June 4, 2012 (Jay, VT)- Jay Peak Resort today announced an additional $30 million in resort-wide improvements for the coming season. Upgrades include a new Mountain Learning Center at the State Side area of the resort, two new lifts, a transformation of its Sky Haus summit tram station, and a Vermont-styled country store. The announcement comes of the heels of Jay Peak acquiring neighboring Burke Mountain Resort.

“The enhancements we will be undergoing this summer and fall are all part of the revitalization effort started back in 2008,” remarked resort president Bill Stenger. “The feedback we received from our guests this past season regarding the new Hotel Jay and Pump House indoor waterpark has been overwhelmingly positive and we look to spread that excitement to other parts of the resort.”

While the revitalization effort has been primarily focused on the Tram side of the resort over the last three years, the attention will now broaden to the State Side area as well as the summit of Jay Peak. Construction will begin in July of a new 8,500-square foot Mountain Learning Center at State Side. The new center will have a rental-and-repair shop, a ski-and-ride school, a café, and a daycare center. Two new lifts will also be installed at State Side. A fixed-grip quad chair will carry guests from the State Side base area, over the 720 terrain park, unloading just above the Taxi trail providing visitors easier access to the Tram side of the mountain. The other new lift, a moving carpet, will be a part of the new dedicated learning area upslope from the Mountain Learning Center.

“Preserving the character and spirit of State Side is very important to us,” said Jay Peak’s vice president of sales and marketing Steve Wright. “To that end, we held a number of forums to get feedback from the community of skiers and riders who make State Side their base year in and year out. How we update that area of the resort will reflect, at some level, many of the thoughts and suggestions that came from those discussions.”
Jay Peak will also transform its Sky Haus into a 120-seat restaurant. The Sky Haus, originally opened in 1967 as the summit station of the resort’s tram, has had an on-again-off-again snack bar through the years, but never an established restaurant. The new eatery will offer soups, salads, sandwiches, beers, and wine.

Work has already begun at the base of the tram with the Austria Haus being renovated and turned into a Vermont-styled country store. The new retail outlet, located between the Hotel Jay and Tram Haus Lodge, will provide guests with a wide selection of groceries as well as gifts, souvenirs, and apparel.

“Despite our region experiencing one of the most challenging winters in a generation, our visitor numbers were up and we attribute that to the diverse offerings we provide our guests,” continued Stenger. “We will continue to build on last year’s excitement with this latest round of upgrades and look forward to bringing that energy and momentum to Burke (Mountain).”

Stenger, along with longtime business partner Ari Quiros, purchased Burke Mountain Resort last month for an undisclosed amount.

For the most up-to-date information on Jay Peak, visit jaypeakresort.com.