Stories from the 2025-2026 Season

Well, the historic 2025-2026 Season is now complete. From bluebird days to powder days, this season was one for the books. Let’s take a look back at the major stories that helped shape this season.

Offseason Stories:

May 27, 2025 – Rob Katz was named CEO of Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts announced that Rob Katz would succeed Kirsten Lynch as CEO after she stepped down. Katz will continue to serve as the Chairperson of the Board and had previously served as CEO of Vail Resorts from 2006 to 2021. Lynch remained with the company in an advisory role to facilitate a smooth transition. Vail Resorts owns Attitash Mountain, Wildcat Mountain, Crotched Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Okemo, Mount Snow, and Stowe Mountain Resort in New England.

June 2, 2025 – Tom Day was named Interim General Manager of Burke Mountain

Burke Mountain announced that Tom Day would be their interim general manager to start the season after former General Manager Kevin Mack was promoted to vice president of transition services. Day has previously held multiple managerial roles within the industry, including being the general manager of Waterville Valley from 1997 to 2010 and, most recently, general manager at Gunstock Mountain. Burke Mountain had previously been purchased by Bear Den Partners after years of federal receivership. Burke Mountain is located in Burke, Vermont, and has 55 trails, four lifts, and 2,057 vertical feet.

July 6, 2025 – Amanda Buswell was named Regional General Manager of Hoyt Family Businesses

Amanda Buswell has been promoted to regional general manager of the Hoyt family’s portfolio of businesses. She will oversee Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, Purity Spring Resort, Traditions Restaurant, Camp Tohkomeupog, and King Pine Ski Area. Buswell has been with the Hoyt family businesses for over 23 years and started as a summer housekeeper. Most recently, Buswell served as the general manager of Danforth Bay, a role she has held since 2024. King Pine is located in Madison, New Hampshire, and has 17 trails, five lifts, and 350 vertical feet.

July 14, 2025 – Cannon announced that it would retire the Tram at the end of the summer and replace it with a third-generation tram.

Cannon Mountain will retire its second-generation aerial tramway after 45 years of service. It will be replaced by a third-generation aerial tramway, a first for North America. Cannon Mountain secured $27.2 million through New Hampshire House Bill 25 to replace the aerial tramway. Cannon Mountain is located in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, and has 98 trails, nine lifts, and 2,180 vertical feet.

September 3, 2025 – Plans detailing Stratton replacing the Tamarack Triple with a quad surface.

Stratton will replace the Tamarack Triple with a new detachable quad. The new quad will follow the same alignment, while the top terminal will be slightly higher than it currently sits. Doppelmayr will be the manufacturer for the project that will cost $8.5 million. This will be the first new chairlift installed at Stratton in eight years. Stratton Mountain is located in Stratton, Vermont, and has 99 trails, 14 lifts, and 2,003 vertical feet.

September 21, 2025 – Whaleback announces that the Summit Lift will not be ready for the start of the season.

After its season ended early in the 2024-2025 season, the Summit Lift will not be ready for the start of the 2025-2026 season. After fundraising $291,000 for new parts for most of the summer, it was discovered that there was more mechanical damage than initially found upon further evaluation. There is currently no projected opening date for the lift. To provide more access, there will be a new surface lift on the Sprout trail, new connector trails at the mid-mountain area, and unlimited uphill access. Whaleback is located in Enfield, New Hampshire, and has 30 trails, five lifts, and 700 vertical feet.

September 26, 2025 – Ski Butternut joins Ikon Pass as a bonus mountain.

Ski Butternut will be joining Ikon Pass as a bonus mountain starting this season. Ski Butternut is the sixth bonus mountain for the Ikon Pass. Ikon Passholders get two days of skiing at each bonus mountain. Ski Butternut is located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and has nine ski lifts, 22 trails, and 1,000 vertical feet.

September 27, 2025 – Burke Mountain releases its new logo.

Burke Mountain revealed a new logo just two months before ski season. This marks one of the major changes to the mountain under new owners, Bear Den Partners. Burke Mountain made this change to represent a new chapter and features a bear as a nod to the new ownership. Burke Mountain is located in Burke, Vermont, and has 55 trails, four lifts, and 2,057 vertical feet.

October 4, 2025 – Khara Benoit was named General Manager at Whaleback Mountain.

Khara Benoit has been promoted to general manager at Whaleback Mountain after previously managing the lodge, events, food and beverage, and daily operations over the last four years. Prior to entering the industry, Benoit served as a teacher in Colorado and New Hampshire. Whaleback is located in Enfield, New Hampshire, and has 30 trails, five lifts, and 700 vertical feet.

October 12, 2025 – Sugarloaf releases its 75th Anniversary logo.

Sugarloaf has released its 75th anniversary logo, which includes the normal logo as the centerpiece of the design. This is the first look at a season full of celebrations and promotions centered around Sugarloaf’s 75th season. Sugarloaf is located in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, and features 176 trails, 15 lifts, and 2,820 vertical feet.

October 15, 2025 – Hermon Mountain announces that this will be their last season unless a buyer is found.

Hermon Mountain announced in a Facebook post that the 2025-2026 season would be its last unless a buyer is found. The Whitcomb family has had the ski area on the market for quite some time and is still hopeful that someone may buy it. The current asking price is $2.1 million. Hermon Mountain is located in Hermon, Maine, and features 20 trails, three lifts, and 350 vertical feet.

October 16, 2025 – Pico demolishes the Bonanza Chair and replaces it with a covered carpet.

Pico has demolished the Bonanza Chair that has served the learning area for many years. The Bonanza Chair will be replaced by a magic carpet that will be covered and should be ready for opening day. Pico Mountain is located in Mendon, Vermont, and has 58 trails, seven lifts, and 1,967 vertical feet.

October 17, 2025 – Killington announces the Snowden Triple will be replaced by a quad.

Killington announced that it will be investing $6.5 million to upgrade the Snowden Triple to a new fixed-grip quad. Construction will start towards the end of the 2026 season in hopes that the lift will be ready for the 2026-2027 season. Killington is located in Killington, Vermont, and has 155 trails, 19 lifts, and 3,050 vertical feet.

November 4, 2025 – Ragged Mountain is sold to a group of local investors.

Ragged Mountain has been sold to SF Mountain Co, LLC (SFMC), a local group of investors. Pacific Group Resorts will no longer be in a management role for the mountain, but general manager Erik Barnes will stay on under the new ownership. All the season pass benefits that were made under Pacific Group Resorts will continue through the 2025-2026 ski season. Ragged Mountain is located in Danbury, New Hampshire, and has 57 trails, five lifts, and 1,250 vertical feet.

Season Begins

November 12, 2025 – Killington and Sunday River are the first mountains open for the season.

Killington and Sunday River will both open on Wednesday, November 12, to be the first mountains open in New England this season. Killington will open with the following trails: Upper East Fall, Reason, Rime, Cascade Headwall, Upper Great Northern, Lower Catwalk, Upper Double Dipper, Downdraft Headwall/Upper, and High Traverse. Sunday River will open with T2. Both mountains will have downloading procedures, as there are no trails open to the base area at the moment. Killington is located in Killington, Vermont, and has 155 trails, 19 lifts, and 3,050 vertical feet. Sunday River is located in Newry, Maine, and has 135 trails, 20 lifts, and 2,340 vertical feet.

November 16, 2025 – Black Mountain (NH) files a federal lawsuit against the Town of Jackson.

Black Mountain has filed a federal lawsuit against the Town of Jackson over the revocation of the alcohol licence at the Alpine Cabin. In a statement, Black Mountain alleged that this was done without due process or discussion and that their goal is to unite the community. They also encouraged guests wondering why to look at the Select Board meeting videos that left them no choice but to take legal action. Black Mountain is located in Jackson, New Hampshire, and has 60 trails, five lifts, and 1,100 vertical feet.

November 20, 2025 – Burke Mountain names Gabe Porter-Henry as their next General Manager.

Burke Mountain has named Gabe Porter-Henry as its new general manager. Porter-Henry will work with interim general manager Tom Day for the month of December to ensure a smooth transition. Porter-Henry has most recently held leadership positions at Berkshire East. Burke Mountain is located in Burke, Vermont, and has 55 trails, four lifts, and 2,057 vertical feet.

November 24, 2025 – Mad River Glen begins fundraising to buy the land around the ski area.

Mad River Glen has used their Right to First Refusal to purchase about 1,100 acres of land next to the ski area for $2.5 million. Mad River Glen has asked the public for donations to help secure funding for this land. Mad River Glen is located in Waitsfield, Vermont, and has 60 trails, five lifts, and 2,000 vertical feet.

December 1, 2025 – Black Mountain (NH) and the Town of Jackson reach a settlement over the recent lawsuit.

Black Mountain and the Town of Jackson have reached a settlement after a federal lawsuit was filed less than a month ago. The results of this settlement include Black Mountain expanding its parking capacity, installing restrooms at the Alpine Cabin, Black Mountain receiving two fireworks permits per year, and there will be a new point of contact between the mountain and police from now on. Black Mountain is located in Jackson, New Hampshire, and has 60 trails, five lifts, and 1,100 vertical feet.

December 11, 2025 – Black Mountain (NH) announces new hike-to terrain.

Black Mountain is adding new hike-to terrain that will debut later this season. The trails will be named Backout, Blackout, and Champagne Problems and will add around 150 vertical feet to the ski area. Black Mountain is located in Jackson, New Hampshire, and has 60 trails, five lifts, and 1,100 vertical feet.

December 15, 2025 – Jay Peak is the first mountain to reach 100% open.

After opening for the season on November 22nd, Jay Peak is now the first mountain in New England to reach 100% open. The start of the season has seen near record-breaking snowfall across the state of Vermont, which allowed Jay Peak to open up so much terrain early in the season. Jay Peak is located in Jay, Vermont, and has 83 trails, nine lifts, and 2,153 vertical feet.

February 11, 2026 – Smuggler’s Notch is sold to Bear Den Partners.

Smuggler’s Notch has been purchased by Bear Den Partners after being owned by William Stritzler for the last 29 years. Lisa Stritzler will stay on as an advisor on the future of the mountain, per the press release. Bear Den Partners recently purchased Burke Mountain in 2025. Smuggler’s Notch is located in Jeffersonville, Vermont, and has 78 trails, eight lifts, and 2,564 vertical feet.

March 6, 2026 – Whaleback opens its chairlift after mechanical delays.

After fundraising an entire summer and fixing a massive mechanical problem in the Summit Chair, Whaleback has top-to-bottom skiing for the first time this season. The lift originally broke at the end of the 2024-2025 season and was expected to be delayed to start this season before it was discovered that there was more damage than originally thought. Whaleback is located in Enfield, New Hampshire, and has 30 trails, five lifts, and 700 vertical feet.

March 12, 2026 – Black Mountain (NH) announces that Erik Mogensen will now be the owner instead of the previously announced Co-op.

Black Mountain will now be owned and run by Erik Mogensen of Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems rather than a board of trustees. Mogensen has bought out all the shares that had been sold so far for the mountain and will be moving Entabeni Systems and Indy Pass from Colorado to Black Mountain. Black Mountain is located in Jackson, New Hampshire, and has 60 trails, five lifts, and 1,100 vertical feet.

March 23, 2026 – Berkshire East and Catamount join Bear Den Partners.

Berkshire East and Catamount are the newest members of the growing Bear Den Partners group. Both mountains were owned and operated by the Schaefer family, who are involved in the Bear Den Partners group. Berkshire East is located in Charlemont, Massachusetts, and has 45 trails, six lifts, and 1,180 vertical feet. Catamount is located in South Egremont, Massachusetts, and has 44 trails, eight lifts, and 1,000 vertical feet.  

March 24, 2026 – Sugarbush will replace the North Ridge Express.

Sugarbush aims to replace the North Ridge Express for the 2027-2028 season after plans surfaced online. The new installation is slated to cost $10 million, and the lift being installed will be a Doppelmayr detachable quad that will follow the existing alignment. Sugarbush is located in Warren, Vermont, and has 111 trails, 16 lifts, and 2,600 vertical feet.

April 2, 2026 – Pico announces that they will retire the Outpost Double.

After a mechanical failure in the gearbox earlier this season, Pico will be retiring the Outpost Double. Older lifts are much harder to fix due to outdated systems and a lack of available replacement parts. There will not be a replacement lift installed for the Outpost Double next season; rather, Pico is looking into short-term fixes like a rope tow while they work on a complete replacement. Pico Mountain is located in Mendon, Vermont, and has 58 trails, seven lifts, and 1,967 vertical feet.

May 12, 2026 – A recent Forest Service filing shows that Loon plans on replacing the White Mountain Express Gondola

Loon will replace the White Mountain Express Gondola with a ten-person gondola, according to a recent Forest Service Document. This new lift will debut in either 2027 or 2028 and will follow a similar alignment to the previous gondola, although the lift line will need to be widened to accommodate the larger gondola cabins. Loon Mountain is located in Lincoln, New Hampshire, and has 73 trails, 14 lifts, and 2,190 vertical feet.