A major snowmaking upgrade is heading to Falls Creek in time for the 2025 ski season with installation of new snowmaking guns over the summer.
The Drovers Dream run will open up beginner and intermediate terrain for guests early in the season thanks to the upgrade.
Drovers Dream is the perfect learning terrain for beginner skiers and snowboarders and used by ski school regularly. It runs alongside two progression perfect terrain parks and has some of the best views of Rocky Valley Lake, making it one of the most popular runs at Falls Creek.
12 new snow guns will provide guests with more terrain and lifting access from opening day through to closing. It will also even out the flow of guests in early and late season by providing beginner and low intermediate terrain options including Drovers Dream, Main Street and Australia’s longest green run – Wombat’s Ramble.
“The Drovers Dream snowmaking project will transform the experience for guests in early winter, opening up this amazing beginner and intermediate terrain for guests earlier than we have ever done in the past, and keep it open longer into the season,” says Richard Phillips, Vice President & General Manager at Falls Creek.
The new, automated and energy efficient modern snowmaking guns will allow the snowmaking team to be able to maximise snow production opportunities as the temperature drops without the lost time associated with older technology and infrastructure. The project will also include partial realignment and placement of the new snow guns along Drovers Dream to provide improved skiing and boarding terrain in this area.
“It will be a significant improvement for our snowsports school offering, particularly during early and late season conditions, and will also improve snow coverage and possibilities at our terrain parks,” says Phillips.
Over the past six years, Vail Resorts has invested heavily into the guest experience at Falls Creek, with a focus on snowmaking systems and grooming fleets, as well as snow fences across the resort.
“These are all important functions to ensure we can make snow, move snow and catch snow all season long,” says Phillips, “ensuring our guests experience the best possible snow conditions.”
Recent investment projects at Falls Creek include replacing snowmaking compressors with new machines in the central pumphouse located at the base of Towers chairlift; six new automated snowmaking guns across the resort and two modern, energy efficient PistenBully snow grooming cats to the already extensive fleet.
Plus replacing all snowmaking on Main Street with a modern automated system to maximise snowmaking opportunities, allowing the run to open earlier and close later each season; additional automated snowmaking on Wombat’s Ramble, improving efficiency and output and replacing snowmaking pipes at the base of the Ruined Castle chairlift, allowing for increased water flow and maximised efficiency of our snow guns in this area.
