Sugarloaf Releases Update On Its West Mountain Expansion

Sugarloaf's West Mountain Expansion is moving along quickly

Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine is getting a boat load of upgrades throughout the summer, all as a part of their huge West Mountain Expansion. Though it’s still under construction and looking pretty barren right now, the resort has provided a bit of a video update for those interest.

According to the video, the resort has already added 120 acres of new skiable terrain and has received and begun installing 88,000 feet of new snowmaking pipes and 246 HKD snow guns. Additionally, workers have begun laying foundations for towers and terminals of the new (to the mountain) Bucksaw Express chairlift and construction has begun on the West Mountain development road, providing access to the new slope-side real estate.

Summer is in high gear with crews working round the clock on West Mountain. We're adding 120 acres of new trails, a new (to us) high-speed lift – the Bucksaw Express, 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000' of new snowmaking pipe. Countdown is ON for opening day. pic.twitter.com/RJZpwCi1yr
— Sugarloaf Mountain (@SugarloafMaine) July 17, 2023

Sugarloaf 2030

The full West Mountain Expansion plan includes instillation of the high-speed detachable Bucksaw Express quad that will take skiers and snowboarders from West Mountain Road to the mid-mountain Bullwinkle’s restaurant. The lift will have an uphill capacity of 2400 skiers per hour, an operating speed of 1000 feet per minute, and a total distance of 6,574 feet.

12 new trails and added glades will create 300 of new skiable acres over 1,500 vertical feet, increasing the resort’s average by nearly 10%. The mountain plans to open the new trails and the new lift by January or February of 2023. Real estate development is also a major focus of the new expansion, with over 200 new homes anticipated upon completion. This includes 52-single family house lots, condo developments, and townhouses.

Following the West Mountain Expansion, the resort intends to make several more upgrades as a part of Sugarloaf 2030. A new downhill mountain bike park is set to be built in the Whiffletree area, plans are in place for a new Children’s Center, and the Double Runner lift is set to be replaced. Later in the future, both the Superquad and Timberline lifts will see upgrades, and Sugarloaf’s old summit building will hopefully see a major transformation.

The mountain has further plans for upgrades for the late 2020’s, with eyes aimed at the village, hotel, outdoor center, and golf course. You can check that out here.