Ascutney Mountain Resort
Encyclopedia
Ascutney Mountain was a ski area located on the western side of Mount Ascutney
in Brownsville
, Vermont
. It opened in the winter of 1946 under the ownership of Catharine Cushman. Most recently, it was owned from 1993 until summer 2010 by Steven and Susan Plausteiner.
More recently, when Summit Ventures owned Ascutney, they invested $80 million into operating the resort, but had to file for bankruptcy in 1990. After three years of closure, Steven and Susan Plausteiner from New York City
, bought Ascutney for over one million dollars. Improvements under the Plausteiners include snowmaking coverage being expanded to 95% of the skiable area and installation of a high-speed detachable quad chairlift in 2000 from the bottom of the mountain to a new, higher peak.
, and the lifts will not be spinning come winter time. Despite the closure of the ski operations, the resort at the base of the mountain, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort, continues to operate. Holiday Inn Club Vacations has no ownership ties to the ski operation. Until ski operations return to Ascutney Mountain, guests of Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort are encouraged to visit nearby ski areas such as Mount Sunapee
in Newbury, New Hampshire
, Arrowhead in Claremont, New Hampshire, and Okemo Mountain
in Ludlow, Vermont
. The high speed quad
, known as the "North Peak Express," is currently for sale, with various local operations looking into purchasing it.
Mount Ascutney
Mount Ascutney, is a 3144 foot monadnock located in southern Vermont. It is not the highest peak in Windsor County, Vermont, however, that honor falling to Gillespie Peak to the west. Particularly noteworthy about Ascutney are its granite outcrops, one of which, near its peak, serves as a...
in Brownsville
Brownsville, Vermont
Brownsville is an unincorporated village in West Windsor, Vermont, United States. Located on State Route 44, the village houses a number of administrative offices for the town of West Windsor....
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It opened in the winter of 1946 under the ownership of Catharine Cushman. Most recently, it was owned from 1993 until summer 2010 by Steven and Susan Plausteiner.
History
The Mt. Ascutney Ski Club cut the first trail at Ascutney in 1938. Skiers initially had to hike up the mountain to be able to ski down the trail, now known as Screaming Eagle. In 1946, Catharine Cushman, with the help of others, began to develop real estate on the mountain, in essence opening Ascutney as a ski area. It wasn't until the second year, 1947, that two rope tows were installed to take skiers up the mountain. The first groomer was bought in 1947, while snowmaking was installed ten years later, when the ski area was owned by John Howland. Kurt Albert is the only man to ski 24 straight hours at Ascutney to raise money for charity in 2001.More recently, when Summit Ventures owned Ascutney, they invested $80 million into operating the resort, but had to file for bankruptcy in 1990. After three years of closure, Steven and Susan Plausteiner from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, bought Ascutney for over one million dollars. Improvements under the Plausteiners include snowmaking coverage being expanded to 95% of the skiable area and installation of a high-speed detachable quad chairlift in 2000 from the bottom of the mountain to a new, higher peak.
2010 closure
In the early summer of 2010, rumors spread of Ascutney's imminent closure. As the summer months went on, changes to the website concerning season passes, and the upcoming 2010-2011 season were never updated. Rumors spread of severe debt and financial troubles on the part of the current owners, the Plausteiners. As of October 2010, the State of Vermont has admitted that Ascutney Mountain had not yet filed for lift inspections, with the inspection deadline on November 1, 2010. Currently, the mountain is in foreclosureForeclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
, and the lifts will not be spinning come winter time. Despite the closure of the ski operations, the resort at the base of the mountain, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort, continues to operate. Holiday Inn Club Vacations has no ownership ties to the ski operation. Until ski operations return to Ascutney Mountain, guests of Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort are encouraged to visit nearby ski areas such as Mount Sunapee
Mount Sunapee Resort
-History:Mount Sunapee's history as a ski area dates back to as early as 1940, when in response to the success of a tram at Cannon Mountain a survey was made for a similar tram on Mount Sunapee. The following year, the state of New Hampshire passed the Mt...
in Newbury, New Hampshire
Newbury, New Hampshire
Newbury is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,072 at the 2010 census. Newbury is home to part of Lake Sunapee, including Mount Sunapee State Park Beach. Mount Sunapee Resort, a ski area in Mount Sunapee State Park, is in the west...
, Arrowhead in Claremont, New Hampshire, and Okemo Mountain
Okemo Mountain
Okemo Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in Ludlow, Vermont. Before becoming a popular ski resort destination, Ludlow was originally a mill town, and was the home of a General Electric plant until 1977. The resort experienced 600,000 skier visits in 2009...
in Ludlow, Vermont
Ludlow (town), Vermont
Ludlow is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,449 at the 2000 census. Ludlow is the home of Okemo Mountain, a popular skiing area.-Geography:...
. The high speed quad
Detachable chairlift
A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
, known as the "North Peak Express," is currently for sale, with various local operations looking into purchasing it.
Trails
- Skiable area: 200 acres (0.81 km²)
- Glades: 50 acres (0.20 km²)
- 57 trails
- 14 novice - 24.5%
- 22 intermediate - 38.5%
- 21 advanced and expert - 37%
- Longest trail - 2.5 miles (4 km)
Lifts
- 6 total
- 1 high-speed detachable quad chair
- 3 triple chairs
- 1 double chair
- 1 surface lift