SAM Magazine—Londonderry, Vt., Aug. 16, 2016—Magic Mountain, a classic New England ski area that has stuck to its roots—both out of preference and financial limitations—appears to finally have stable ownership taking the reigns.

Ski Magic, LLC has signed a purchase and sale agreement with current title-holder Magic Mountain Management, LLC to acquire the area, according to a press release. Now begins a six- to eight-week due diligence period before formally closing on the property and taking operational control.

“This is an exciting opportunity for long-time fans of Magic, including myself, who want a better, stable and enduring future for such a special ski area and community," said Geoff Hatheway, president of Ski Magic, LLC.

The agreement provides for prep work to begin immediately to ready the area for the 2016-17 season. This includes repairs to Magic's second summit lift, the Black Triple Chair, which has not operated for the last two years. No maintenance work has been done at the area since April.

Hatheway said the new ownership group has a five-year business plan that includes investing in snowmaking and lifts. “Magic will deliver a much better skiing product…not by changing what Magic's about, but by making its truly fun throwback ski experience more reliable and accessible to customers over a longer season,” he said.

Magic was founded in 1960. The mountain was shut down in the early '90s and then re-opened in 1997-98. Consistently underfunded, it has remained in operation since, but has struggled to compete with nearby Okemo, Mount Snow, Bromley, and Stratton.

But the new owners have no intention of changing the vibe of the ski area. “We think focusing on what matters—the ski product and the environment to enjoy it together … will essentially take people back to skiing's golden era here. And that is where our future lies," concluded Hatheway.

• Previous
  Squaw Valley Expansion Plan Gets Initial Approval
• Next
  Snow People - August 2016