SAM Magazine-Brownsville, Vt., Nov. 2, 2010-Ascutney Mountain Resort won't operate this winter, with operations in future years also in doubt unless a buyer can be found.

The resort's outlook took a turn for the worse last summer when Steve and Susan Plausteiner, who had bought the resort out of bankruptcy in 1993 and have managed its operations, sold their interest to partner Dan Purjes. Purjes has been attempting to sell the resort's lifts, including a detachable quad, but found no takers. He has told Holiday Inn Club Vacations, a partnership of timeshare company Orange Lake Resorts and InterContinental Hotel Group that manages the resort's slopeside timeshare units, that the resort will not open for the coming winter.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations has since assisted homeowners and time-share guests receive discounted tickets to nearby areas, including Killington, Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Suicide Six.
 Whaleback has also offered a discount to Ascutney homeowners.

Even if a buyer were to be found for the resort, it would take awhile to get the resort ready for operation. There has been little maintenance performed since last season, and the lifts have not been inspected, sources have told SAM.

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