Perisher Resort, Australia, has unveiled plans for a major transformation of one of its most favorite on-mountain hubs, with Mid-Station entering what the resort is calling “a new chapter” ahead of the 2026 winter season.
If you’ve stopped at Mid-Station over the years, you’ll know it has long been more than just a pit stop. It’s where families regroup after laps on the Front Valley, where ski school groups thaw out between runs, and where countless skiers have paused for what many still consider to be the best hot chocolate in the Snowy Mountains. For 22 years the McGuinn family provided a some of Perisher’s best on-mountain food and drinks until Vail Resorts decided not to renew the lease for Mid-Station.
In a blog post published on June 15, 2026, Perisher confirmed that Mid-Station is undergoing a staged refurbishment designed to elevate the guest experience while retaining its role as a central meeting point on the mountain. Over recent months, the resort has been working with designers and operational teams on a complete reimagining of the space. The first stage is already complete, marking the beginning of what will become a multi-phase upgrade over coming seasons. For winter 2026, guests will already see early signs of change — even as the full transformation continues to evolve.
The first visible addition to the redesigned Mid-Station is Sugar & Snow, a new pick-and-mix lolly concept aimed at adding a more playful, family-focused layer to the on-mountain experience. Guests can now build their own custom mix of sweets — from classic confectionery to modern favorites — creating a simple but fun stop between runs. Perisher describes it as the first step toward a more engaging and interactive Mid-Station, with the broader vision focused on creating a warmer, more memorable alpine pause point for skiers and riders of all ages.
As Vail Resorts moves forward with its redesign, the legacy left by the McGuinn family will be fondly remembered by many Perisher regulars. Aside from the fabulous, wide-ranging of food offerings from hot chocolates and glühwein to wraps, sandwiches, hot meals, German soft pretzels, meat pies, and cakes, the venue was also popular particularly with little kids who would find a treasured souvenir at the snow-themed retail space. Through COVID restrictions and snow blizzards, the McGuinns soldiered on. Their departure certainly marks the end of an era for Perisher skiers.
For those keen to inspect the exciting, new plans for the Mid-Station, Perisher says concept renderings of the upgraded Mid-Station will be on display by means of a full walk through of the final refurbishment. The resort states that the new layout will improve customer flow and accessibility, and enhance the break experience between runs.
While full details of the final build will only be revealed over time, the resort has confirmed that the venue will remain a central stopping point on the mountain — continuing its role as a natural regrouping zone for skiers moving through the Front Valley network. Visitors this season will also be invited to contribute feedback on future menu direction, with Perisher actively seeking input on what should define the next iteration of Mid-Station dining ahead of the 2027 season. The refurbishment will continue through the 2026 winter and into the following off-season, with further upgrades planned for completion over summer.
Perisher says the goal is not to remove Mid-Station’s identity, but to evolve it and to maintain its role as one of the most recognizable mid-mountain stops in the Snowy Mountains while modernizing the guest experience.
This season, Mid-Station will have a food offering and Epic Australia Pass holders will receive a 15t% discount, including at the the Sugar & Snow lolly stall.
