‘Reimagining Saddleback’
Maine resort to reopen next season
With what seems like regular announcements of resorts being purchased by larger resort groups or other mountains, it was refreshing news to hear that northern Maine’s Saddleback Resort will be back next season under new ownership and with a whole new level of love.
The resort has sat frozen in time since its lifts last spun in 2015, while groups worked toward purchase and, one after another, failed to make it happen. But in January, new owners TKTK officially took ownership of the ski area with both immediate plans and long-term dreams.
“Saddleback has a unique vibe, a laid back, warm, friendly culture that values someone’s love of skiing over everything else,” said the resort’s new CEO and General Manager Andrew Shepard on what attracted the Boston investment group Arctaris, which purchased the resort. “It is a great family mountain, with great learning terrain, but it also has some of the best steep and glade terrain in the East. You add the iconic New England village of Rangeley and you understand why the mountain has had a such a loyal following.”
That loyal following, including hundreds of locals who depended on the hill for either employment or to bring traffic to their local businesses, is thrilled with the news.
Skiers and riders of all levels should be, as well. Saddleback has always skied big, but did so even more about a decade ago when it finally won a multi-decade battle to add more trails. It has gentle beginner terrain where newbies can learn without stress, wonderful cruisers that range from semi steep (for a fun glide) to super steep for thigh-burning fun, and plenty of back country terrain.
The new owners will replace the resort’s classic double chair — its only true bottom-to-top lift — with a shiny new quad, cutting down that lift speed time from an 11-minute climb to just four minutes. No worries on that increase in speed filling the slopes too much though: The resort’s 66 trails and 2,000-foot drop mean there’s plenty of space for everyone. Shepard said he has a long-term goal, too, of adding more back county terrain along with a remote Yurt for back country lovers that serves chili, stews, craft beer and all the food back country enthusiasts love.
There are more future plans, as well, including more lodging, poshing up the base lodge (which has one of skiing’s most lovely base lodge fireplaces already) and things like a mountain coaster, mountain bike trails and even a maple sugaring operation, with a goal of making Saddleback a year-round destination.
Shepard said the response from locals, those who have moved away after its closing for career reasons, as well as skier and riders, has been amazing. That has led to the new ownership already bringing on a team of pros to guide the rebirth.
“We’ve had people calling from around the country looking to reclaim senior leadership positions, and I’m excited at how strong the team is,” he said. “Opening the mountain is part of a larger community and economic development initiative, so in addition to reimagining Saddleback as a sustainable business, we’ll be solving for affordable housing, affordable, quality day care, workforce development, transportation and being able to provide yearround benefits to seasonal employees. We want Rangeley to be a destination for young people and families looking to start their lives in an incredible community, in the middle of one of the most remarkable natural environments in North America, and a place where they can have a sustainable career.”
When Saddleback reopens for the new season next winter, it will step back in as Maine’s third-largest ski resort. Guests will be most welcome not just at the resort, but across the region, Shepard said. He spoke about what he saw at a youth hockey tournament in the area the day the sale was announced.
“The whole town was out high-fiving, hugging and planning to be prepared for the mountain being a part of the community again,” he said.