Tussey Mountain, a ski and recreation area near State College, Pennsylvania, is pursuing a redevelopment plan that would expand its lodge, improve facilities serving skiers, and accommodate additional year-round activities.

The proposed improvements include a larger lodge with a restaurant and bar, space for weddings and other events, and renovations to facilities used by the ski school, ski patrol, and racing programs. Additional retail space is also under consideration.

Tussey Mountain, located near State College, Pennsylvania, is pursuing plans to expand its lodge, modernize ski facilities, and enhance its year-round recreational offerings.
Tussey Mountain, located near State College, Pennsylvania, is pursuing plans to expand its lodge, modernize ski facilities, and enhance its year-round recreational offerings. Photo provided by Tussey Mountain.

Before the plans can advance, however, Tussey Mountain must navigate a regional land-use approval process involving six Centre County municipalities.

The resort’s owners have applied to have the 134.98-acre property added to the Centre Regional Growth Boundary and Sewer Service Area. Although Tussey Mountain has been connected to public sewer service since the early 1990s, that connection was granted under restrictions that limit additional development.

According to documents submitted to Harris Township, the owners envision a phased redevelopment of the property, beginning with improvements to facilities that have seen relatively few major updates since the resort opened in the 1960s.

Tussey Mountain has a long history in central Pennsylvania’s skiing community. Originally opened as Skimont in the 1960s, the mountain later operated as the private Bald Knob Ski Club before reopening to the public as Tussey Mountain Ski Area for the 1981-1982 season.

Today, the resort offers 16 trails across a 500-foot vertical drop, with terrain ranging from beginner slopes to more challenging runs. Night skiing, snow tubing, terrain parks, and a ski school round out its winter offerings. Its location just outside State College, home to Penn State University, makes Tussey Mountain a convenient destination for local families, students, and skiers looking to enjoy a few runs without traveling to one of Pennsylvania’s larger mountain resorts.

Tussey Mountain has also developed an extensive lineup of warm-weather activities over the years, including a golf course, driving range, go-karts, concerts, festivals, and private events. The proposed redevelopment would build on those existing offerings while updating facilities used during the ski season.

Josh Lincoln, Tussey Mountain’s managing partner, first discussed the expansion plans with Harris Township officials in 2024. Lincoln is part of the ownership group that acquired the resort in 2022 and has since undertaken a number of improvements to the property.

The proposal has progressed through several stages of municipal and regional review during 2026. Harris Township considered the application in March, and the project was subsequently reviewed by the Centre Regional Planning Commission and discussed by the Centre Region Council of Governments in August.

Regional officials have also examined the implications for public sewer service. The University Area Joint Authority, which serves the property, has indicated that additional wastewater capacity could be accommodated, subject to the necessary approvals and improvements to the existing sewer connection.

The application encompasses Tussey Mountain’s existing property on both sides of Bear Meadows Road. It does not propose expanding the resort beyond its current property boundaries.

As of October 2026, the final status of the regional boundary approval process has not been confirmed. Construction schedules and estimated project costs have not been announced.