While it may not be ski season, things are far from slowing down at Bogus Basin.
Exciting new summer activities are coming to the mountain and some of the work is nearing completion.
On July 1, Bogus Basin will be opening most of its new summer attractions.
“That includes a 32-foot tall climbing wall, four trampoline bungee jumps, we're going to have 300-foot long tubing lanes, and gem panning to support Bogus' mining past that we have had,” said Bogus Basin General Manager Brad Wilson.
Bogus is also expanding its mountain bike presence by building a course with jumps and obstacles where bikers can hone their skills. It’s also slated to open July 1, and the best part, it's free.
“We are really excited,” said Wilson.
But perhaps the most exciting new thing is the highly-anticipated mountain coaster where riders will descend on a 2,400-foot track with twists and turns.
The coaster was originally expected to open August 1, but has since been pushed back to the latter part of the month.
“We had to clear the track, we had to do a lot of brush cutting and clear the area to lay the track down, we had to put foundation in, we have been working two months to get to where we are right now," said Wilson. "But the cool thing about the mountain coaster is we will operate it all winter as well, so we will have lights on, it will operate on weekends and holiday nights.”
As for the winter, Bogus is also in the process of building a bigger bunny hill for beginners.
“The biggest congestion we have is on those beginner trails, so we are really enhancing that lower level beginner experience,” said Wilson.
Wilson says the new attractions are being paid for by earnings generated from the past two successful ski seasons.
The new attractions will hopefully offset milder winters.
“New business for Bogus Basin, a way for us to develop revenue in the off-season largely to help offset the potential of a poor winter,” said Wilson.
Bogus Basin is also expanding their patio space and putting in two permanent fire rings that will be open during the summer and winter.
Ski lifts will also be open for sight-seeing starting July 1. They will run Thursday through Sunday.