Sunday River Provides Candid Update On Impressive Offseason Improvements

Sunday River, Maine will look a bit different next season.

The resort is installing a Doppelmayr D-Line six-seated chairlift that's kitted out with heated seats, bubble covers, and automatically lowering and raising restraining bars to replace the Barker Express quad chairlift.

Along with the state-of-the-art lift, the resort is installing a new fixed-grip lift on Merrill Hill, and upgrading their snowmaking systems. Check out the update video below:

This summer's projects are part of Sunday River 2030, a decade-long plan that's aimed to grow the resort through a laundry list of upgrades and renovations.

The Barker 6 is expected to open this season. When it does, it will be Sunday River's second D-line chairlift joining the Jordan 8 that was installed last summer.

Check out the Barker 6 announcement video for a better idea of what the lift will look like once completed:

More information about the Barker 6 from Sunday River below:

Barker 6 Stats/Info:

Uphill Capacity: 3,250 skiers per hour

Speed: 6 meters/second (~20 feet/second)

Ride Time: 4.68 minutes

Towers: 13

Description: "The Barker 6, one of the most advanced and fastest 6-person chairlifts in North America, will take to the slopes for the winter of 2023-24. 

A Doppelmayr D-Line design, the lift will feature ergonomic heated seats, an automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, weather-blocking bubbles in our signature Sunday River Red, and improved wind resistance.

This addition to the resort is a pivotal step forward in our Sunday River 2030 plan, and alongside the Jordan 8, forms a transcendent duo of Doppelmayr's flagship lifts.

Servicing beloved terrain from White Cap to North Peak, the Barker 6 will whisk skiers to the summit of Barker Mountain, providing a fast and comfortable ride from one of the most popular base areas at the resort. 

In addition to the Barker 6 this summer, Sunday River will install a second Doppelmayr fixed grip triple on Merrill Hill, opening the door for future ski trails and real estate development. Last summer, the resort installed the Jordan 8, North America's fastest 8-person chairlift, servicing terrain across Oz and Jordan Bowl peaks."

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