RTA Outdoor Living Puts Its Outdoor Kitchen, and Its Reputation, to the Test on Mount Washington

RTA Outdoor Living is putting its outdoor kitchen durability claims to the ultimate real-world challenge during a full year of exposure to the extreme weather conditions at the summit of Mount Washington. The New Hampshire company installed a fully functional outdoor kitchen at the 6,288-foot summit in August 2026, where it will remain uncovered through winter while Mount Washington Observatory's product testing staff document how it withstands some of the harshest weather conditions in North America.

Key Takeaways

• RTA Outdoor Living installed a fully functional outdoor kitchen at the summit of Mount Washington in August 2026 and donated it to Mount Washington Observatory for permanent use.
• The kitchen will remain uncovered through August 2027, exposed to extreme winds, snow, ice and repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
• Observatory staff will document the kitchen’s condition alongside summit weather records, with RTA Outdoor Living planning a final comparison against its original condition after 12 months.
• The kitchen has already withstood wind gusts of 103.9 mph and 110 mph, with its first Mount Washington winter still ahead.

For its first 12 months, the kitchen will remain completely uncovered, allowing RTA Outdoor Living and Observatory staff to document how its materials, construction and appliances respond to the mountain’s extreme conditions.

The project is an unusual real-world examination of outdoor kitchen durability, with no guarantee that the kitchen will emerge unchanged.

“We are not waiting until the end of the year to present a polished success story,” said Peter Kurst, project manager at RTA Outdoor Living. “We documented where the kitchen started, and we are allowing Mount Washington to determine the result in public. That means putting the kitchen, and our reputation, on the line.”

“Every outdoor kitchen company says its product is built to last. We wanted to test that claim somewhere the weather does not negotiate,” said Tommy Gubanc, head of marketing at RTA Outdoor Living. “We do not know exactly what a Mount Washington winter will do to this kitchen. We do know we will show people the answer either way.”

Extreme Weather, Real-World Exposure

Mount Washington records hurricane-force wind gusts on about 110 days each year. In 1934, Observatory staff recorded a 231 mph gust at the summit, a world record that stood for 62 years and remains the highest recorded in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. During winter, winds exceeding 100 mph can persist for days, while dense fog, subfreezing temperatures and ice create additional challenges.

According to Jay Broccolo, director of weather operations at Mount Washington Observatory, the summit may experience hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles annually. These conditions can be particularly demanding for outdoor construction materials, as moisture entering small openings or porous surfaces can freeze, expand and contribute to cracking or separation.

The kitchen has already experienced its first significant weather events. On September 10, less than three weeks after installation, the Observatory recorded a 103.9 mph wind gust. On October 6, summit observations showed a 110 mph gust, accompanied by snow, rime ice and subzero wind chills.

“My first concern was what would happen if the kitchen failed and became debris in high winds,” Broccolo said. “After seeing how ruggedly it was built, I expect it to make it through the winter and possibly several winters. Even so, I would be surprised if a full Mount Washington winter left it completely unchanged.”

Built for Outdoor Living, Exposed to the Extreme

RTA Outdoor Living’s panelized outdoor kitchen system uses structural concrete panels to create permanent outdoor cooking and gathering spaces. The company sells its custom kitchens directly to homeowners nationwide through an online design-to-delivery process.

The summit kitchen is a 10-foot linear design with RTA’s signature handmade chiseled-edge concrete countertop in Cloudy, Modern Stone Ash concrete panels with dual 36-inch Coyote Outdoor Living grills and double access doors. The kitchen is built from RTA Outdoor Living’s standard production components, so the same design could be replicated in a homeowner’s backyard.

For homeowners in northern and coastal climates, exposure to moisture, freezing temperatures and changing weather conditions is an important consideration when choosing materials for an outdoor kitchen.

Mount Washington’s subarctic climate presents those same environmental challenges at a much greater intensity.

Installing the kitchen required transporting components up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, coordinating around changing summit weather and assembling the structure in a restricted working area near the Observatory.

Because of the summit’s high winds, and for the safety of Observatory staff, the installation team anchored the island into an adjacent concrete wall using stainless steel support members. The team also devised a system to secure the grill hoods and access doors while the kitchen is not in use.

RTA Outdoor Living photographed and filmed the installation, then documented the countertops, concrete panels, seams, corners, appliances, doors, drawers and hardware to establish a baseline for future inspections.

Documenting What Happens

Throughout the observation period, Observatory staff will examine the kitchen from repeatable reference points, looking for cracking, chipping, seal separation, dents and changes in operation. Their observations will be considered alongside the mountain’s recorded wind, temperature, thermal cycling, precipitation and icing conditions.

“RTA Outdoor Living will learn not only how the kitchen performs, but also the conditions it experienced,” said Drew Bush, executive director of Mount Washington Observatory. “Because our summit station is staffed around the clock, we can pair detailed weather records with direct human observation in a way that would be difficult to reproduce elsewhere.”

RTA Outdoor Living plans to return during the winter to inspect the structure following exposure to severe cold and ice. A spring visit will focus on whether the kitchen’s two 36-inch grills remain operational. In August 2027, the company will conduct a comprehensive inspection comparing the kitchen's condition with its original installation documentation.

The organizations also expect to share observations and footage as the project progresses, ultimately bringing the installation, weather events and inspection findings together in a short documentary. In the meantime, anyone can follow conditions at the summit through a live camera overlooking the kitchen at rtaoutdoorliving.com/outdoor-kitchen-on-mount-washington.

The project is not a controlled scientific durability test or product certification. Instead, it offers an opportunity to observe how one outdoor kitchen installation responds to a year of exposure in an exceptionally demanding environment.

A New Hampshire Partnership

The collaboration brings together two New Hampshire organizations with different but complementary interests.

RTA designed, developed and engineered its panelized outdoor kitchen system in New Hampshire and manufactures it in Indiana, while Mount Washington Observatory operates a continuously staffed weather station at the summit.

The donated kitchen will remain at the mountain after the initial observation period, providing Observatory staff with a permanent outdoor cooking space for meals, gatherings and events.

“The initial reaction was, ‘There is no way that is going to work, but we want to see it happen,’” Broccolo said. “Now that the kitchen is here, the team is excited to use it and find out what the mountain does to it.”

Once the Mount Washington Auto Road closes for the season in late October, the kitchen will face the summit winter with only Observatory staff to watch it. The public will see it again when the summit reopens in spring 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the outdoor kitchen located?
The kitchen is installed at the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, beside the red steel A-frame near the Observatory building.

How long will it remain there?
RTA Outdoor Living donated the kitchen to Mount Washington Observatory for permanent use. The initial observation period runs from August 2026 through approximately August 2027.

Will it be covered or protected during winter?
No. The kitchen will remain uncovered and without a seasonal enclosure throughout its first-year observation period.

Can people watch the project online?

Yes. A dedicated camera overlooking the kitchen provides a livestream of conditions at the summit. Watch it at rtaoutdoorliving.com/outdoor-kitchen-on-mount-washington.

Is this a scientific durability test?
No. It is a real-world exposure and observation project, not a controlled scientific test, standardized laboratory evaluation or product certification.

How will RTA Outdoor Living evaluate the results?
RTA Outdoor Living and Observatory staff will document physical changes and appliance operation, compare observations with recorded weather conditions and conduct a final inspection against the original installation baseline.

What happens after the first year?
The kitchen will remain at the summit for Observatory use. RTA Outdoor Living plans to share its findings and produce a short documentary documenting the project.

Project Images: View and download images

Watch the Mount Washington kitchen livestream: View the live camera

About RTA Outdoor Living

RTA Outdoor Living is a leading provider of custom prefab outdoor kitchen solutions, designed to make high-quality outdoor living accessible and easy to implement. With a focus on streamlined design, durable materials, and a digital-first, virtual approach, RTA helps homeowners create outdoor spaces that are both functional and built for everyday use.

Press Inquiries

Mirjam Lippuner
hello [at] getinkdiy.com
920-395-8998
https://rtaoutdoorliving.com/
1 Bayside Rd suite 106, Greenland, NH 03840, United States