Killington lacks a town center, a single place that makes you feel you've arrived, and perhaps a soul as well; Killington is wherever you park. This town is so tied to the ski hill that it actually renamed itself after the mountain and resort in 1999; before that, it had been called Sherburne. Since the mountain was first developed for skiing in 1958, dozens of restaurants, hotels, and stores have sprouted up along Killington Road to accommodate the legions of skiers who descend upon the area during the ski season, which typically runs from October well into May, and sometimes even 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. This village center will supposedly be built in phases over the next several decades, so expect construction and possible disruptions on the hill between Killington Base Lodge and Ram's Head.
Until the proposed 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, along with dozens of hotels and condos ranging from fancy to dowdy.
