How sleepy New England town is being transformed into America's next luxury ski playground with a $3bn makeover
Billions of dollars are being funneled into a quiet Vermont town amid plans to transform it into a glitzy mecca for skiiers.
Developer Great Gulf plans to build a $3billion village at the base of the main peak, Killington, the state's second-tallest mountain, over the next 25 years, according to the New York Times.
The Killington ski resort welcomes around 800,000 guests annually to its 4,229-foot peak and 73 miles of ski trails, but the 'village of the future' is set to be the first of its kind on the East Coast.
The plans first emerged in 2023, when the Toronto-based developer acquired 1,100 acres at the base of the main peak for $43million, according to the outlet.
Killington's base is currently home to Snowshed and Ramshead base lodges, which were built in the 1960s, as well as multiple large parking lots.
Great Gulf showcased renderings of the development, which transform the humble village with world-class features, including luxury homes, a fitness 'grove', an ice-skating path, a panoramic pool, public squares, a forest spa, over 100,000 feet of dining and retail space, and more.
'This is a destination that celebrates discovery, enriched with one-of-a-kind memorable moments, embracing innovative design, community, and culture,' said Great Gulf.
Behind the project is Safdie Architects, which also designed the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians.
Great Gulf developers are investing $3billion to remodel the base village of the Killington ski resort
Currently two bases villages from 1960s are at the foot of the mountain accompanied by parking lots
Michael Sneyd, who is overseeing the Killington project for Great Gulf, told the New York Times that the focus is 'to create a resort community that is appealing both to skiers and to those who perhaps don't ski as much.'
He added that the goal for Killington is to compete with 'the most impressive ski resorts in North America, like Vail or Aspen.'
The project was expected to break ground in 2025; however, it now hopes to commence construction in the spring of 2027.
Great Gulf plans to develop mountainside housing units in the first two years that will cost between $2million and $6million, according to Snyed.
But Vermont's housing crisis has created a challenge for the developer, which they hope to address by increasing the number of housing units by 70 percent in the town of Killington.
The current population of the mountain town is around 1,400 residents.
The developer and ski resort have donated $700,000 to the town to purchase land for the construction of more than 300 affordable housing units for employees.
Killington's, main peak, is the state's second-tallest mountain
Sneyd told the outlet that finding workers is tough but say they'll offer good benefits to lure staff.
He shared his optimistic view of the project with the outlet, adding that the untapped state is an opportunity to 'take advantage of 68 million people that live within a five to six hour driving distance.'
'This is the future of places like Vermont, to be able to utilize their natural resources, their beauty, their mountains, in the way that our forefathers used marble and trees to fund their economic engines.'
He also noted that the project is being built with the expectation of shorter winters due to climate change.
However, the destination would be a place for visitors to come annually without being dependent on the weather, Snyed added.
