Devil’s Elbow closing after 54 years

Ski hill owners say it has potential for new buyers, but nobody’s come forward

Devil’s Elbow ski resort near Bethany is closing after 54 years in business.

The ski hill has been for sale for the last few years without a buyer, according to an email sent out to members on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the co-owner and general manager of the familyrun resort, John Holmberg, coped with “a serious health issue” for most of last winter.

“After much consideration, we have made the extremely difficult decision to close down skiing operations,” states the email.

It is signed by Holmberg and his wife Sandra, who took over the resort from his late father Velfrid (who founded the resort in 1963).

It also says the ski hill is still for sale, however – and it could stay open if a buyer were willing to run it.

“We would like nothing better than to have someone purchase Devil’s Elbow, take over the operations and develop it into a yearround recreational facility,” the email states.

But if someone buys the property for a different purpose, it states, they will have a closeout sale of all remaining inventory in the pro shop as well as a sell-off of all the rental equipment.

“Many of the skis and boots in the rental fleet were purchased just last season,” says the email. “We will be sending out a separate email at a later date regarding this.”

Anyone with a serious interest in buying the resort is asked to contact realtor David Marsh of ReMax.

The real estate website Zolo.ca had a listing price of $2.9 million for the resort.

Marsh said in an interview Tuesday that price includes the ski hill, all the equipment and the resort’s name.

“It’s a turnkey operation,” he said.

“We’re still trying to find a buyer — and there are some interested parties .... It’s been a very, very emotional decision for the family. We’re really hoping someone comes along and wants to run it as a ski hill.”

Devil’s Elbow has 14 runs with six chairlifts (four quad and two double), as well as snow-making

and grooming machines.

It also has a large chalet, as well as a ski school and pro shop operated by the Parnell family.

The late Velfrid Holmberg, who grew up in Estonia, founded Devil’s Elbow in 1963.

His wife Elizabeth (who died in 2004) also worked there.

Velfrid died in 2014 at the age of 86, a year after the resort celebrated 50 years in business.

He arrived in Canada in 1949 after escaping Russian occupation of his homeland in 1944 and living in Sweden for five years.

While living in Toronto, he got into the construction business with distant relative Martin Reigam. It was called Holm Construction.

Looking for something to do in the quieter winter months, they came across a piece of land for sale in Bethany located next to the Peterborough Ski and Snowshoe Club.

They purchased the vacant property and established the resort in 1963 – which they named Devil’s Elbow.

Velfrid later moved to Bethany. Sometime later, son John bought out Reigam and partnered with his father.