Building the Future of Kissing Bridge. One Season at a Time.

Not too long ago I was an outsider looking in. Western New York welcomed me in a way that’s hard to describe. I’ve come to love the people here, the Bills, and most of all the community built around this resort.

Kissing Bridge is not just a ski area. It’s a meeting place. A workplace. A training ground for young people entering the workforce. A contributor to the Springville community and Erie County. And most importantly, it’s a place where friends and families create memories together. In a time when people spend too much time indoors and on screens, KB gets people outside, moving, laughing, and connecting.

That matters more than ever. Some of the efforts and learnings I want to share from this season, looking forward, are listed below.

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Snowmaking — What We Did & What We Learned

This season we made a major effort to improve snowmaking.
We added more guns, tested equipment from different manufacturers, and pushed the system harder than it’s been pushed in years.

And we learned a lot.

The biggest takeaway is this: the system underground matters just as much as the equipment above it. In order to have a reliable, modern snowmaking operation, we will need to replace major sections of pipe in the ground over time.

That’s not a one-season fix; it’s a decades-long investment. But the path forward is clear. We also learned that we need to be creative about managing electrical capacity, and we now have a good plan to do that as we expand.

The improvements we make underground will give us far more confidence in what we invest in on the surface. A stronger system will allow us to begin automating parts of our snowmaking operation, using electricity more efficiently, making more snow more quickly, and expanding terrain faster and more reliably. 

Most importantly, it will allow us to give guests access to more of the mountain, more often, with less reliance on natural snowfall.

This season was about learning, testing, and proving what’s possible. Those improvements will begin this Summer.

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Tubing — Taking a Risk

We made the decision this season to bring tubing back to Kissing Bridge.

From day one, we knew it would take a full season to learn. There would be trade-offs. There would be feedback. And there would be opportunities to improve.

This year was always step one.

Looking ahead, tubing will move to a lower impact area of the resort as part of a long-term, strategic plan to grow the experience in a scalable, safe and fun way for all to enjoy.

And just as important:

The Bunny Hill and Lower Mistletoe will be fully dedicated to beginner terrain next season.

This area will be regraded, expanded, and improved to create a better environment for first-time skiers and riders; supporting stronger instruction, more confidence, and a better overall learning experience.

Investing in the Next Generation

Our goal is simple:

Invest in youth. Invest in beginners.

Skiing and snowboarding won't grow unless new people fall in love with them. Kissing Bridge should be where that happens.

That means:

• Better beginner terrain
• Better instruction
• Better access for families and schools

But it also means thinking differently about how people are introduced to winter.

Tubing plays an important role in that.

It has a lower barrier to entry, both in cost and skill. It invites kids, families, and first-time visitors onto the snow in a way that feels easy, approachable, and fun. And once they’re here, something important happens:

They begin to see skiers and snowboarders.
They become curious.
They start to imagine themselves doing the same.

That moment, that curiosity, is where a new skier or rider begins.

Keeping Kids on the Snow

There’s another side to this that matters just as much.

Learning to ski or snowboard isn’t always easy. Cold temperatures, falls, frustration; it’s all part of the process. And sometimes, a tough day can turn a beginner away from the sport entirely.

Tubing gives us another option.

Instead of ending the day early, instructors and parents can shift the experience; keeping kids outside, on the snow, and engaged.

A tough lesson can turn into a fun afternoon.

And that changes everything.

Because at the end of the day, the question becomes:

“Did you have fun today?”

When the answer is yes, kids want to come back.
And when they come back, they improve.
And when they improve, they fall in love with the sport.

A Bigger Purpose

This is bigger than tubing.

It’s about creating an environment where kids stay outside, stay active, and stay connected to winter; even on the toughest days.

In a region where long winters and grey skies can take their toll, giving families more ways to enjoy the outdoors matters. It supports not just better skiers and riders, but healthier, happier kids and stronger family experiences.

Tubing is one piece of that puzzle.

And we’re committed to making it more fun, more unique, and more impactful than anywhere else in the region.

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Food & Beverage — Creating a Place to Stay

This season we also made meaningful progress in Food & Beverage.

We expanded operations with more dedicated service in both the Harvest Lounge and the Lake Effect Saloon, while also rethinking the experience beyond just food.

We added fireplaces, couches, and improved seating arrangements to create a more comfortable, lived-in environment. A place where you want to stay, not just pass through. 

We also introduced a stage and a 14-foot projector screen, opening the door for more live music, sports, ski films, corporate presentations, and community celebrations.

Looking ahead to this summer and next season, you can expect more from the outdoor grill and patio, and continued improvements at Willie’s.

We will always face the realities of weather and fluctuating visits, but we are building toward more predictability through events, programming, and a strong team we can rely on.

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Summer at Kissing Bridge — A True All Seasons Resort

Kissing Bridge is evolving beyond winter, and this summer is an important step forward.

Guests can expect more events, more ways to explore the property, and more reasons to spend time here year-round.

We are expanding:

• Mountain biking
  
  
• Adding a new disc golf course (free and open to the public)
  
  
• Hiking focused on health, wellness, foraging and birdwatching

All of this will be supported by chairlift access on weekends and holidays, making it easier to experience the mountain in a whole new way.

Willie’s will be open for food and drinks, tied into events and programming throughout the summer, creating a natural place to gather before or after time on the trails.

You’ll also see new art projects come to life and continued improvements across the property as we build toward becoming a true all seasons resort; a place where people don’t just visit in the winter, but choose to spend time throughout the entire year.

Coming Improvements for Next Winter

As we move through the summer, work at KB won’t slow down.

We’ll be making a series of improvements across the resort; starting with aesthetic upgrades like more painting, new signage, and expanded art installations that continue to shape the visual identity of Kissing Bridge.

At the same time, we’ll be advancing more significant infrastructure projects.

This includes replacing thousands of feet of snowmaking pipe, continuing to strengthen the foundation of our system underground, and introducing more automation to improve efficiency, consistency, and output across the mountain.

You’ll also see continued improvements to the parking areas, including additional paving to create a smoother and more accessible arrival experience.

These are the kinds of investments that aren’t always immediately visible, but they are critical to building a better resort; one that operates more reliably and delivers a stronger experience for our guests.

We’ll be sharing more details throughout the summer via email and social media as these projects take shape.

Leadership for the Future

This year we also brought on a new General Manager, Matt.

Leadership matters. Matt brings the kind of energy and operational focus needed to help bring KB out of the past and into the future.

Kissing Bridge plays an important role in this community. It provides jobs for the Springville area and beyond. It trains young people entering the workforce. It contributes tax revenue locally. But beyond that, it creates something harder to measure; shared experiences that shape people’s lives.

Matt understands that, and I believe strongly he can help lead KB forward.

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Expanding Beyond the Slopes

This year we also started expanding the reach of Kissing Bridge beyond the resort itself.

We:

• Established a non-profit, Beyond the Bridge, to support initiatives we care about and, hopefully, the community does too
  
  
• Partnered with Holimont on a reciprocal passholder discount
  
  
• Helped make snow at the Albright Knox Art Gallery
  
  
• Supported a feature film produced in Buffalo
  
  
• Partnered again with Borderland Music Festival to offer camping this summer
  
  
• And perhaps most exciting, partnered with the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning to help plan for the long-term evolution of KB
  
  

The students and faculty at UB are helping visualize and reimagine what Kissing Bridge could become over the next decade. Fresh ideas and outside perspectives will help shape the future of this mountain.

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Looking Ahead

None of this happens overnight.

Transforming a ski area takes time, patience, investment, and trust from the community.

I’m incredibly grateful for the way Western New York has welcomed me. I feel lucky to be part of it now.

And I’m excited for what Kissing Bridge can become, together.

Thank you for skiing with us this season.

See you on the hill.

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