Our History
Past. Present. Future.
1923–2024
1923
Sherman Adams Moves to Lincoln
In 1923, Sherman Adams moves to Lincoln and begins work at the Parker-Young Company, where he serves as a Walking Boss. Walking Boss is a name for a logging supervisor or foreman, described as "the big man in the woods." He saw to it that teams were loaded and unloaded, loads were properly measured and recorded, and that the teamsters took care of the horses.
1949
Governor of New Hampshire
Sherman Adams becomes Governor of New Hampshire, and serves two terms.
1953
Sherman Adams Becomes White House Chief of Staff
Sherman Adams is appointed Chief of Staff to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1958
Sherman Adams Conceptualizes Loon
After returning to his hometown of Lincoln, Adams saw the need to diversify the area’s industry from logging to a balance of recreation, tourism and conservation.
1959
The Kancamagus Highway Opens
The Kancamagus Highway opens, linking New Hampshire Route 16 in Conway with Interstate 93.
1966
Spring: Construction Begins
In April, trail construction begins.
Pictured: Sherman Adams (left) and Selden "Sel" Hannah (right) discussing trail construction.
1966
Opening Day
After 8 months of construction, Loon opens on December 27, 1966 with 12 trails, 2 lifts and a gondola. "Five hundred people showed up with their skis without being invited." –Governor Sherman Adams, founder
1968
East Basin Opens
With the addition of three new trails, the installation of a new double lift provides access to the summit. East Basin's Triple Trouble, Big Dipper, and Angel Street trails mark the start of Loon’s expansion into expert terrain.
1970
Snowmaking Installed
Loon's snowmaking operation begins on 23 acres. The next year, snowmaking expands to 40 acres.
Pictured: Sherman Adams standing on some of the first snowmaking pipes installed (pipes outside of frame).
1978
West Basin Opens
Loon opens the West Basin area with a new chairlift and intermediate terrain.
1981
Governor Adams Lodge Completed
Phases I and II of the Governor Adams Lodge construction are fully completed.
1984
North Peak + Camp III Open
With the construction of a new triple chairlift, North Peak becomes the highest elevation at Loon, serving terrain like the storied pitches of Upper Walking Boss and Upper Flume.
1988
Original Gondola Replaced
Loon says goodbye to its iconic orange gondola, and replaces it with a new Doppelmayr gondola.
1995
Kancamagus Express Quad Opens
Loon installs the area's first high-speed detachable quad. This Doppelmayr lift was the most technologically advanced lift at the time.
2007
South Peak & Pemi Base Camp Open
The $10 million project opens with 3 new trails and 2 lifts, the Lincoln Express high-speed detachable quad, and the Tote Road fixed-grip quad, which connects the summit of South Peak to Loon Peak's Upper Bear Claw.
2010–12
600 Low-Energy Snowguns Installed
Loon invests in 600+ HKD aerial snowguns across the resort, increasing efficiency and snowmaking coverage.
2018
Loon Purchased by Boyne Resorts
Loon is purchased by Boyne Resorts, placing assets and operational control under one entity.
2019
North America's First Dual-Frequency RFID Gate System Installed
Loon introduces North America’s first ever dual-frequency RFID gates at key base area lifts.
2019
Downhill Mountain Biking Phase 1: Completed
On September 7, Loon opens Phase I of downhill mountain biking, which includes three trails and three miles of terrain.
2020
KLIK Hydrant Installation
Continued to add semi-automated snowmaking technology on core trails.
2020
Downhill Mountain Biking: Phase 2
The completion of Cinder, a blue freeride trail, marked over 10,000 feet of trail built that summer, and one of many downhill milestones hit in 2020. The two new Blue Freeride trails, Derailer and Cinder, built in tandem with Highland Trails, LLC, are stocked with flowing berms and options for air.
The Seven Brothers Triple doubled uphill capacity to additional bike carriers, getting you to the trail faster than ever before.
2021
Kancamagus 8
North America's fastest, and the East’s first, eight-place chairlift.
2021
Snowmaking Upgrades
Currently, 73 percent of Loon's snowmaking equipment is considered low energy. When these KLIK snowguns operate, they perform at a 4:1 return, meaning 200 snowguns run with the same energy it took to run 50 guns in the early 2000s.
2021
Downhill Mountain Biking Continues
With opening of Overhaul and Hopper, two blue freeride trails, and Upper Roundhouse, a blue technical trail, we added another 9,251 feet of MTB terrain.
2021
Camp III Deck Upgrades
The old deck was replaced with a new heated patio, with wind protection, additional seating and new chairs and tables.
2022
MTB is Bigger, Higher, Faster
Biking Moves West
With its greater speed and state-of-the-art Bike Clip system, Kancamagus 8 delivers access to expanded downhill terrain for all abilities quickly and comfortably.
2022
Seven Brothers Express Quad
The Seven Brothers Triple is replaced with detachable high-speed quad chairlift— the former Kancamagus Express Quad.
2023
South Peak Expansion
The South Peak expansion adds 11 trails and one four-person chairlift to the resort, increasing Loon's skiable terrain to over 400 acres, 13 lifts and a vertical drop of 2,190 feet—making it the longest in New Hampshire.
2023
Welcome to Timbertown
Timbertown Quad opened December 30, 2023. This Doppelmayr Alpenstar 4-CLF chairlift, conveniently located one-half mile from Main Street and a mile from Interstate 93, provides direct lift access from the Escape Route parking lots in the center of Lincoln.
2023
11 New Trails
The 30 acres of new terrain feature 11 new trails, including 2 tree-skiing areas, which cater to beginner and intermediate ability levels. Over 60 percent of the added terrain is green level, with the remainder rated More Difficult. The trail names are derived from the rich logging history of the region.
Looking Forward
Near Term
Projects
We are consistently listening to feedback and strive to improve our guest experience across the resort. As a result, we have prioritized the following innovations and upgrades throughout the resort:
- Reimagined West Basin
- Learning Center at South Peak
- Continued Installation of Semi-Automated KLIK Hydrants
- Lincoln Express Quad Upgrade
- Summit Café Expansion
- North Peak Trail Expansion
- New Summer Attraction
2026-2030
Late Stage Projects
- Snow Tubing Area Relocated
- Westward Trail Expansion
- Upgrade Gondola Lift
- Reimagine Pemigewasset Base Camp
- Upgrade North Peak Lift
- Expand Camp III
- Implement Fully Automated Snowmaking Technology