Ragged Mountain Resort
Ragged Mountain is a ski resort located on the northern side of Ragged Mountain in Danbury, New Hampshire, in the United States, with a vertical drop of 1,250 feet (380 m) and spread across 250 acres (100 ha). Offering three terrain parks and many glades, the resort is home to the only six-person chairlift in New Hampshire.[1]
| Ragged Mountain Resort | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The Summit Six Pack Chairlift | |
| Location | Danbury, New Hampshire, USA |
| Nearest major city | Franklin, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°29′04″N 71°50′32″W |
| Vertical | 1,250 ft |
| Runs | 57 |
| Lift system | 1 Six Pack, 1 HSQ, 1 Triple, 1 Double, 2 Surface Lifts |
| Snowmaking | 85% |
| Website | |
History
Ragged Mountain Ski Area opened in 1965, sporting seven runs, a T-bar, and a Hall double. Amidst little snowfall and the failure to install snowmaking equipment, the resort went bankrupt in 1974. That year, the state bought the area and immediately sold it to a group of people involved in the ski industry. The area closed during the 1983-84 season.[1]
Real estate developers Al and Walter Endriunas bought the area in a few years later, installed snowmaking and added a new beginner slope, along with another T-bar. Ragged opened once more for the 1988-89 season. They installed two more double lifts in the early 1990s and another trail complex, called Spear Mountain.[1]
In 2002, the area purchased the Summit Six-Pack detachable chairlift, an investment that caused the area to go bankrupt once more. The owners sold Ragged Mountain to RMR-Pacific, LLC, an affiliate of Utah resort developer Pacific Group in 2007. The new owners have invested over $3 million in renovations including lodge renovations, upgrades to the snowmaking capacity, and several new dining options, including a brick oven pizzeria and tavern located in the west lodge.[2]
In August 2013, Ragged Mountain released details on a new tubing park and beginner area called "Beginners Basin." The new tubing park is planned to be over 650-feet in length (more than 2 football fields), with ten lanes. A new carpet lift will bring snow tubers from the base area to the top of the new tubing park. Beginners Basin will be located near the terrain park, adjacent to the Barnyard slope. A second 350-ft carpet lift will serve the new terrain.[3]
Ragged Mountain replaced the Spear Mountain triple with a Doppelmayr high speed detachable quad in the summer of 2014. In addition, significant upgrades were made to the Elmwood lodge, which included more seating and two new restaurants. Costs for both these projects amount to over $5 million.[2]
Expansion
Ragged Mountain has plans to develop into a four season destination. Over the past several years, tree cutting has been witnessed on Pinnacle Peak, adjacent to the main Ragged peak. Ragged officials say they plan to add at least 10 new trails and 60 acres of new skiing terrain for all levels of ability.[3] It is currently unknown as to when Ragged will begin the next steps of finishing the trail clearing, installing snowmaking and a new chairlift.[4]
In addition to Pinnacle Peak, Ragged has moved forward with plans to renovate the 18 hole golf course, a process that could take up to two years. The course will be diminished to nine holes, in order to accommodate the tubing park, future lodging and ski trails.[3]
References
- "NewEnglandSkiHistory.com: Ragged Mountain Resort". NewEnglandSkiHistory.com. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- Humphreys, Kathleen (13 August 2014). "NH ski areas plan big improvements". New Hampshire Union Leader.
- "Ragged Mountain Resort: Trail Map". Ragged Mountain Resort. 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- "NewEnglandSkiHistory.com: Pinnacle Peak Expansion". NewEnglandSkiHistory.com. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.