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   Vermont: Smugglers Notch: Expansions
Ski Area Expansions
 
Madonna Mountain at Smugglers Notch
Madonna Mountain Details
Madonna Mountain
Status:Open
First Season of Operation:1963-64
Lifts:2 chairlifts
Terrain:Novice, intermediate, and expert terrain
Return to Smugglers Notch Profile
Operating for about a decade as a surface lift ski area on Sterling (Spruce Peak), a multi-million dollar investment plan was put in place in 1963.

The new Madonna Mountain area was opened for the 1963-64 season, featuring a new Hall 6,719 foot long double chairlift. Climbing 2,150 vertical feet, the new chairlift was the largest double in New England.

Three new long trails were opened, including Drifter, Chilcoot, and Shuttle. Additional trails opened in subsequent seasons.

Fresh off this expansion, Tom Watson Jr. of IBM fame purchased and renamed the ski area to Madonna Mountain.

In 1979, a second new Hall 5,155 foot long by 1,065 foot vertical double chairlift was installed on Madonna Mountain, serving intermediate terrain.

In 2002, the Madonna summit lift was refurbished with new CTEC parts.


Madonna Mountain on the 1963 Smugglers' Notch trail map
Madonna Mountain on the 1963 Smugglers' Notch trail map

The Madonna base lodge (2004)
The Madonna base lodge (2004)

The Madonna Chair (2004)
The Madonna Chair (2004)

The Madonna Chair (2004)
The Madonna Chair (2004)

Madonna Mountain on the 2008 Smugglers' Notch trail map
Madonna Mountain on the 2008 Smugglers' Notch trail map

Drifter (2015)
Drifter (2015)

Upper FIS (2015)
Upper FIS (2015)

Smugglers Notch Expansion History
Project NameSeasonStatus
Madonna Mountain1963-64Open
Morse Highlands1999-00Open
Morse Mountain1967-68Open
Upper Morse MountainProposed
Whiteface Mountain1960sCancelled
Return to Smugglers Notch Ski History

Last updated: June 1, 2015

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