Killington Resort

State: Vermont. Type: ski resort in the town of Killington, Rutland County, about 15 miles from Rutland city. Opened December 13, 1958, developed by Perry H. Merrill and Preston Leete Smith. Vermont's largest ski resort, nicknamed the "Beast of the East," with the largest vertical drop in New England (3,050 ft) and, as of September 2024, owned by the Killington Independence Group of local passholders and community members.

Killington Resort is Vermont's largest ski area, spread across six interconnected peaks in Rutland County near the town of Killington. It opened on December 13, 1958, developed by Perry H. Merrill and Preston Leete Smith, and expanded rapidly through the 1960s at a pace the resort's own history describes as well above industry standards. Killington Peak reaches 4,229 feet, with a base around 1,165 feet, giving the resort a 3,050-foot vertical drop that is billed as the largest in New England, a scale that underlies its "Beast of the East" nickname. The resort's winter terrain spans 155 trails and 1,509 skiable acres served by 21 lifts, with 71% snowmaking coverage helping stretch a season that typically runs from late October into late May, unusually long for the eastern U.S. Killington is closely linked with neighboring Pico Mountain (57 more trails), and the two are often skied together on a shared pass. Beyond winter sports, the resort operates a summer bike park with 30-plus miles of lift-served trails, along with hiking. In a notable 2024 ownership change, the resort passed to the Killington Independence Group, made up of local passholders and community members, rather than a distant corporate owner.

Killington Resort is located in the town of Killington, Rutland County, Vermont, roughly 15 miles from the city of Rutland. It sits across six interconnected mountain peaks in central Vermont's Green Mountains.

Killington's high elevation and northern location give it a cold, snowy winter climate typical of the Green Mountains, with the resort receiving roughly 250 inches of snowfall per year according to its own figures. Vermont's broader climate includes warm, mild summers, which support the resort's bike park and hiking season; specific monthly temperature data was not sourced for this entry.

Winter (late October through late May, per the resort's typical operating window) is the primary season for skiing and riding, with December through March generally the snowiest and busiest stretch. Summer draws visitors for the bike park and hiking; the sourced material did not specify exact summer season dates.

Killington opened on December 13, 1958, developed by Vermont State Forester Perry H. Merrill and Preston Leete Smith, and grew through the 1960s at what its own history describes as a pace well above industry standards, eventually expanding across six interconnected peaks. Over subsequent decades it built out the terrain, lift and snowmaking infrastructure that gave it its current scale, including the largest vertical drop in New England (3,050 feet) and 1,509 skiable acres across 155 trails. The resort became closely associated with neighboring Pico Mountain, which today adds a further 57 trails under a related pass structure. In a major ownership shift, the resort passed on September 27, 2024, to the Killington Independence Group, composed of local passholders and community members, a departure from the large-corporate-ownership model common at many major U.S. ski resorts.

Winter visitors ski or ride 155 trails across six peaks (28% beginner, 33% intermediate, 39% advanced), served by 21 lifts including gondolas and high-speed quads with a combined capacity of 37,535 people per hour. In summer, the resort runs a lift-served bike park with more than 30 miles of trails accessed by three lifts, plus hiking trails. Killington and Pico Mountain are often combined on multi-mountain passes for visitors wanting more terrain variety.

Killington Peak (4,229 ft summit) is the resort's high point and namesake landmark. The six-peak trail network and the resort's gondola/lift system are the main on-mountain attractions, and neighboring Pico Mountain offers an additional, smaller ski area under the same broader ownership and pass ecosystem.

The resort is in Rutland County, about 15 miles from Rutland, Vermont; the sourced material did not specify a nearest commercial airport or exact driving routes, though Rutland itself has a small regional airport and central Vermont is reachable via US Route 4. Most visitors drive in and use resort parking; specifics on parking fees were not sourced.

The resort's website directs visitors to its live Mountain Report for current-day operating hours rather than publishing fixed hours; the typical operating season runs from late October through late May, among the longest ski seasons in the eastern U.S. Confirm daily hours and season status on killington.com before visiting.

As of research, lift tickets are date-specific and cheaper the earlier they are booked; sample discounted resident (Vermont/New Hampshire) rates ranged from about $67 to $112 depending on the day and season window (Opening-Dec 19, 2025; Dec 20, 2025-Apr 5, 2026 peak; Apr 6, 2026-Closing). Season pass options include the resort's own Beast 365 Pass and the multi-resort Ikon Pass, but specific season-pass prices were not listed on the pages fetched. All tickets must be purchased online in advance; ticket-window purchases are not available. Confirm current pricing on killington.com.

Given the resort's size (six peaks, 155 trails), most skiers plan at least a full day, and many visitors stay multiple days to sample different peaks and, potentially, neighboring Pico Mountain.

Killington is a dedicated ski town with lodging concentrated around the mountain access roads, ranging from condominiums to hotels; specific property names were not confirmed in the sources fetched. Rutland, about 15 miles away, offers additional lodging options for visitors willing to commute to the slopes.

As a major ski resort, Killington has on-mountain dining at its base areas and lodges; specific restaurant names were not confirmed in the sources fetched for this entry. The wider Killington/Rutland corridor supports a range of casual dining tied to the ski-season visitor economy.

Pico Mountain, a smaller sister ski area with 57 trails, is the closest major related attraction and is often paired with a Killington visit via shared passes. Rutland, about 15 miles away, is the nearest city for additional shopping and services.

No specific airport or transit distances were confirmed in the sources fetched; Rutland, roughly 15 miles from the resort, is the nearest city and likely gateway point, with most visitors arriving by car.

Standard ski-area safety practices apply: check trail difficulty ratings (28% beginner, 33% intermediate, 39% advanced) before choosing a run, wear a helmet, and heed posted trail closures and weather advisories, especially given the resort's high elevation and long season. For any emergency, dial 911.

Winter visitors need appropriate cold-weather ski/snowboard gear suited to a high-elevation resort with roughly 250 inches of annual snowfall; summer bike-park visitors need appropriate biking gear and, per standard bike-park practice, a helmet. Specific rental-shop or gear-checklist details were not sourced for this entry.

Because all lift tickets must be purchased online in advance (no window sales, per the official site), buy tickets ahead of your visit rather than planning to purchase on arrival. Booking further ahead of your ski date generally reduces the price, since tickets are date-specific. Check the resort's live Mountain Report for current hours and conditions before heading out, since fixed daily hours are not published.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The resort's general guest information line, as sourced, is 800-734-9435 (daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.), with a text option at 802-523-2202 during the same hours.

Killington Resort - https://www.killington.com

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.