Killington's Signature Gondola Will Go Dark for Most of Next Summer
Killington's K-1 Express Gondola will close for most of summer 2027 so crews can replace its control system, add fiber-optic cable, and reinforce tower bases.
Killington will close its K-1 Express Gondola for the majority of summer 2027, the resort says, so crews can fully replace the lift's control system. That is the computer that monitors the gondola's speed, the spacing between cabins, and its many safety controls. The work also includes a new fiber-optic cable and reinforcement of certain tower bases.
The closure is phase two of a project that started this past summer. In 2026 the K-1 ran mostly Friday through Sunday, instead of last year's Thursday through Sunday schedule, to free up time for targeted maintenance on acceleration and deceleration systems, drive and brake systems, and other reliability work. Killington describes that as part of a broader $1.3 million investment in lift maintenance across the resort. Daily fall scenic rides on K-1 wrap up on Oct. 12.
What it means for skiers
This is a summer closure, so the 2026-27 ski season is not affected. The K-1 carries riders 1.25 miles to the 4,241-foot summit of Killington Peak, the highest lift-served summit in Vermont, and it runs in winter as well as summer. A new control system is not glamorous, and most of the work will not be visible, but it is the kind of upgrade that keeps a signature lift running reliably on cold, windy powder days for years. Killington says details on summer 2027 operations will be shared as plans are finalized, which matters most to scenic riders and anyone planning a summer trip around the gondola.
A busy offseason pipeline
The gondola work is one of two big projects Killington has flagged for the 2027 offseason. The other is a major expansion of the Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill at the Needles Eye base, which the resort plans to open for the 2027-28 season. Since a local ownership group bought Killington and Pico in 2024, upgrades have included two new chairlifts, more than 1,000 new snow guns, new gondola cabins, and new surface lifts at Pico. Earlier this month, the resort also tested new snow guns on 15-foot swing arms ahead of opening day, which has not been set.
For trail breakdowns, lodging, and the Access Road scene, start with the Killington resort page. Gondola schedules and project notes are on Killington's scenic gondola page.