Biz ‘Bite:’ Brundage Mountain continues resort investments with high-speed chair replacement

Brundage Mountain Resort has announced that the Centennial Triple Chair will be replaced by a high-speed quad in time for the start of the winter season. The new lift — which will be called the Centennial Express — will cut the ride time by more than half, from 14 minutes to 6 minutes, according to the announcement, and increase uphill capacity from 1,300 people per hour to 1,800 people per hour. Construction on the new lift will take place in summer of 2023. The upgrade is part of the resort’s 10-year improvement plan, which includes a day lodge, on-site lodging and on-mountain recreation upgrades.

“Upgrading the Centennial lift to a high-speed quad does more than just cut down the ride time,” Brundage Mountain General Manager Ken Rider said in a statement. “The loading experience will be so much smoother — especially for families — which will make some of our best terrain infinitely more accessible.”

Additional improvement projects that are already underway include the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Ski Patrol facility and updates to the Ski and Ride School. Brundage is also building new employee housing facilities and base area infrastructure this summer and working with CIMBA on a new 8-mile mountain bike trail between Brundage and Bear Basin. Brundage Mountain stated it plans to invest between $25 to $30 million dollars in the resort over the next two to three years and plans to release more specifics on additional improvement projects in the coming weeks and months.