News Roundup: Reimagine Crystal

News Roundup: Allegations

  • With energy at a premium in Europe, Leitner showcases technology which regulates the speed of a ropeway based on rider demand.
  • The nonprofit which has been running Big Squaw says the sale to Big Moose Development still hasn’t been completed and this season will continue as normal.
  • Sugarbush confirms a Heaven’s Gate replacement is in the works but it won’t happen in 2023 as lift prices surge and lead times increase.
  • Ropeway pioneer Willy Garaventa dies at the age of 88.
  • Los Angeles releases the Environmental Impact Statement for the Dodger Stadium gondola project.
  • Names for the five new Skytracs at Jack Frost Big Boulder are: Blue Heron, Harmony, Paradise, Pocono and Tobyhanna.
  • Groupe Le Massif remains interested in acquiring Mont-Sainte-Anne from Resorts of the Canadian Rockies and would also be open to acquiring Stoneham as part of a deal.
  • After multiple years of construction, Ontario’s Mt. Baldy finally has a new chairlift.
  • Mount Snow will sell more double, triple and quad chairs for charity.
  • New York’s Attorney General sues the owners of Labrador Mountain and Song Mountain, alleging their purchase and closure of nearby Toggenburg was anti-competitive. Former Toggenburg/current Greek Peak owner John Meier agreed to pay the State $195,000 and will cooperate in the case against Labrador and Song’s parent company.
  • The Governor of Utah throws his support behind the Little Cottonwood gondola project.
  • A new document shows where Mammoth’s relocated Panorama Gondola and new Big Bend chairlift would run as part of the Evolving Main project.
  • The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania again seeks an operator to revive the Denton Hill Ski Area.

News Roundup: Uniting Legends

News Roundup: First Chair

News Roundup: Valleys

Toggenburg Closes After 68 Years

I am sad to report the lifts at New York’s Toggenburg Mountain have carried their final skiers. The owner of nearby Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain, Peter Harris, announced his purchase of the property today and said he will consolidate operations at his other mountains. The sellers are John and Christine Meier, who own and operate the largest resort in the region, Greek Peak. The Meiers plan to focus on Greek Peak, which they have grown into a four season destination in recent years.

Harris, the owner of Song and Labrador, cited a number of reasons for his decision including business levels and a labor shortage. He will continue to operate and invest in Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain, which feature eight lifts between them. “As new strains of COVID emerge, there is still great uncertainty about future capacity restrictions and concerns about finding and keeping seasonal staff as many local companies continue to struggle to hire workers. This purchase follows a decades long trend of ski resort consolidation,” said Harris, who did not disclose the purchase price. “The decision to close Toggenburg isn’t one we took lightly or made easily, but when you take a hard look at the numbers, three ski resorts drawing from the same pool of skiers and snow boarders every year is a challenge. I am confident that we are going to offer Central New Yorkers an excellent ski experience at Song and Labrador.”

The future of Toggenburg’s two Hall doubles and Borvig triple remains uncertain. The Skitog.com website is already gone.