It might take a village

Investments and improvements hint at what’s ahead for Bretton Woods

This coming winter, Bretton Woods skiers and riders will enjoy key improvements — a double-black-diamond glade named Mom Said No and a new four-person chairlift added last year, and this year, expanded snowmaking, increased Nordic grooming and a relocated terrain park.

Changes improve the flow at the base and give room to the mountain’s racing program, according to Jace Wirth, general manager of the ski area. “Snow is the lifeblood of our business,” he says. “Investing in snowmaking and the equipment that helps us maintain our trails is an investment in the guest experience.”

The Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa, which owns the mountain, is actively thinking about how visitors arrive, stay and spend time there. Ideas for lodging, dining, retail and other amenities at the area’s base are being explored. But Michael Medeiros, the new managing director of the resort, says there is no final design or timetable yet to announce.

The question of expansion arrives after the resort recently completed an inspired rethinking of its historic Mount Washington Hotel situated across the valley from the ski area. Medeiros was tapped to oversee the massive, property-wide overhaul completed this past summer, focused on charming a new generation of luxury travelers. Refreshed carpets, colors and furnishings draw on the natural beauty of the White Mountains and the building’s history — it first opened in 1902 — while guest rooms and public spaces have been updated.

“We didn’t want to take a 124-year-old treasure and make it feel like a brand-new hotel. We wanted to bring it forward without losing what people love about it — the history, the architecture, the setting and that feeling you get when you come around the corner and see it,” Medeiros says. It is an approach he wants carried beyond the hotel; if there is a village at Bretton Woods, it should “complement the hotel, not compete with it.”

Medeiros arrived from Pittsburg’s Omni William Penn Hotel last year. The European-inspired William Penn was built in 1916 and became the city’s social and cultural centerpiece, so he is well versed at changing the conversation around historic properties. Medeiros also understands the New England market. Prior to joining Omni, he spent nearly 30 years climbing the ranks at Sonesta International Hotels, serving as the longtime general manager for the company’s Boston property.

The idea of creating a stronger base village at Bretton Woods isn’t something that appeared overnight, Medeiros says. Plans and discussions have been going on for years, and Omni’s thinking about the role of the base area in relation to the larger resort has evolved. His test for the development is less about its size than whether it improves the mountain and connects to the sense of place around it: “The goal isn’t to build a village. The goal is to build the right village.”

While mum’s the word on specifics, recent investments in the resort suggest there is more in store. For instance, the Lodge at Bretton Woods, which sits next to the ski area, is being renovated this winter to be ready for guests next summer, providing a more affordable pricepoint for guests who want to experience the resort and ski area.

Bretton Woods’ improvements come amid other changes in the New Hampshire ski tourism landscape. Loon Mountain announced in September that it plans to add 272 acres of expert-only tree skiing at Black Ridge, bringing its total to 675 skiable acres. When the terrain opens for winter 2027–28, that would make it the state’s largest ski mountain. Bretton Woods currently holds the distinction with 464 skiable acres, but Medeiros doesn’t see a race for acreage as the resort’s goal.

Photos courtesy of Omni Mount Washington Resort and Spa

“For us, the question isn’t simply, ‘How do we get more acres?’” he says. Key team members are evaluating opportunities including Wirth, who joined the resort this past summer. He has nearly two decades of leadership experience at mountain resorts across North America, most recently as general manager of Cannon Mountain and Franconia State Park.

“As we continue investing in the future of the mountain, Jace’s leadership and deep industry expertise will help lead our efforts to deliver exceptional experiences in every season while preserving the character and traditions that make Bretton Woods truly one of a kind,” Medeiros says.

Alongside skiing and golf, Medeiros envisions more spa and wellness offerings, guided experiences rooted in the landscape and history, and events that entice guests to stay longer. Even the night sky has a part to play — the Milky Way is visible to only 20% of the world’s population, including hotel guests who step outside on a clear night.

“That’s an existing experience the resort can build around without building over it,” Medeiros says. “We want to grow; we just don’t want to grow away from what makes this place special.”

Carol Connare is the editor of the Old Farmer’s Almanac.