This new lift services a real estate development on the back side of Merrill Hill.Upper part of the lift line.The lift line is quite long but not very steep.Upper lift line.Top station near the same summit as Merrill Hill I.View from the summit.Tower 15.The upper station.Unloading area.Middle section of the line.Tower 12.Lower lift line.The bottom terminal along the road to Jordan Bowl.Lift overview.Side view of the Alpenstar drive.Another view of the bottom station and tower 1.Tower 2.View up at tower 3.
This lift is longer than Aurora, Oz, South Ridge Express, and all three White Cap quads. It strikes me as odd they wouldn’t try to make it a “real” trail pod and take advantage of that fact.
I did not realize how long this lift was going to be until I saw the stats on this site, and was surprised to see that. SR could definitely use some more low-green terrain to lessen the constant crowding of South Ridge. But a fixed-grip and McMansions are presumably a much bigger profit than a detach and new trails.
I am also surprised that they were so quick to build this lift. I haven’t seen a master plan with updated Merrill Hill plans, I don’t think, and this lift doesn’t serve the current home sites. There probably is room to cut a few more trails and maybe have a remote parking lot back there, but again, I’d imagine the buyers want something like a private lift.
I believe the reason for this is due to the fact that the lift isn’t running and there aren’t trails leading to the loading area (Other than the lift line). They will cut more trails for the lift this coming summer and I expect it to be included on the trail/lift count for the following season. However, it is primarily a real estate lift so there is a possibility of it being private. I guess we will have to wait and see!
It wasn’t put on the trail map yet because there were no trails leading to it. It was installed simply because Dopp already was mobilized at the resort so it made sense. It will not be a private lift, open just like the front of MH.
Yes, which includes tree-clearing, regrading, leveling and adding snowmaking to around 3-4 trails. How Sunday River has any money in the budget after this season for those projects is a mystery, as they operated at a net-loss of almost two million this winter. Most of the money in the budget went to either of these three events:
The flash flooding on December 18th 2023 (and subsequent rebuilding projects across the mountain afterwards) that completely wiped out the access road in five different places – and filled South Ridge lodge with two feet of water. Completely renovating the Jordan Bowl hotel (throughout the entire winter season), and of course building two new chairlifts in one summer.
Sunday River will have to seriously dig deep for a successful winter this upcoming season – granted they are able to balance their own budget.
The Jordan is owned by the quarter share owners of the rooms/suites. SR may still own some unsold quarter shares. The ownership paid for the renovations with an assessment.
Lift Blog 
Merrill Hill II has been assigned lift number 20.
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This lift is longer than Aurora, Oz, South Ridge Express, and all three White Cap quads. It strikes me as odd they wouldn’t try to make it a “real” trail pod and take advantage of that fact.
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I did not realize how long this lift was going to be until I saw the stats on this site, and was surprised to see that. SR could definitely use some more low-green terrain to lessen the constant crowding of South Ridge. But a fixed-grip and McMansions are presumably a much bigger profit than a detach and new trails.
I am also surprised that they were so quick to build this lift. I haven’t seen a master plan with updated Merrill Hill plans, I don’t think, and this lift doesn’t serve the current home sites. There probably is room to cut a few more trails and maybe have a remote parking lot back there, but again, I’d imagine the buyers want something like a private lift.
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Sunday River didn’t even put it on the map, or even put it on the lift guide. Does anyone know why this is?
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I think its a real estate lift, like the kadenwood gondola at whistler
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I believe the reason for this is due to the fact that the lift isn’t running and there aren’t trails leading to the loading area (Other than the lift line). They will cut more trails for the lift this coming summer and I expect it to be included on the trail/lift count for the following season. However, it is primarily a real estate lift so there is a possibility of it being private. I guess we will have to wait and see!
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Merrill Hill II will not be a private lift-serviced area – unlike Big Sky.
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It wasn’t put on the trail map yet because there were no trails leading to it. It was installed simply because Dopp already was mobilized at the resort so it made sense. It will not be a private lift, open just like the front of MH.
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lift will be open to the public next season. Still more trailwork to do this summer.
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Yes, which includes tree-clearing, regrading, leveling and adding snowmaking to around 3-4 trails. How Sunday River has any money in the budget after this season for those projects is a mystery, as they operated at a net-loss of almost two million this winter. Most of the money in the budget went to either of these three events:
The flash flooding on December 18th 2023 (and subsequent rebuilding projects across the mountain afterwards) that completely wiped out the access road in five different places – and filled South Ridge lodge with two feet of water. Completely renovating the Jordan Bowl hotel (throughout the entire winter season), and of course building two new chairlifts in one summer.
Sunday River will have to seriously dig deep for a successful winter this upcoming season – granted they are able to balance their own budget.
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The Jordan is owned by the quarter share owners of the rooms/suites. SR may still own some unsold quarter shares. The ownership paid for the renovations with an assessment.
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