Highland mountain businesss buys Xscape Breahead
The Ice Factor Mountaineering Centre at Kinlochleven, the home of the world's largest indoor ice climbing wall, has acquired the SNO!zone, Britain's longest indoor ski slope at Xscape, Braehead.
The new owners plan to make significant investment into the facility which initially cost £32 million.
Jamie Smith, a well known west coast climber and group managing director of Ice Factor International said, "We are absolutely delighted to make this important acquisition and are excited at the opportunity to improve the experience for existing and new customers. Among our plans is the creation of an indoor ice climbing wall and the upgrading of the existing facilities and to embed its position as the sixth ski resort in Scotland?
Ian Sykes MBE, Chairman of the Ice Factor Group is one of the original founders of Nevisport and the Nevis Range ski area at Fort William and brings many years of experience to the adventure sports industry. He said, ?This is a great opportunity for Scottish Skiing. Snozone has already created 147,000 new skiers and snowboarders. Within the next few years it is our intention to open a new ice climbing centre in Inverness and plans are already in an advanced state for a similar facility at Burlington, Vermont in the USA.?
Work has already started at Braehead where there will be only small changes until after the end of the current ski season.