SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., Sept. 2, 2026—Significant snowmaking equipment and infrastructure upgrades are underway at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, aimed at improving efficiency and production ahead of the 2026-27 winter season. The upgrades also mark Smuggs’ 70th year in operation and the first full season under the ownership of Bear Den Partners, which acquired the northern Vermont resort in February. 

The project will increase snowmaking capacity across the resort’s three mountain faces through the installation of 100 new snow guns, upgrades to pipelines, pumps, and valves, and increased water distribution from its existing snowmaking supply. The resort is also adding nine more snowmobiles to help the snowmaking crew get around more efficiently. 

“Snowmaking is fundamental to the way we operate a mountain in Vermont, and this investment gives our team significantly more capability and flexibility,” said Smuggs vice president of mountain operations Mike McAdoo. “When the temperatures are right, we want to be able to take full advantage of those windows.”

Eighty new fixed-position guns—including 18 SMI Grizzly towers and a combined 62 new HKD Phazer and Impulse towers—are being installed at key locations across the mountain to modernize equipment, expand fixed snowmaking coverage, and improve the efficiency of both the system and the snowmaking team. Twenty new Ratnik land guns are being added to increase capacity during early-season temperature windows.

The infrastructure improvements include replacement of 1,100 feet of snowmaking pipe, along with new and replacement valves. A new pipe connection between two main trails will improve water flow at the top of Sterling—one of Smuggs’ three mountain faces—and allow snow to be made on both trails simultaneously. Pump and motor upgrades and additional backup equipment will make the system more reliable and add redundancy.

Crews are also doing brush work along trail edges to restore usable trail width and improve snowmaking coverage in select areas.

“Smugglers’ Notch has a tremendous foundation, an exceptional team and a strong identity,” said Bear Den Partners CEO Jon Schaefer. “Our role as owners is to build on that foundation thoughtfully and strategically. Investing in snowmaking at Smuggs is a fundamental investment in the resort and its future,” adding that “we expect this to be the first of many meaningful projects.”