All

Loon Mountain Is About to Become New Hampshire’s Largest Ski Resort

September 2026

Loon’s Recent Announcement About The Black Ridge Expansion and What That Means for South Peak Resort

If you’ve been thinking about putting down roots at South Peak Resort, Loon Mountain just gave you one more very good reason. On September 1, 2026, Loon announced Black Ridge, a massive 272-acre terrain expansion that will make Loon the largest ski resort in the entire state of New Hampshire when it opens for the 2027-28 season.

For a community built on the promise of true ski-in/ski-out living at the base of Loon, this is the kind of news that doesn’t just move the needle, it redraws the map.

The Numbers Behind Black Ridge

Here’s what’s coming:

  • 272 acres of new expert-only, gated, in-bounds tree skiing
  • Loon’s total skiable terrain jumps from 403 acres to 675 acres: a 67% increase
  • A 1,350-foot vertical drop within the new zone, with the North Peak summit reaching 3,050 feet
  • 675 total skiable acres will officially surpass Bretton Woods (roughly 468 acres) to make Loon the largest ski resort in New Hampshire
  • Dense softwood forests, steep gullies, and open hardwood glades. No grooming, no snowmaking, all natural terrain
  • Access via a controlled gate at North Peak leading to a 1.25-mile traverse (some hiking or pushing required) before skiers choose their own line down
  • Construction begins in early 2027, developed in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service within the White Mountain National Forest
  • No new terrain access during the 2026-27 season, the zone stays closed for construction until it officially opens for winter 2027-28

This isn’t a beginner-friendly bunny slope tacked onto the mountain. Black Ridge is built for experts who want the kind of raw, backcountry-style riding that’s historically sent East Coast skiers chasing terrain out West or up into Vermont’s steeper glades. Loon is making a clear statement: it wants to be the mountain that keeps advanced skiers home.

Why This Is a Huge Deal for South Peak Resort

South Peak Resort sits on 360 acres tucked between the Pemigewasset River and the base of Loon Mountain, and every acre Loon adds to its terrain map adds real, tangible value to life here. This expansion arrives in the middle of Loon’s 10-year Flight Path: 2030 growth plan, of which South Peak’s own village development: homesites, custom homes, townhomes, and an eventual South Peak Village with restaurants, shopping, a hotel, and a spa, is a core piece.

Think about what it means to own a home here once Black Ridge opens:

  • Instant access to New Hampshire’s biggest mountain. Homeowners at South Peak won’t just live near a ski resort, they’ll live at the base of the largest one in the state, with ski-back access to the Lincoln Express Quad and fast connections to the Timbertown Quad at Pemi Base.
  • A stronger long-term investment. Terrain expansions of this scale are rare in the Northeast, and they tend to be followed by real, measurable jumps in property values and rental demand. South Peak has already been called the East’s fastest-growing ski destination and Black Ridge only accelerates that trajectory.
  • A bigger, more diverse mountain right outside your door. From groomed cruisers for families to gated expert glades for the most advanced riders in the house, Loon will soon offer something for every generation of a South Peak household.
  • Momentum for the neighborhood. Loon’s growth and South Peak’s development have moved in lockstep for years, new lifts, new snowmaking, new trails on the South Peak side of the mountain have already added new terrain and the Timbertown lift. Black Ridge is the next, biggest chapter in that shared story.
Ski In/Out Access at South Peak Resort
Fireside Townhome Proximity to Fox Run Trail

What It Means for Lincoln and the Neighborhood

Development at this scale doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Loon Mountain becoming the largest resort in New Hampshire puts Lincoln, NH, already a beloved four-season mountain town just two hours from Boston, even more firmly on the map for skiers who used to drive past it. More visibility for Loon means more energy for the whole Lincoln corridor: restaurants, shops, and the kind of small-town infrastructure that grows up around a thriving resort community.

For South Peak specifically, it reinforces the vision the community has been building toward since day one: a true four-season, multigenerational home base where mountain life, river life, and small-town charm all meet in one place. Black Ridge doesn’t just make the skiing better, it makes South Peak’s long-term story better, too.

The Bottom Line

Black Ridge won’t open until winter 2027-28, but the announcement alone changes the conversation. Loon Mountain is about to become New Hampshire’s biggest ski resort, and South Peak Resort sits right at its base, positioned better than almost anywhere else in the state to benefit from it.

If you’ve been on the fence about a ski-in/ski-out home at South Peak, this is your sign that the mountain, and the neighborhood, is only getting bigger. Browse available custom homes now!