Not to rush the seasons, but just imagine in three months our weather will pull a 180° swing. Not literally, but the leaves will have fallen and we will start to welcome the white gold that falls from the sky.

Resorts like Bolton Valley are excited for the busy months ahead, and this will be the first season with new-ish owners.

“We are under new ownership which is old ownership. With Ralph and his family at the helm,” said Josh Arneson with Bolton Valley Resort.

He tells us the DesLauriers sold the resort nearly twenty years ago, and this past spring gained ownership once again.

“We have expanded our food and beverage offerings,” he said. That included opening Bailey’s to the public, rather than keeping it’s use to private events. The restaurant will serve breakfast seven days a week, and will offer lunch on the weekends.

“Part of the idea is that on some of the busier days here, it can get a little cramped in the base lodge. You can also have a little bit of a longer wait for a table at the James Moore Tavern. Now you have the chance to walk across the court yard and go to Bailey’s and have lunch,” said Arneson.

Additionally the pumps that transport water from the storage ponds will be refurbished, running more efficiently. This will allow the resort to run nearly double the amount of snow guns.

“What the increased pumping power and new valving is going to allow us to is run the top of the mountain as well as at Timberline. Right at the get go, early in the season. The goal is to have ski over to Timberline by Christmas week, to help us out having a second base area when see an increase in visitors,” said Arneson.

We also learned that the mountain will expand hours, slightly. Arneson tells us last winter lifts would open at 10am on mornings after night skiing.

“This year we are going to open up at 9am everyday, and run until 10pm Tuesday through Saturday,” he said.

Ski passes are currently on sale through September 25th, and will go to full retail value on September 26th. Head to the resorts website for more details.