BOALSBURG, Pa. – A Pennsylvania ski area has cleared a major hurdle in its plans for a substantial redevelopment, receiving unanimous approval to expand the area eligible for development around its base by approximately 41 acres.
The Centre Region Council of Governments voted October 26 to bring 41.4 acres of Tussey Mountain’s existing property into the region’s growth boundary and sewer service area. The decision allows the ski area, located just outside State College, to move forward with plans to renovate and expand its aging lodge and add new facilities for winter visitors and year-round events.
The proposed improvements include a larger lodge, a new restaurant and bar, conference facilities, event space, retail areas and upgraded buildings for ski school, ski patrol and maintenance operations. The approval does not mean construction can begin immediately. Tussey Mountain must still complete additional local planning requirements before moving forward.
Plans to Modernize a Ski Area Dating Back to the 1960s
Tussey Mountain has been a fixture of central Pennsylvania skiing for decades, offering 16 trails, approximately 500 feet of vertical drop, night skiing and terrain parks.
The ski area’s current ownership group acquired the property in 2022 with the goal of modernizing facilities that have seen relatively few major changes since the mountain opened in the 1960s.
Managing partner Josh Lincoln first presented the redevelopment concept to Harris Township officials in 2024, explaining that the existing lodge was no longer adequate for the variety of activities hosted at the mountain.
The redevelopment would allow Tussey Mountain to improve the experience for skiers and snowboarders while expanding its ability to host weddings, conferences and other events outside the winter season.
The ski area already operates several warm-weather attractions, including a golf course, go-karts, concerts and a beer garden.
Why the 41-Acre Approval Matters
Although Tussey Mountain has been connected to public sewer infrastructure since the early 1990s, its original connection came with restrictions on future development. Those restrictions prevented the mountain from pursuing substantial improvements without first being included in the regional growth boundary and sewer service area.
According to the Centre Region Council of Governments’ planning documents, the resort originally requested that its entire approximately 135-acre property be included within the development boundary. During the review process, that proposal was reduced to 41.4 acres concentrated around the base of the mountain. The change leaves the actual mountain, which is zoned as a natural area, outside the expanded development boundary.
The approval does not add 41 acres of new skiing terrain or expand Tussey Mountain beyond its existing property. It creates the regulatory framework needed to redevelop the ski area’s existing facilities.
Regional officials supported the revised proposal because it focuses on improving an established recreational destination rather than opening an entirely new area to development.
More Changes Could Be Coming to Tussey Mountain
The planned redevelopment follows other operational changes at the mountain. Ahead of the 2025-26 ski season, Tussey Mountain eliminated snow tubing and converted its former tubing slope into a ski trail known as Lone Pine. The decision allowed the small ski area to devote more of its limited snowmaking capacity to terrain for skiers and snowboarders.
The latest expansion plans represent a considerably larger investment in the property’s future, although the owners have not announced a construction budget or completion date. Before work begins, Tussey Mountain must secure approval of detailed land development plans and complete a developer agreement with Harris Township. Officials will also review potential traffic impacts, particularly around the intersection of Bear Meadows Road and Boal Avenue.
For now, the unanimous vote gives Tussey Mountain an important opportunity to modernize its facilities and strengthen its year-round business without expanding development onto the ski slopes themselves.
