Flash Flooding Causes Closure of New England Ski Resorts
Several of New England’s biggest ski resorts, including Sunday River, have announced that they will be closed on Tuesday following flash flooding that caused damage around the resorts.
“We are actively assessing roads, trails, and systems in the aftermath of five inches of rain received in a short period of time,” Sunday River Resort said in a news release.
The heavy rain and flash flooding caused a portion of the road leading to the Sunday River Grand Summit Hotel and Conference Center to wash away on Monday afternoon. Video from the scene showed water from Barkers Brook transformed into a raging river, washing away part of Summit Road, which leads to the hotel.
As a result, the resort will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 19, as it conducts a damage assessment. “Ski operations will be reopened as quickly as possible, and snowmaking will resume once necessary repairs are made,” the resort said.
Route 302 East near Bretton Woods Ski Area reopened Tuesday morning, but the resort will stay closed on Tuesday to get trails back in shape after heavy rain and warmer temperatures.
Similarly, Wildcat and Attitash Mountain Resorts, located in nearby Gorham and Bartlett, New Hampshire, both announced they would not open on Tuesday “due to adverse weather and to assess storm damage.”
Loon Mountain, located about 25 miles west in Lincoln, also said they would remain closed on Tuesday. The resort’s website stated, “Lincoln, Woodstock and many of our neighboring communities have been severely impacted by the recent storm. Giving you, fellow team members and neighbors some extra time to tend to their personal needs or the flexibility to lend a hand to others is the right thing to do before we start welcoming guests back to the resort.”
It is evident that the recent storms have caused significant damage in the region, impacting not just the ski resorts but also the surrounding communities. The priority for now is to assess and repair the damage, and ski operations will resume as soon as the necessary repairs are made.