New Bousquet Mountain Owners Announce Upgrades and Management Changes
As the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a cold and snowy winter comes news from Bousquet Mountain of some upgrades from the new owners of the popular local ski area. Upgrades include the installation of a Triple Poma chairlift, a revamped snow making system, new grooming equipment and a new beginner ski area.
The new owners, Mill Town Capital of Pittsfield, purchased Bousquet this past May. They wasted no time hiring new GM Kevin McMillian as well as two-time Olympian, US National Champion Krista Schmidinger who will work on youth programs. Krista was born in Lee and developed a love of skiing on the trails of Bousquet.
Below is the press release from Bousquet Mountain.
Great news, skiers and snowboarders! Bousquet Mountain has announced some exciting upgrades for their ski area plus a new General Manager and a new partnership with a Berkshire native Olympic skier.
From the Press Release:
Bousquet Mountain announced the hiring of a new General Manager, Kevin McMillan, and a collaboration with Krista Schmidinger, a Pittsfield native and Olympic Skier, to enhance the Bousquet Ski Area’s youth skiing program as improvements begin to elevate the Mountain’s recreational offerings. The local mountain also provided details on facility upgrades for this season.
Kevin McMillian, current GM at Zoar Outdoor, joins the Bousquet team as General Manager of the property. He has been with Zoar since 1992. He brings extensive knowledge of the outdoors and background as an experiential educator with regional schools. He was the 1996 recipient of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Hospitality Award and is a Wilderness First Responder.
In his role at Bousquet, McMillian will oversee the day to day operation of the mountain. He will be responsible for building out the Bousquet management team and staff, and implementing an effective operating model to run the business.
Mill Town Capital of Pittsfield purchased the mountain in May of 2020. “We are excited to bring Kevin on to support this project,” said Tim Burke, Mill Town’s CEO and Managing Director. “His background and experience managing an outdoor recreation business will be very beneficial as we hope to bring Bousquet to the next level as a skiing and outdoor recreation destination.”
Two-time Olympian, US National Champion, and two-time World junior medalist Krista Schmidinger will partner with Bousquet to further the youth programming. She will contribute to the Race Club and SnowSports School, assisting with race and school program design, instruction input, and one-on-one opportunities for young skiers.
Born and raised in Lee, MA, Schmidinger grew up on the slopes of Bousquet. The programs and coaches were instrumental in launching her ski career among others, such as her twin sister Kim Jochl, an eight-year member of the U.S. Ski Team and World Cup racer, and Heidi Voelker, three-time U.S. Olympian, U.S. National Champion, and 12-year member of the U.S. Ski Team.
“I look forward to making an impact on the local ski community and influence the next generation of Bousquet Champions,” Schmidinger said. “It means a lot to me to return to Bousquet where my career began, and I hope to inspire and develop other young skiers as the mountain becomes a premier destination for outdoor recreation.”
Bousquet also provided more details about the on-mountain renovations. The ski area is currently installing a Triple Poma chairlift that will provide access to the summit from the base, replacing the former “Yellow Chair.”
The mountain will also feature a revamped snowmaking system with over 25 new snow guns; new grooming equipment; and a new, more accessible beginner area. These upgrades are planned to be ready for the public in time for the Winter 2020/2021 season.
Season passes are currently available at bousquetmountain.com, and Bousquet recently extended early-bird pricing through September 15th, 2020. Passholders are expected to have priority benefits this year to help manage capacity during the COVID-19 environment.
In addition to the Bousquet season pass, Bousquet also joins the Berkshire Summit Pass, which allows passholders to access Bousquet, Berkshire East, and Catamount under a single season pass option.
ABOUT MILL TOWN:
Mill Town is a private investment group based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Berkshires. Mill Town’s mission is to expand and improve the quality and quantity of opportunities to live, work, and play in the Berkshires.
Founded in 2016, Mill Town focuses on improving the region through impactful business investments, visible real estate projects, and broad community development efforts.
Mill Town works to collaboratively improve our community and region by investing in valuable projects, building connections, and empowering entrepreneurs and community organizations.