Sign up for Scenic Six
Navigate the endless possibilities of New England travel with Boston.com.
Wachusett Mountain’s new summit lift opened Friday after delays
The Polar Express serves 13 trails and moves about 2,400 people per hour.
Skiers and riders could finally ride the new summit chairlift at Wachusett Mountain on Friday.
The Princeton ski area posted a video on social media celebrating the opening of the Polar Express, its $20 million new Doppelmayr detachable high-speed six-pack lift. The lift replaced the ski area’s 30 year-old Polar Express Quad, its only summit chairlift. The new lift opened at 8 a.m.
“This is one of the best high-speed six packs in the country, which is really cool,” said Jeff Crowley, president of Wachusett Mountain, in the video. “We’re so happy that this is done for vacation week.”
Advertisement:
The original ribbon cutting ceremony for the new lift was slated for Dec. 9. Then it was changed to Dec. 19. Then, in a video posted on Dec. 10, Crowley apologized for another delay and said Christmas week was the new anticipated opening.
“One of the reasons we’re taking a little extra time here is we want to do this thing right,” Crowley said in the apology video. “It’s going to last 30 or 40 years. And we don’t really need to rush it. We want the thing to be up and running and done safe and properly.”
Advertisement:
The Polar Express, named after Worcester-based Polar Beverages, serves 13 trails. It has automatic, self-locking restraint bars. It is a medium-capacity lift that moves about 2,400 people per hour, the same capacity as the old lift, so officials say they aren’t worried about bigger crowds on the trails.
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, with 125 skiable acres, 27 trails, 8 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,000 feet, is billed as “New England’s most accessible ski resort.”
Wachusett Mountain opened for the season Nov. 22, earlier than anticipated. On Friday, seven of eight lifts and 21 of 27 trails were open.
The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Polar Express will take place on Jan. 8, 2026.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com