By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

NEWRY – Skiers and riders hitting the slopes across western Maine this winter can expect a wide variety of new attractions, upgrades and perks.

Pricey capital improvements topped the list of projects this summer at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Sugarloaf/USA in Carrabassett Valley and Saddleback Ski Resort in Rangeley.

But Mt. Abram Ski Resort in Greenwood and Black Mountain of Maine at Rumford, which are coming off infrastructure improvements, instead geared efforts to attract more families.

Sunday River, which is to open Friday, Nov. 11, sank $2 million into infrastructure upgrades, new spokesman Alex Kaufman said Wednesday morning.

The resort’s two hotels, Jordan Grand and Grand Summit, have been spruced up, and other base lodges, inns and a shop were restructured.

Sugarloaf’s popular Shipyard Brew Haus restaurant and bar cloned itself into Sunday River’s White Cap Lodge over the summer, Kaufman said.

Sunday River also bought four new grooming machines and expanded their concert series, which are now to be held in the Brew Haus.

Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf spokesman Bill Swain said Wednesday afternoon that the resort spent $750,000 this summer. Changes include a new state-of-the-art 18-foot Zaugg Half-Pipe Designer machine, increased snowmaking capacity, a new parking lot and renovated infrastructure.

The resort is scheduled to open on Friday, Nov. 18.

The ski rental shop was renovated; the new parking lot, which was designed to hold 400 cars, will only be at half capacity this winter; and the access road has been paved to a third lot.

Additionally, extensive brushing was done to Rookie River, Stubs and Cant Dog glade trails.

Saddleback

Saddleback expects to begin making snow in mid-November to open on Dec. 17.

The resort added four new trails – two of which are expert rated – and glades, added 30 chairs to the Rangeley chairlift, upgraded snow-making capacity to cover 85 percent of the mountain, and lowered season pass rates by about $100, said spokeswoman Patricia Carrier on Wednesday afternoon.

Two new parking lots were added; 30 condominium units are under construction, some of which are expected to be ready by Christmas; and a new real estate office was constructed in the resort lodge from which to sell the units.

Mt. Abram

Mt. Abram spokesman Brad Chafin said Wednesday afternoon that the Greenwood resort is hoping to increase family attendance by offering free skiing to children age 6 and under.

“We want to continue to make it affordable for families to ski together here,” Chafin said.

The resort is to open on Dec. 17.

New “fun boxes” were added to the resort’s ski and snowboard terrain parks, and, Mt. Abram is to unveil what it says is the first carve park in New England.

Named for its sponsor, the 400- to 600-foot-long Sobi Carve Park on the Egomaineah Trail in the West Side area, is similar to a self-timed race course, Chafin said.

“It’s going to be a great way for our ski school to take groups into it to enhance skill development,” he added.

The resort also increased snow-making capacity, and added new ski school programs for freestylers and snowboarders.

Black Mountain

Black Mountain spokesman Craig Zurhorst said Wednesday afternoon that, unlike last year, the resort would be opening under a full head of steam.

“Last year, the new lodge wasn’t quite ready and the lifts to the top weren’t ready. We literally slid into the season,” he said.

“That wasn’t how we wanted to start. But this year, we’re fully functional and are going to start off with a bang,” Zurhorst added.

Dec. 26 is opening day.