Back in November, we gave you a preview of our off-season project plans. (Believe it or not, we do actually work in the winter–as long as “work” doesn’t interfere with good fat biking conditions, powder days, or pond hockey practice.) Now that we’re a few months into the off-season grind, we’re back with an update on how the mountain improvement projects are progressing.
New Ticketing Building – The Welcome Center
Construction is well underway on our new Welcome Center. This space is attached to the office and adjacent to the Highland Flagship Store. It will feature more check-in stations, creating a streamlined daily welcome experience for all of our riders. We’ll be able to cater directly to the individual needs of everyone from first-time visitors to the OG season passholders. (You’ve been asking for your own line for years, and it’s finally here!) Say goodbye to yesterday’s cramped and cornered front desk location, and hello to a brand new space specifically designed to get you waiver-approved, in-wristband, and on-mountain in record time.
(Speaking of waivers, the 2020 waiver is now available online for riders of all ages. Fill yours out now.)
Highland Pub Expansion
As the front desk moves to its own building, the Highland Pub will be taking over the entire top floor of the lodge. You’ll now have more seating options to choose from when you want to take a break between laps or hang out in the lodge all day over a turkey club, local IPA, and your work laptop. (We see you, dads.) We’ve also built out our kitchen footprint, installing a new walk-in fridge that is directly accessible from within the kitchen itself. Gone are the days of kitchen staff muscling their way through the lunch line to dash outside for an emergency lettuce restock! The addition of this new fridge also frees up significant real estate in the outdoor walk-in, which obviously will be fully rezoned to accommodate even more beers and tasty beverages.
Bike Shop Expansion
Downstairs in the lodge, the bike shop is also getting a mini makeover. It was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic down there, and honestly we never really liked that wall very much, so we’ve eliminated that which does not spark joy and knocked it down. We’ll use the extra space to offer more products, parts, and service to you. If you’re here for the Winter Woolly, ask Don about the flannel overstock sale.
(Pro tip for the women of the mountain: taking a sharp right at the bottom of the stairs now drops you in the middle of the bike shop, not the line to the bathroom. Start rethinking that muscle memory now. How many times did we personally make that mistake immediately after the remodel, you ask? No comment. Just remember to turn left.)
Stay tuned for more updates about our other 2020 improvement projects, including adding more chairs to the lift and continuing construction on Lower NE Style. Opening day will be here before we know it!
