Published October 18, 2023 12:57PM
Originally posted onSki Mag
N.H.’s Oldest Hill To Remain Open This Winter Thanks to Help From Indy Pass
Beloved and historic Black Mountain will keep its lifts running this season while new owners are sought
(Photo: Getty)
Good news for Black Mountain skiers and its local community: The independent resort will operate this season thanks to help from the Indy Pass. Black Mountain, which announced last week that it would not be able to operate this winter due to lack of funding, was one of the original Indy Pass resorts when the multipass debuted in 2019. It’s also one of the oldest ski areas in the country and a great source of ski history. Needless to say, this is terrific news for the ski area and is loyal fanbase.
Also Read: Indy Pass Goes Back on Sale for the 2023-’24 Ski Season
Indy Pass founder Doug Fish, along with CEO Eric Mogensen, will help Black Mountain owners the Fichera family to keep the lifts spinning this season while the resort is put up for sale. Mogensen and Fish have tapped Andy Shepard, former CEO of Maine’s Saddleback Mountain, who has had a hand in helping several struggling ski areas, to lead the efforts to find Black Mountain a new owner.
“John Fichera was one of the first owners to believe in the Indy Pass, and we are privileged to help Black Mountain operate this season,” Fish said. “We encourage all Indy Pass holders to visit this gem of a ski area this season.”
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Mogensen said that while Indy Pass is not getting into the business of owning ski areas, he feels that they do have a responsibility to help keep independent ski areas operating, a feat that is getting harder and harder in today’s tough financial market.
“We all have a role to play in keeping skiing independent, and it is time to step up,” said Mogensen. “We … are firmly committed to supporting independent operators like Black Mountain. The struggles that John and his family overcame for decades are the same struggles many ski areas across the country are facing everyday.”
Shepard, who is the former CEO of Maine’s Saddleback Mountain and led the reopening efforts there, is no stranger to the issues facing small ski areas that don’t have wealthy corporate parents paying the bills. He’s also led successful rejuvenations of Maine’s BigRock, Quoggy Jo, and Black Mountain of Maine.
“The Ficheras have played a critical role in keeping one of the country’s most historic ski areas running for the last 30 years,” Shepard said. “We should celebrate their accomplishments as we look for the next owner of Black Mountain.”
