Stowe Mountain Resort, a northeastern U.S. resort, is located in Stowe’s nearby town in northern Vermont. It comprises two separate mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Due to it being located on the eastern shoulder of the tallest mountain in Vermont, it has been known as a leading ski destination in New England.
History
Stowe has a long history, which dates to at least 1921 when the first Winter Carnival was organized to improve the town’s economy during their winter months. This was started with the help of Craig Burt, forester, and landowner. Twelve years later, Alpine skiing came to Vermont after the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cut the Bruce Trail leading to the Ranch Camp on Mount Mansfield in 1933.
The Mount Mansfield Company long owned Stowe Mountain Resort. On November 17, 1940, the company made national headlines when Mt. Mansfield Lift, Inc. opened what was dubbed as the longest and highest chairlift in the world with a length of 6,330 feet and a vertical size of 2,030 feet. This single chairlift remained a fixture at the mountain for nearly 50 years. New trails were added in the winter of 1941-42 as Stowe remained a winter destination even though many ski areas closed during World War II.
A few years after came to American International Group (AIG) founder Cornelius Van der “C.V.” Starr. He quickly fell in love with Stowe after a visit to the area. This started his long history of financing and owning the area. The international group became the primary owner in 1988. In 2017, the group sold the resort’s ski-related operations and facilities to Vail Resorts. At present, AIG and the Mount Mansfield Company still own the Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe Mountain Club, and the Stowe Country Club.
Ski Area
Stowe Mountain Resort experiences about 314 inches of snowfall annually. Since the 40s, the resort has received international acclaim as a four-season resort with a trail lift count of 116 and 13, respectively. The resort’s two mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, are connected by a gondola. The mountain resort has invested in new snowmaking equipment and upgrades, including about seven miles of new snowmaking pipe, 16 Super PoleCat fan guns, 325 HKD tower guns, and 150 energy-efficient land guns.
The resort has 468 skiable acres, which spans for a total of 40 miles. The terrain’s highest skiing elevation is approximately 3,625 feet, with the highest vertical drop of 2,360 feet. The 116 trails for Alpine skiing are divided into the three ability levels: 16 trails for beginners, 68 for intermediate, and 29 for experts. The resort also offers 6 glades and 3 terrain parks for Alpine skiers. For the cross-country skiers, Lowe offers 45 tracked and 30 skating terrains available for skiing.
RESORT ATTRACTIONS
1. Cliff House Restaurant
The Cliff House offers a panoramic-view seating of the surrounding alpine peaks as it is located atop the gondola on one of the resort’s mountains. The restaurant is known for its outstanding regional American cuisine that maintains the rustic Vermont flair. On some evenings, the restaurant offers a candlelit six-course meal or what’s famously known as the “Summit Series” dinners, which features a gondola ride.
2. The Canteen
The Canteen Restaurant is a casual family eatery overlooking Stowe Rocks and The Village Green. The menu features energy snacks, hydrating drinks, hand-tossed pizza, oven-baked subs, individual Stromboli, fresh salads, and sweets that will help fuel your adventures.
3. ZipTour Adventure
ZipTour is the world’s fastest zip line experience and is known as the ultimate point-to-point sky adventure. The zip has a sophisticated trolley braking system that allows individuals to control their line speed that reaches a remarkable speed of 60 miles per hour. The launching point is located atop the high-speed summit Gondola, near the top of Mt. Mansfield.
4. The Gondola SkyRide
Tourists can take the easy way up by riding the famous Skyride. The gondola takes you near the peak of Vermont’s highest mountain, where some of the resort’s spectacular views await.
5. Stowe Rocks Climbing Center
Stowe Rocks is a state-of-the-art facility located in the resort’s Adventure Center. The center is a member of the Climbing Wall Association and engages in the ClimbSmart!® Program: a movement that addresses climbers’ safety, the risks in climbing sports, and personal responsibility. It features climbing challenges with multiple distinct, color-coded routes and has a total of 16 stations with Auto Belay or Top Rope systems for adventure seekers of all ages.
6. Lodging and Amenities
Stowe Mountain Resort offers lodging nearby with ski-in and ski-out access. The resort also has ski lessons for all ability levels and equipment rentals with a large selection of top-of-the-line equipment available. For non-skiers, Stowe offers a variety of snow activities like racing dog sledding, sleigh rides, and ice/rock climbing.