Mount Sunapee Resort

Mount Sunapee Resort
Location	Mount Sunapee
Nearest city	Newbury, New Hampshire
Vertical	1,510 ft (460 m)
Top elevation	2,743 ft (836 m)
Base elevation	1,230 ft (370 m)
Skiable area	230 acres (93 ha)
Runs	65
Terrain parks	One
Snowfall	100 inches (250 cm)
Snowmaking	97% of terrain
Web site	http://www.mountsunapee.com/

The Mount Sunapee Resort is a ski area and resort located in Newbury, New Hampshire.

History

Mount Sunapee's history as a ski area dates back to as early as 1940, when in response to the success of a tram at Cannon Mountain a survey was made for a similar tram on Mount Sunapee.^[1][2] The following year, the state of New Hampshire passed the Mt. Sunapee Tramway Bill, which proposed the construction of a tram intended for sightseeing, though it was expected also to be used for skiing.^[2] After World War II, the proposal was revisited, but it was found that the state didn't have enough money to construct a tram.^[2] Instead, a chairlift was built, to the present-day location of North Peak.^[2]

During the 1950s and 1960s, the ski area continued to expand, with the construction of several surface lifts and chairlifts, including the opening of the summit of Mount Sunapee, above the original North Peak.^[3] The first snowmaking capability was installed in 1982, and additional trails were cut and lifts installed throughout the 1980s.^[3]

By the 1990s, however, the resort's facilities required more improvement than the state, which at the time still owned and operated it, had invested.^[4] In 1998, the Mueller family, which operated and had significantly improved the Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, began leasing Sunapee from the state of New Hampshire.^[4] Two new expansions for the ski area were proposed soon after this—the East Bowl and the West Bowl.^[5] Due to the presence of old-growth forest in the proposed East Bowl, this proposal was dropped in 2000.^[5] Sunapee went ahead with the West Bowl project, and purchased 656 acres (265 ha) of land.^[5] The expansion would include the addition of 75 acres (30 ha) of skiable terrain and two lifts in the West Bowl, as well as the upgrading facilities on the main mountain, including the introduction of night skiing.^[5] New Hampshire governor John Lynch, however, was opposed to the project, which as a result was placed on indefinite hold.^[5] Instead, capital improvements were limited to the existing terrain, on which new lifts and snowmaking were built, as well as a new lodge.^[4]

Mountain statistics

Mount Sunapee Resort has 65 trails^[6] spread over 230 acres (93 ha) of skiable terrain.^[7] 26% of the trails are rated as easy, 49% are rated as intermediate, and 25% are rated as advanced.^[7] There is one terrain park, and 97% of the terrain has snowmaking installed on it.^[7] Sunapee has ten lifts—a detachable quad, two fixed-grip quads, two triples, a double, and four surface lifts.^[7] The mountain's base elevation is at 1,230 feet (370 m) and the summit is at 2,743 feet (836 m), for a vertical drop of 1,513 feet (461 m).^[7] Mount Sunapee receives about 100 inches (250 cm) of snow each year.^[7]

References

1. ^ "History of New Hampshire Skiing". SkiNH. http://www.skinh.com/kids-ski/nh-ski-history.cfm. Retrieved 27 December 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Sunapee Mountain". New England Ski History. http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/cancelledskiareas/NewHampshire/sunapeemtn.php. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "The History of Mount Sunapee". Mount Sunapee official website. http://www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/aboutsunapee/history.asp. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Mt. Sunapee". New England Ski History. http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/NewHampshire/sunapee.php. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Mount Sunapee Ski Area". New England Ski History. http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/skiareaexpansions/NewHampshire/sunapee.php. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
6. ^ "Mount Sunapee". Slopequest. http://www.slopequest.com/slopes/NH/Mount%20Sunapee.html. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Mount Sunapee Resort". America Skiing. http://www.americaskiing.com/New-Hampshire/Mount_Sunapee/Resort-Info.php. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 

Coordinates: 43°19′50″N 72°04′48″W / 43.33056°N 72.08°W / 43.33056; -72.08