As the ski season wraps up, one resort in the region already has its eyes set on next season. Mount St. Louis Moonstone has announced it’s making several upgrades by using more than $5 million in capital investments. The resort says the money will go towards improving the guest experience both on and off the slopes. “These investments reinforce our commitment to staying ahead of guest expectations and maintaining our position as Ontario’s leader in skiing and snowboarding,” said Andre Huter, Operations Director at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. One of those upgrades is snowmaking. Instead of the 60 manual snow guns the resort currently has, it is set to replace them with automated fan guns from TechnoAlpin. The company has been designing and building snowmaking systems for ski areas across the world since 1990. To groom all that snow, the resort will be getting a new groomer called the PistenBully 600 Polar Stage V, which will create corduroy conditions or a ridged and packed snow surface for all 36 runs across the mountain. For those new to skiing, the resort plans on installing a new carpet lift to move an additional 1,800 skiers and snowboarders up the hill while offering a simpler way of transporting beginners to the top of the mountain. The carpet will come with LED lighting, allowing it to run at night. To enhance night skiing further, the resort will add coloured LED lighting on the beginner hill, Big Lonely, to help with visibility while creating a unique visual experience. For accommodating peak times like weekends and holidays, the resort will be expanding the parking area, allowing for 200 more vehicles. Mount St. Louis will also be improving its rental equipment with an automated tuning machine called the Wintersteiger Juniper. The resort is giving its après ski facilities a facelift as well. A new European-style beer hall Biergarten, an inspiration based on the resort’s Austrian heritage. Some of the new menu options include pretzel bites, bratwurst flatbread, schnitzel sliders, tater kegs with beer cheese, and apple strudel pizza. Not only will the bottom of the hill have improvements, but the top of the mountain will be getting a new outdoor food experience. Those details are yet to be revealed, with the resort saying more information will be released throughout the summer. The upper level of the Louis Chalet will be revamped, and the washrooms will also be renovated. “For over 60 years, our family has believed that every dollar reinvested into Mount St. Louis Moonstone should directly improve the guest experience,” said Robert Huter, General Manager.
