Ascutney... Interesting Video

[jasonwx]

 

[MarzNC]

Been following the story of Ascutney for a while. Apparently it closed in 2010. Stopped by for a quick look in the fall in 2016 or 2017. Wonder if the pandemic was actually helpful to keeping the volunteers energized.

What isn't obvious is that there is a timeshare resort right there at the base of the mountain. The Mount Ascutney Resort by Holiday Inn Vacation Club at probably fills their rooms during the summer. The blurb says "Trekking to the top of Mt. Ascutney State Park or hitting the slopes at nearby Mt. Sunapee or Killington will offer beautiful views of the Green Mountain state."

December 2015

West Windsor Buys Land At Closed Mt. Ascutney Resort

The town of West Windsor has purchased 468 acres of the former Ascutney Mountain Resort, thanks to local, state and national financial support. And the…

www.vermontpublic.org

 

[raisingarizona]

I love this model. If I lived in the east I’d go to places like this over popular ski resorts during crowded weekends and holidays.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

@MarzNC, was the title of our Ascutney thread changed per your request above? Given the resurgence in activity there, maybe it could be less dour.

 

[MarzNC]

@MarzNC, was the title of our Ascutney thread changed per your request above? Given the resurgence in activity there, maybe it could be less dour.

I did use the Report function to make the suggestion to Harv. Wanted to be able to search and find the thread in the future.

I started looking for "old school" ski areas a while back. The other success story in the last few years is Skeetawk up in Alaska. It was hard to imagine when those volunteers got started that they would be able to raise enough money for a chairlift.

Skeetawk Ski Area - Hatcher Pass, Alaska

Skeetawk is a unique alpine ski area in Hatcher Pass, Alaska. Find out trail conditions, book lessons, rent equipment, buy passes, and more.

skeetawk.com

 

[raisingarizona]

* I need to add

I'd go to these sort of places as long as there was natural snow to skin up and ski.

 

[raisingarizona]

I did use the Report function to make the suggestion to Harv. Wanted to be able to search and find the thread in the future.

I started looking for "old school" ski areas a while back. The other success story in the last few years is Skeetawk up in Alaska. It was hard to imagine when those volunteers got started that they would be able to raise enough money for a chairlift.

Skeetawk Ski Area - Hatcher Pass, Alaska

Skeetawk is a unique alpine ski area in Hatcher Pass, Alaska. Find out trail conditions, book lessons, rent equipment, buy passes, and more.

skeetawk.com

Check out Shames and Mount Cain in BC. Those two ski areas are on my wish list.

 

[x10003q]

Ascutney was always dancing with financial failure since its inception in the late 1940s . It went bankrupt in 1950, 1983 and 1990. They installed a HSQ in 2000 and the area was foreclosed on in 2008. The HSQ was sold to Crotched Mtn in 2011. Ascutney was purchased in auction in 2013 and the 2 remaining triple chairs were sold to Pats Peak. Currently it is operating as a non-profit. Ascutney is in a snow shadow and that shadow extended to making money.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Ascutney is in a snow shadow and that shadow extended to making money.

Unfortunately true, it was generally in the low 100s of snowfall per year if I remember correctly. I got lucky with conditions the handful of times I skied it. Somewhat nearby Magic did better.

I remember an unconfirmed story someone told me on the lift that Ascutney managed to attract a few decent-sized British school groups to spend a week there during their winter break. The only possible reason was that it was cheaper than going to the Alps, even with the trans-Atlantic flight into Boston. It sounded preposterous but that was the early 00s, so who knows.

 

[raisingarizona]

Brownsville should go with what Burke did and create a mountain biking hot spot.