By Emily Patrick
On January 18 at 4 pm, Friends of the Mountain and the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation, who recently announced a partnership and plan to raise $5.95 million purchase Big Moose Mountain Ski Area, held a public meeting regarding the future of the Mountain. Leading the presentation titled, “Ski the View, Save the Mountain: A Community Led Nonprofit Vision,” were Friends of the Mountain Executive Director Amy Lane, President Rodney Folsom, Sr., Secretary Allison Economy and Treasurer Kathleen Moneghan. The Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation was represented by President Margarita Contreni and member Mike Theriault.
Lane opened the meeting with thanking all of the wonderful people in the room who brought Friends to this moment and hinted at the future of the Mountain, saying, “Truth be told, none of us really know.” She continued, “At the end of the season, we kind of pack up and never know if we’re coming back.” After 13 years of operation, Friends of the Mountain has now become the only single entity to have successfully overseen the mountain’s day-to-day operations for this long a period of time.
In addition, they can boast many successful fundraising campaigns and upgrades to the Mountain during the same period: $238,587 in lift upgrades (though they admit the lower lift “hasn’t gone any faster and hasn’t gone any higher,” it’s now reliable), $153,730 in snowmaking repairs and upgrades, $20,786 in new rental equipment, $15,000 in lodge improvements (including flushing toilets, which roused cheers from the crowd), $65,000 in upgrades to the parking lot, a $38,020 passenger cat, and $56,850 to clear several upper mountain trails (which hadn’t been touched in 9 years). Friends can also boast a new snowmobile, patrol sled and two outbuildings…and a new roof on the old lodge pool room with help from Burke’s Roofing and Masonry, Hammond Lumber Company and community volunteers.
Perhaps the pièce de resistance, during the 2024 season alone, 10,000 skiers generated more than $700,000 in revenue with the lowest lift tickets prices one can find anywhere. Add that all together and you’ll find Friends has raised $1.2 million since 2012 through donations and volunteer efforts. So, when asked, “Can you do this? Can you really start a return to the top?” the answer appears to be a resounding “yes.” But, Lane points out, there’s a secret to their success. She says, “People say, ‘Amy, how have you guys made it work for 13 years while everyone else has faded and fizzled?’” She points to the fact Friends doesn’t have to pay on the parcel. She says, “That ultimately gives us the confidence that if we can purchase this mortgage free without the property tax, we can continue to operate.”
Contreni spoke to the success of the EDC in stimulating the local economy and successful fundraising campaigns since their start in 2013. EDC is now “a group of volunteers, 17 strong,” who have started an annual job fair in the region, installed the blue way-finding signs you find throughout the Moosehead Region, and even built and preserved a new downtown park. She says with a brand-new hospital and brand-new public safety building, Greenville is a town “on the move.” She continues, “Let’s add a restored ski resort to this list… of community accomplishments,” as the crowd erupts in applause.
Theriault, member of the EDC and local business owner, further highlights the economic value of the Mountain. He says, “People can’t move to Greenville for a part-time job anymore.” With the revitalization of the Mountain, Theriault says we could, “Put 60-70 people to work [and] help with the school [enrollment].” He goes so far to say the ski area is the “missing link” to a vibrant Moosehead Lake Region economy. He says for 61 years, this community has watched the mountain come and go, and it’s time to get it out of private ownership so that, “Even after we’re gone, this continues on.” He says the only way to do that is with the nonprofit model.
Folsom agrees. He says, “I’m a lifelong Greenville resident, and some of my earliest memories are on the Mountain… Through the years, we’ve had every type of ownership here, from big corporations to private and state-owned and lease holders,” but Friends is, “the longest anyone has operated the mountain to date.” He says Friends is cash flow positive through lift tickets, the ski school and concessions, and that the operations can “fund everything” if Friends is able to purchase the parcel free and clear.
Still, many ask, “Why the nonprofit model?” Lane says this partnership and plan “didn’t happen overnight” and has been in the works for over a year. They’ve met with local and state officials and even with representatives from Susan Collins’ office, but all these government funds remain inaccessible with the current model. Lane says, “Once the acquisition takes place, they’ve all pretty much guaranteed they can help in some capacity.” The group says the secret to the top of this mountain is ownership, which will open the door to a whole new set of donors and government assistance that’s not available to the private sector- or a nonprofit organization that doesn’t own the ski area.
Economy further underscored the benefits of Friends’ nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status: “As a nonprofit, all revenue goes back to the Mountain.” She predicts with this model and the purchase of the Mountain they will be able to preserve affordable skiing, create 50-60 full-time jobs, up to 10 of them year-round positions, attract 10-30,000 additional skiers annually and boost the regional economy and employment by helping local business owners hire seasonal ski employees for summer and fall employment, “…addressing labor shortages in our region.” More visitors to the mountain will also mean more patronage to local businesses, where skiers will eat, shop and stay.
Economy says, “It’s a big plan, but it can happen one step at a time.” She laid out the group’s plan to achieve this monumental and historic goal. Phase 1, which the group hopes to complete by 2025, is to acquire the 1700 acres for $5.95 million. They will then need to conduct surveys, environmental assessments and infrastructure planning. Phase 2, which would roll out between 2025 and 2030, would include opening the Upper Mountain, new ski lifts, snowmaking and other upgrades and, eventually, renovating the Upper Lodge and developing housing options. The projected cost of Phase 2 is $13.75 million but, as owners of the real estate, Friends and the EDC can then seek out public funding. The group says Senator Collins’ and Senator Kings’ offices would like to see this project take off, just for one example.
Friends is asking for pledges from the community, from Green Trail pledges ranging between $100 and $10,000, to Double Black Diamond donors at over $100,000. Once the group reaches their $5.9 million goal, they will start asking the community to fulfill the pledges. All donations received and pledges made will be held in a separate bank account and will not be used for the ski area’s day-to-day operations, so if another buyer steps in and purchases the property in the meantime, all money raised will be returned. The group revealed a new fundraising sign and that $750,000 in pledges and donations have already been received.
Lane made it clear there is currently no purchase and sale agreement in place with the parcel’s current owner- yet. She says, however, “[We are] very confident we can work with Mr. Confalone and come to a set price.” She’s hopeful this can happen over the summer so by next ski season we all know “who the key players will be.” Community input is welcome, and you can learn more at skibigmoose.com.
Lane closes the meeting by acknowledging the “dramatic twists and turns” of the Big Moose saga, but says, “To me, it’s really leading up to this fairytale ending.” When she says they’re ready to take it to the next level, someone from the crowd shouts, “To the top!” And as the crowd joins in the chant, it feels for the first time in a long time, a return to the summit of our beloved mountain may be within reach.