Mt. Bachelor ski area is upgrading its Sunrise Lodge and surrounding area.

Upgrades to the lodge include modernized restroom facilities, a remodeled rental shop and a reconfiguration of the food court after the interior was gutted down to the studs. Mt. Bachelor is building a third parking lot in the Sunrise base area that will increase parking capacity by 50%. The new lot sits below the lower Sunrise lot and will provide guests access to the new quad chairlift.

Weather permitting, the ski area will host a community celebration for the revamped lodge and new lifts Dec. 20.

In addition to the new quad chairlift, Early Riser, there are two additional new “carpet” lifts in the Sunrise Base Lodge area, according to Leigh Capozzi, Mt. Bachelor’s director of brand and communications. The lifts will open 5 acres of beginner terrain at the new Woodward Mountain Park.

First-time skiers and snowboarders can start at the 70-foot First Rays conveyor lift, next to the Sunrise Lodge and free for all guests. When ready to advance, beginners can buy a $39 Learning Progression lift ticket, which allows for access to the 300-foot Lava Tube carpet lift, Early Riser chairlift and eventually to the Alpenglow chairlift and its Volcano Adventure Park, all within Woodward Mountain Park.

The enhancements around Sunrise Lodge are part of a focus on youth learning and a family zone.