 20-degree angle, including a slope compliant with the Fédération Internationale de Ski’s standards ensuring it can be used for competitions.
- A specially designed area for skiing and snowboarding with a variety of ramps, jumps, rails, boxes and other features, capable for use in national snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions.
- A bunny slope for beginners, snow tubing run and area for skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks.
- Restaurants, ski shop and sky bar and terrace at the summit.
- A 100-plus room luxury hotel at the base of the indoor snow facility.
- A gravity-powered, mountain coaster that will slide from the summit to Occoquan Regional Park.
- A gondala to ferry riders from Occoquan Regional Park and the facility’s base to the summit.
