Time to Celebrate: The Centennial Express Grand Opening is Friday
Skiers and snowboarders have something big to celebrate in Idaho’s West Central Mountains, as Brundage Mountain Resort announces the grand opening of the new Centennial Express High-Speed Quad.
The new detachable Doppelmayr chairlift replaces a 32-year-old fixed grip triple chair that was installed in 1990, the year Idaho celebrated 100 years of statehood. It took eight months for the old chairlift to be dismantled and replaced by the new state-of-the-art lift.
A grand opening celebration is set for Friday, January 5, 2024, at the base of the new lift. Those lining up to be among the first to ride the Centennial Express will be treated to free coffee and donuts. The lift is expected to open to the public around 10:00 am, after a short dedication ceremony and the mountain town version of a ribbon cutting.
“This is an exciting time for the entire Brundage community,” says Director of Mountain Operations, Dustin Johnson. “The amount of work – and teamwork – that’s gone into this project is incredible. From deconstruction to tower installation – the haul rope splice and safety testing – it’s been a huge project and we’re excited to celebrate its success with the public.”
The new four-seat high speed detachable quad cuts the ride time from the base area to the top of the mountain from 16 to six minutes. Brundage now has two high speed quads on the front side of the mountain which will better distribute the flow of guests and give easier access to popular runs like Engen, 45th Parallel, Meadow Bowl and the Lakeview Zone. The bottom terminal has been shifted slightly uphill to create more space and better traffic flow in the loading area.
“Brundage has always been known for its low-key vibe, and it’s important to us to maintain that relaxing atmosphere,” says Brundage General Manager, Ken Rider. “The strategic investment in the new high-speed lift keeps people moving up the slopes so they can spend less time in lines and more time enjoying the Best Snow in Idaho with friends and family.”
“Upgrading our lift infrastructure to include two high-speed quads in the base area gives us more flexibility and redundancy for moving people up the mountain, which is especially important on busy days and during challenging weather conditions,” says Rider.
The Centennial upgrade is a key part of Brundage Mountain’s 10 Year Improvement Plan, which was announced in fall of 2021 after a group of Idaho families came together to assume ownership of the 62-year-old resort. Their goal is to improve the guest experience while preserving the unique and storied character of Brundage Mountain. Several key components of the plan have already been completed. A new base lodge facility, the Mountain Adventure Center, or MAC, is set to be completed and in use for the 2024-25 winter season. 10 Year Improvement Plan Update
Wintery Weather Pattern Expected to Arrive Friday
Brundage Mountain has been open for full-time operations since Saturday, December 16 with terrain and grooming limited due to the low snowpack. Forecasters say a major pattern change is expected starting Friday, January 5. A series of storms is expected to bring more than a foot of fresh snow to Brundage Mountain over the next week. In addition to opening the Centennial Express starting Friday, January 5, Brundage is poised to open additional terrain and lift service as soon as snow depths permit.
Raise a Glass of CentenniAle Pale to Celebrate
This season also marks the release of a special craft beer brewed to commemorate the new chairlift. Salmon River Brewery’s new CentenniAle Pale is a classic American Pale Ale, 5.8 ABV, which is now available on-mountain at Smoky’s Bar & Grill and at SRB in downtown McCall.
Five Historic Centennial Chairs Up for Auction – Now Through January 4
Those nostalgic for the old chairlift have one last chance to own a piece of its history – while contributing to a new charity initiative. Brundage Mountain recently formed the Brundage Mountain Community Fund in order to amplify the resort’s existing efforts to support area non-profits.
The first fundraising event for the new fund is the auction of five of the triple chair carriers removed during the dismantling of the Centennial Triple Chairlift last spring. The online auction runs through noon on Thursday, January 4. The minimum bid for each of the five triple chair carriers is $800.
