What a year this has been. We hope that you and your families have been safe and well during these challenging times. You have certainly been in our thoughts all summer as we have been planning for the approaching winter season under these pandemic conditions. Please know that YOUR SAFETY and that of our employees is our very first priority. With extra planning, preparation and cooperation, we can all enjoy being outdoors and cruising the slopes this season!
The CT Ski Areas Association, which includes all 4 ski resorts in CT, has put together a unified COVID-19 plan. This plan, guided by the NSAA (National Ski Areas Association) “Ski Well, Be Well – Ski Area Operating Best Practices” program and the recommendations provided by the state of CT, comprises our CTSAA COVID-19 policy. Our policy consists of a COVID-19 Responsibility Code and COVID-19 Operational Guidelines. Our COVID-19 Responsibility Code has rules that many of you are already following in your daily lives. We will be asking all staff and customers to abide by these:
Keep Your Distance. Maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance from others when possible. Please do not congregate.
Cover Your Face. Wear a face covering to protect yourself and others.
Wash and Sanitize. Wash and sanitize your hands routinely.
Hands to Yourself. Avoid handshaking, high–fiving or other unnecessary physical contact.
Feeling sick? Stay Home. Be responsible and respect others. If you feel unwell or are experiencing a fever, cough, muscle aches and pains, sore throat, shortness of breath, or sudden changes in taste or smell, please stay home.
Stop the Spread. Sneeze and cough into a tissue, cloth, elbow, or sleeve, not into your hands.
In addition to our COVID-19 Responsibility Code, we have implemented a lot of changes to how we will operate this season to improve safety, reduce contact, and regulate crowds.
1. Advance Online Ticket Sales – We will be selling tickets online, which can be selected by calendar day, and length of lift ticket. This allows us to cap the amount of tickets sold daily and ensure that we stay within capacity limits, especially on weekends and holidays. If customers choose to purchase their tickets upon arrival, they will be turned away if we have met our maximum capacity*. Please purchase lift tickets and all other products online to ensure that your chosen date of arrival is not sold out! *Passholders are not restricted at this time.
2. Reduced Capacity in all Buildings – Ski Sundown will be following state of CT recommendations for building capacities at the time of opening. These limits will allow for social distancing and will improve flow throughout the lodge and other buildings. Seating areas will be reduced indoors; outdoor seating is available. This reduced capacity will be monitored and maintained by Lodge Hosts.
3. Lift Accommodations - To maintain physical distancing on our chairlifts and surface lifts, we will only be seating related parties (guests skiing or riding together), or two singles on opposite sides of a three-person lift. We will also accommodate for any guest who prefers to use a lift alone.
4. Safety Signage– We are installing signage throughout the base area, lifts, and inside all buildings to educate and remind customers of our responsibility code.
5. Food Access – Food will still be available inside the lodge. We will ask customers not to linger and congregate at tables once they have finished eating. Always keep in mind that space is limited inside the lodge. Outdoor barbeque will also be available weekends and holidays.
6. Cleaning Practices – We are instituting additional sanitizing and disinfecting policies to ensure the cleanliness of all high-contact areas.
7. Private/Group Lesson Reservations – We have implemented an online reservation and payment system for both private and group lessons. This will provide a more streamlined and contactless process to register for lessons, as well as restrict group sizes.
8. Rental and Waiver Forms – These forms are now available online on the "Forms" page, to reduce contact and lessen time waiting in line. Please download and fill out before arriving to the resort.
9. Embrace the “Car Chalet!”– This season, we ask that you all embrace the idea of using your vehicle as your own personal “Ski Chalet”. It’s the best place to get your boots on, get changed, eat a snack, and store your belongings. With building capacities reduced, please keep your visits to the lodge and other buildings to the bare necessities! Lockers and cubbies still are available on a “first come, first served” basis. However, we will no longer allow unattended bags on tables or floors.
This season will be different than other seasons in the past. We understand that what our guests have come to expect from the “Ski Sundown” experience, has inevitably changed. We ask that you be patient with our staff and other customers. We have all had to readjust to this “new normal” and implementing our COVID-19 policy will require some extra understanding on everyone’s part. So, three cheers to a very different, but very awesome season…because we all just want to get out there and hit those slopes!
