Killington lacks a town center, a single place that makes you feel you've arrived. Killington is wherever you park. Since the mountain was first developed for skiing in 1957, dozens of restaurants, hotels, and stores have sprouted along Killington Road to accommodate the legions of skiers who descend upon the area during the skiing season, which typically runs October through May, sometimes into June.
Killington's current owner has heard the complaints about the lack of village ambience and is setting out to make some changes. The resort hired the same group of architects who conceived the village at British Columbia's Whistler-Blackcomb to come up with a design that would be pedestrian-friendly and give the resort more of a focal point. Among the plans: an amphitheater and a mix of lodges and restaurants to appeal to folks of various means. The village center will be built in phases over the next 2 decades, so expect construction and possible disruptions. It's on the hill between Killington Base Lodge and Ram's Head.
Until the new village comes to life, Killington is the access road. Brightly lit and highly developed, there's not much to remind visitors of classic Vermont between Route 4 and the base lodge. Suburban-style theme restaurants dot the route (The Grist Mill has a waterwheel; Casey's Caboose a red caboose), along with dozens of hotels and condos ranging from high-end fancy to low-end dowdy.
Looking for Classic New England?--If you're in search of classic New England, consider staying in quaint Woodstock and commuting the 20 miles to the slopes.
