Final Paperwork Submitted For Big Rocks Chairlift & Snowmaking Project!
What began as the top two priorities in Big Rock's 2020 SE Group Master Plan: 1. A reliable top-to-bottom lift, and 2. Expanded snowmaking capacity has grown to a community-led $1.2 million fundraising effort that has leveraged over $4 million in federal and state funding.
BigRock Mountain is located in Mars Hill, Maine, on the western face of Mars Hill. It is one of the larger ski resorts in the State of Maine with 2 chairlifts, 26 trails, 80% snowmaking, night skiing, and almost 1000 ft of continuous vertical drop.
Most of the terrain at BigRock is intermediate ski trails, serviced by the North Star Double Chair, a modified Mueller chairlift. The mountain is also serviced by a poma. The beginner area is serviced by the South Star Triple Chair. Of the trails, 58% are intermediate, while 30% are advanced trails, and 18% beginner trails.
Established in the 1960s, BigRock Ski Area was purchased in 2000 by the Maine Winter Sports Center (MWSC) through grants available from the Portland-based Libra Foundation.
MWSC added cross-country and snowshoe trails, as well as a snow-tube park. BigRock's lodge has been expanded to include a new cafe
Today, with the final paperwork submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Big Rock officially begins the closeout process of a $6 million project that built a new Doppelmayr quad chairlift to the top and significantly upgraded Big Rock’s snowmaking capacity.
It’s been a full five years of work; planning, fundraising, writing grants, and construction - finally finished late this summer.
- What you experienced last winter - the beautiful new lift.
- What you’ll see this winter is the payoff of the new snowmaking improvements operating at full capacity with the water they need from a new off-site pump house to make the most snow they’ve ever made.
Over the past two years this is what Big Rock has accomplished:
- A brand-new Doppelmayr Quad to the top of Big Rock
- Main Pump House upgrades replacing a single, undersized 200 hp pump with two massive 500 hp pumps connected to state-of-the-art electronics.
- A new off-site pump house that will automatically supply additional water to our ponds
- 6 new fully automated Technoalpin TR10 snowguns
Both pump houses reached full completion this summer — meaning what Big Rock operated with last winter was only part of what they will have this winter! The difference will be significant and noticeable.
Huge thank two primary contractors:
- Doppelmayr USA, who led the lift installation
- MCR Electric, who took on the extensive site, electrical, and snowmaking improvements.
This project marks the largest single investment at Big Rock— a true community transformation made possible through a partnership of federal and state government, community, board, staff, contractors, and every skier and supporters who believes in Big Rock.
