LEBANON — Storrs Hill Ski Area will again offer free lift passes for the upcoming season.
The Lebanon Outing Club opted to build on last year’s record turnout after the nonprofit that runs the ski hill and lodge on city-owned land first offered free skiing.
“I think we’re ready to do it again for the second year in a row,” said Cory Grant, the general manager of Storrs Hill and the president of the Lebanon Outing Club.
Last season saw around 2,500 skiers and snowboarders — four times as many compared to the year prior, when adult passes cost $10 to $15, Grant said.
The primarily volunteer-run ski area is set to commence its 103rd year of operation. The hill also offers ski and snowboard lessons, a terrain park, two ski jumps, a commercial kitchen and ski patrol.
While passes for the tow-lift are free, visitors must bring their own gear as Storrs does not offer rentals.
Lessons also range in price from the $75 “sno-puppies” program for children ages 4 to 7 years old to $195 alpine ski racing lessons for non-Lebanon residents.
The free lift tickets are funded by a second large donation from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. While last year’s proposal to the Byrne Foundation was a “shot in the dark,” the foundation accepted it this year without hesitation, Grant said.
“There was no question,” Grant said. “It was, ‘Let’s do it again.’ “
Many other businesses and individuals also have made donations to the community-driven hill, including Novo Nordisk, the City of Lebanon and the Killington World Cup Foundation.
The Outing Club listed just under $200,000 in operating and administrative expenses in its tax filings for the fiscal year ending in June 2024, of which $45,000 were appropriated by the city of Lebanon, according to a budget report.
Lifelong Lebanon resident Jason LaHaye, who owns LaHaye Property Maintenance, came earlier this week with three of his workers to cut brush along the ski hill at half of the usual price.
“It’s a good resource for the town,” LaHaye said from the seat of his excavator, which had a brush-chewing attachment on it. “It brings in a lot of out-of-town people (…). That’s good for business — for restaurants and hotels.”
Other Lebanon residents are also supportive of the community recreation area.
Gordon Yu, a 25-year resident of Lebanon and frequent walker of the hill, said Storrs Hill is a training ground for kids.
“It’s good for the local community,” Yu said Tuesday on a walk up Storrs. “They’re doing great work.”
Although increased traffic proved to be a challenge last year, the hill’s approximately 50 volunteers were able to do crowd control, Grant said. About 10 to 15 volunteers are expected to be added to the roster this year, he said.
Also expanding is the lodge, which is set to start construction next summer, Grant said. The Lebanon City Council appropriated $550,000 for the project in August, the Valley News reported. The funding includes a $275,000 federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $250,000 currently held by Lebanon as recreation impact fees and $25,000 to be raised by the Lebanon Outing Club.
At the same time, hill organizers are also trying to begin construction for a “magic carpet” tow, Grant said. The tow is useful for people learning to ski and snowboard, and would be located behind the lodge, away from the main hill.
The hill is scheduled to be open for skiers and snowboarders Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Dec. 26, depending on the weather, Grant said.
CLARIFICATION: The $550,000 the Lebanon City Council appropriated for an expansion of Storrs Hill lodge comes from a $275,000 federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $250,000 currently held by Lebanon as recreation impact fees and $25,000 to be raised by the Lebanon Outing Club nonprofit. A previous version of this story was unclear about where the money came from.