Francestown, New Hampshire — When it comes to culinary experiences in New England, there’s one chain that brings all the skiers to the yard, whether it be on the slopes or at a convention center. That’s the Waffle Cabin, which features locations across the Northeast. For the upcoming winter, it appears that another one will be arriving in New Hampshire.
As part of a video detailing the offseason updates at Crotched Mountain, General Manager Deirdre Riley shared the news that a Waffle Cabin will be opening up at the ski area this winter. Those waffles will definitely taste good on those late-night Midnight Madness laps.
Other notable upgrades include new LED lights and a new critical piece for Crotched’s workhorse chairlift.
Over 200 new LED lights were installed this offseason at the ski area. These lights are more efficient a lot less energy), last longer, and are more durable (less susceptible to wear and tear). This has resulted in 95% lights at Crotched becoming LED lights. Crotched is known for its night skiing and Midnight Madness, with various nights having the lifts spinning till 12 a.m. Midnight Madness is expected to start this year on December 27th.
The Rocket, a detachable high-speed quad chairlift, now has a new drive. A drive is the thing that powers the chairlift, featuring a motor and either a gearbox or a direct drive. The Rocket originally hailed from Ascutney Mountain Resort, but was moved to Crotched following the ski resort’s closure in 2010.
All these are significant upgrades for Crotched, and it’s good to see the ski area getting some quality investments from Vail Resorts.
About Crotched Mountain
Crotched’s had a fascinating history. At one point, it was two separate ski resorts. Crotched West and East. The two mountains merged, but financial issues led to their closure. After being defunct for years, Crotched West was revived by Peak Resorts, reopening in 2003. The East side remains abandoned. Meanwhile, Crotched Mountain (formerly known as Crotched West) was acquired by Vail Resorts in 2019. The ski area features 25 trails, 5 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,000 feet. Its extensive night skiing coverage is among the best in the region, as the mostly LED lights cover 100% of Crotched’s terrain.
Image/Video Credits: Crotched Mountain
