Londonderry, Vermont — Snowmaking upgrades at an independent Vermont ski resort have them thinking about opening a few weeks earlier than usual.
Last week, Magic Mountain detailed the offseason improvements for the 2025-26 season. In particular, the ski area focused on snowmaking upgrades.
The main project is a snowmaking pipeline replacement. The lower snowmaking loop pipe is being replaced, with it going from the Red Line trail to the Show Off headwall.
“We are replacing a key section of our lower mountain loop that had become ‘Swiss cheese,’ causing a lot of inefficiencies and blow outs,” said Magic GM Geoff Hatheway to Vermont News & Media. “So over 1,200 feet of new pipe is going in from midway of Black Line all the way down to the top of Show Off to give our lower snowmaking loop even better production for years to come.”
Magic has also acquired more snowmaking guns. The Vermont ski resort purchased new HKD tower guns for the Abracadabra trail, which will provide a reliable base for early winter and spring operations.
Some of their terrain at Magic is also undergoing a realignment. The Abracadabra trail, located next to the Handle Tow, will now host a learning area for advanced beginners. This new area will allow beginners to take on a stepper slope before going on the chairlifts. The terrain park will be moved further up the hill, with it being situated on the Hocus Pocus trail (under the lift line).
Magic’s newest chairlift also underwent an important upgrade. The gearbox of the Black Line Quad chairlift is undergoing preventive maintenance to prevent it from breaking down like other similar chairlifts have.
Another project underway concerns their glades. Each fall, volunteers come through to help clean up the glades at Magic Mountain.
Opening Weekend Plans
With all these improvements, Magic is aiming for an earlier-than-usual opening. Magic plans to open during Thanksgiving weekend. The plan is to have one snowmaking trail off the Green Chair, along with the Abracadabra area. Before that, they plan to host a passholders party on Black Friday, which will include skiing in the afternoon, a champagne party and toasts at the T-BAR, and then apres at the Black Line Tavern. These goals are obviously weather-dependent.
Image Credits: Magic Mountain Ski Area
