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West Mountain ski center off of Northway Exit 18 has sprung into a new season with renovations and additions to offer skiers new options.
New chairlifts, expanded terrain, 100 percent snowmaking capabilities, learn-to-lessons, after-school programs, tubing, night skiing and an up-and-coming alpine racing program are all part of West Mountain, where Spencer Montgomery, co-owner and managing member, has developed a place for family fun.
With 31 trails and five lifts, skiers and riders of all abilities come to West Mountain. Improvements include a new “Apex” triple chairlift on the Northwest side, 15 tower snow guns that round out the completion of the snowmaking capabilities, and a five-acre Tree-Top Aerial Adventure Park.
In addition to the updates on the mountain, a brand new West Express Cafe will be open on the first floor of the main lodge this season offering more healthy food options. Skiers and riders also have the option of experiencing the mountain under the lights with night skiing.
“We’re excited for the future of West Mountain as we continue to evolve and meet the needs of our loyal skiers, riders and families,” said Montgomery. “We have invested $17 million in improvements to infrastructure to provide our guests with a true resort experience, while maintaining our family mountain charm.”
West Mountain is focused on improving the brand and experience for a new generation, he said. Plans include year-round activities including mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides and hiking. There are also plans to offer more outdoor activities including summer adventure camp programs and an Alpine Racing Academy under the leadership of coach Steve Lathrop.
The business is also involved in the community. West Mountain School, West Mountain Racing’s nonprofit organization, organizes several fundraisers annually including the WMS Ski & Sports Gear Swap to support the WMR program with program and camp scholarships, safety equipment and supplies.
“West Mountain Racing’s mission is to develop and educate young ski racers in order to help them achieve their dreams, aspirations and goals both on and off the snow,” said Sara Montgomery, general manager and program director for West Mountain Racing. “Our program offers top-notch alpine ski racing, training, travel and race tuning that sets up our ski racers for success.”
The mountain can accommodate groups of 10 or more for tubing, birthday parties, aerial tree top adventure tours, mountain biking, and scenic chairlift ride and hikes.
Weddings at West Mountain offer possibilities couples to customize their event to make it a memorable experience. The location offers views of the Hudson River valley, Lake George and the mountains of Vermont.
For more information, contact group and event sales manager Katie Cahill at katie@westmtn.net or 518-636- 3699 ext. 316.
West Mountain is located at 59 West Mountain Road, just three miles off Northway Exit 18 in Queensbury. The mountain is centrally located within a two-hour drive from Vermont, Massachusetts and Western New York.
With extended operating hours for 2019-20, West Mountain will be open seven days. Hours are Monday 3-9 p.m. (8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. holiday hours); Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. holiday hours); and Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.