BigRock Mountain, Maine Installing New Chairlift

BigRock Mountain at Mars Hill, Maine, located not far from the Canadian border, is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the family-oriented side of skiing and riding.

The ski area gave a glimpse of the future with their latest Instagram post, specifically showing a look to the summit from the loading area of their brand new Doppelmayr Quad chairlift.

Expected to be completed in time for the Winter '24/'25 season, the newly-named Uncle Bud's lift will service 932 ft. of vertical, will be 3,450 ft. long, and have 13 lift towers. BigRock has confirmed that all 13 towers have been installed.

The work is far from over for BigRock Mountain, but the finish line is on the horizon. The bullwheels are set to arrive next week, the top/bottom terminals will arrive towards the middle of the month, and then the cable gets spliced and everything gets wired together.

The non-profit launched a Capital Campaign back in 2021 to fund the new Dopplemayr quad chairlift. It's estimated to cost $2.9 million.

The new lift will share a name with a black diamond trail called Uncle Bud's (trail number 15 on the map below). It will replace the aging Lift #3 double chair that has been ferrying skiers to BigRock's summit since 1993.

Lift #3 is actually much older than the 31 years its been at BigRock. The ski area purchased the lift after it had been used for 25 years. It was made by Mueller, a company no longer in business.

While the mountain itself is only 1,748 feet in elevation, it is actually the tallest peak in northeast Maine. For many skiers, this is their home mountain, so the addition of an updated lift is something to look forward to this winter.

Throughout the 1900s, BigRock Mountain was a ski haven for Northern Mainers, but the ski area was threatened to close in 2013. Luckily, after the closing announcement in October of that year, the mountain ended up getting saved by a group forming a nonprofit.

The area was transferred to them, and things have chugged along ever since. Skiers continue to brave bitter winters to make turns, and this winter, they will be able to get up the hill even faster.

Big Rock Mountain Stats/Info:

Vertical: 980 ft.

Skiable Terrain: N/A

Average Snowfall: N/A

Lifts: 3

Trails: 28

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: YES

Mega-Pass: Indy

Related: The Ultimate Summer Trifecta: Ski, Bike, Paddle Board in One Day

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