Pleasant Mountain Ski Area
| Pleasant Mountain Ski Area | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bridgton, Maine, US |
| Coordinates | 44°3′30″N 70°48′55″W / 44.05833°N 70.81528°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Owner | Boyne Resorts |
| Vertical | 1,300 ft (400 m) |
| Trails | 44 |
| Lift system | 4 chairs: 1 Quad, 3 Triples, 2 Surface Lifts |
| Snowmaking | Yes, 99% |
| Night skiing | Yes, 23 Trails |
| Website | www |
Pleasant Mountain is a ski resort located in Bridgton, Maine, in Cumberland County.[1]
Located on the northern end of Pleasant Mountain, the resort features two base areas and 245 skiable acres. Pleasant Mountain first opened on January 23, 1938 and is the oldest major ski area in Maine. From 1988 until 2022, the area was known as Shawnee Peak.[2]
History
[edit]The first trails on Pleasant Mountain were developed by local community groups in 1935. Two years later with assistance from the Works Progress Administration, the town added a rope tow, which opened to the public in January 1938.[3]
In 1988, the ski area was acquired by the owners of Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in Pennsylvania. Pleasant Mountain was subsequently renamed Shawnee Peak to mirror the name of its sister property.[4] After Shawnee Mountain Corporation sold the resort in the early 1990s, new owners considered restoring the original name but ultimately decided against it.[3]
On October 21, 2021, Shawnee Peak was purchased by Boyne Resorts, with the purchase finalized on October 22. Shawnee Peak joins Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon Mountain as Boyne's fourth resort in New England,[5] and third property in Maine. Boyne restored the resort's original name, Pleasant Mountain, on September 14, 2022.[6]
Terrain and lifts
[edit]Serving mainly intermediate and Advanced trails, Pleasant Mountain is split up into 3 distinct areas.[7] Those areas (from left to right) are the Sunnyside Area, the front face, and the Pine beginner area. Most of trails on the mountain can be accessed by taking the Summit Triple. The trails Sunset Boulavard, Haggetts, Jack Spratt, and Pine Slope all start from the top of the Summit Triple and bring you over to the beginners area, while Appalachian, Roosevelt, Yee Haw, and Upper Kanc trails can bring you over to the Sunnyside area.
In March of 2024, Pleasant Mountain announced that the Summit Express triple would be replaced with a used high-speed detachable quad,[8] which came from Sunday River, another Boyne Resort. The new lift called "The Summit Express", will have a vertical rise of 1,200 vertical feet and an uphill capacity of 2,400 riders per hour.
Pleasant Mountain has 4 chairlifts,[9] and 2 magic carpets.
| Name | Type | Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Express | High Speed Quad | Doppelmayr USA | 2024 | Under Construction - Relocated from Sunday River, formerly the Jordan Bowl Express. |
| Sunnyside | Triple | CTEC / Hall | 1972 | Retrofitted by CTEC, and expanded from a double to a triple. Used to have a mid-station. |
| Rabbit Run | Partek | 2014 | Expanded from a double in 2014. | |
| Pine | Quad | Garaventa CTEC | 1997 | Services the beginner area, and terrain parks. |
Former lifts:
| Name | Type | Builder | Years Active | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Express | Triple | CTEC | 2010 - 2024 | Relocated from Loon, and had a mid-station. |
| Summit | Triple | Riblet | 1985 - 2010 | This lift now operates at Camden Snow Bowl in eastern Maine. |
| Rabbit Run | Double | Partek | 1988 - 2014 | Replaced with a triple lift, in the same alignment. |
| Old Blue | Double | Constam / Müller | 1955 - 1984 | First chairlift at Pleasant Mountain. Had a mid-station. |
Night skiing
[edit]Pleasant Mountain has 19 trails for all abilities lit for night skiing.[10]
Photos
[edit]-
The Pine Quad at Pleasant Mountain, then known as Shawnee Peak. -
Seen across Moose Pond, Spring 2009.
References
[edit]- ^ Bill Pennington (January 4, 2013). "On Maine's Slopes, Plenty of Elbow Room". New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- ^ WGME, Matthew Bourgault (September 14, 2022). "Shawnee Peak changes name back to Pleasant Mountain". WGME. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "Shawnee Peak History - Maine - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com". www.newenglandskihistory.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Writer, Deirdre FlemingStaff (January 30, 2022). "What's in a name? Ask the skiers at Shawnee Peak". Press Herald. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Boyne Resorts Expands Portfolio with Purchase of Shawnee Peak".
- ^ "Our New Name | Pleasant Mountain, Bridgton Maine". www.pleasantmountain.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Map skimap.org [dead link]
- ^ "The Summit Express".
- ^ "Pleasant Mountain, ME". October 19, 2015.
- ^ "Night Skiing | Pleasant Mountain, Bridgton Maine". www.pleasantmountain.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Shawnee Peak – Official site
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