Eaton Mountain to Reopen, Saddleback to Remain Closed
February snowfall has allowed Eaton to resume ski operations.
Thursday, February 9, 2017, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
A snowy start to February has resulted in Mainers having another operating ski area.
Located just outside of Skowhegan, Maine, Eaton Mountain has dealt with its fair share of issues since opening in the 1960s. At its peak, the ski area sported a double chairlift and a 500 foot vertical drop.
Once again falling on hard times, the facility closed in 2008. In 2010, David and Donna Beers opened a snow tubing facility at the area and, in 2015, a small ski slope.
While Eaton Mountain had previously announced it would not feature ski operations this season due to financial reasons, its tubing facility remained in operation.
Eaton has announced its handle tow served beginner slope will open this weekend with a few terrain park elements.
Meanwhile, Saddleback Mountain Community Resort (SMCR) CEO Peter Stein was recently quoted as stating, "I so deeply regret that we couldn't get those lifts spinning for this season."
The non-profit effort had originally hoped to have limited operations at Saddleback this winter while working on a larger deal. Despite the recent news, legal and accounting resources have been hired with the hope of completing the complex purchase of the defunct ski area.
The group plans to purchase the closed ski area once $4 million is raised. SMCR, LLC was formed as a Maine limited liability corporation on August 29, 2016, while Saddleback Mountain Foundation was reserved as a potential non-profit entity on October 25, 2016.
If the transaction is completed as planned, the Saddleback Mountain Foundation non-profit would own the ski area real estate, while SMCR would operate the resort. Saddleback last operated in April of 2015.
