Ice glistening in back of the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington. Notice the snow stake in the middle of the frame.

Ice glistening in back of the Birch Ridge Inn at Killington. Notice the snow stake in the middle of the frame.

50 years ago today, the Killington Ski Resort opened for business. At the time, a young "kid" with a vision, a keen ability to evaluate natural resources, and a dynamite sales pitch, convinced the state of Vermont to let him turn Killington Peak into a lift serviced ski resort to satisfy the wander lust of post pubescent baby boomers. The resort that Preston Leete Smith created has been a centerpiece of the economy of central Vermont ever since, and a true innovator in the commercialization of downhill snow sports. While "retiring" from the scene he created 12 years ago, the legacy of Pres Smith still thrives in the center of Vermont's Green Mountains.

It is a direct result of the vision and hard work of Pres Smith and his small team of entrepreneurs that caused Mary and myself to visit Killington to recreate many years ago. I write "recreate" versus "ski" because the resort Pres Smith created means a lot more to us than just a "Ski Resort". With our decision 12 years ago this Christmas to move full time to Killington and found the Birch Ridge Inn, Killington has transcended "skiing" for us and become a way of life.

Since Pres Smith sold the ski resort in the late 90's, much has changed, and much has stayed the same. The mountain, bar none, provides the most complete skiing and riding experience in the eastern United States. That legacy of Pres Smith has not changed.

Unfortunately, the management teams that have taken Pres Smith's place in the intervening years did not have the same drive to perfect commercial recreational skiing and riding. For many of the 10 years following Pres Smith's departure, Killington was viewed as a cash cow to provide debt service for what became a bankrupt ski corporation. While many incremental improvements to the resort were made during the ASC period at Killington, the joie de vivre to provide the best possible ski experience was replaced by the insatiable demands to export cash from a company jewel to prop up a failing empire.

But in a life span of 50 years, there are bound to be ups and downs.

2 years ago, the ownership of the resort changed hands once again. Last season, some very tough love was given to the resort to help stabilize the operation. From that rough start, more than 10 million dollars has been invested in on mountain resources in the last 2 years to restore the ski experience at Killington to its rightful place at the top of the New England ski industry. If the weather cooperates, next weekend will see the opening of a brand new high speed quad servicing Bear Mountain and Sky Peak. It will be the first new lift at the resort in 10 years. In addition to the lift, many of the ski trails at Bear Mountain and on Sky Peak have been totally redesigned to improve the on slope experience of skiers and riders. And at the end of the day, that is what 50 years of the Killington Ski Resort is all about!

The renewal that is underway at Killington is very telling. Ski people are back in charge. It is very clear living at Killington that the legacy of Pres Smith, and his vision for skiing from the top of Mount Killington is as strong today as it was on December 13, 1958.

Happy Fiftieth Anniversary Killington!...Let it snow!