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Located east of Keene along Route 9, Granite Gorge ski area was originally known as "The Pinnacle."
The Pinnacle
Zig Zag (2018) |
Development of a ski area on the lower northern slope of the 1,562 foot Pinnacle in Roxbury likely dates back to 1959, when the Pinnacle Mountain Development Corporation was formed. A small rope tow ski area may have opened as early as the 1959-60 season on land owned by Charles Beauregard & Sons of Marlborough. Three military veterans, John Summers, Ernest Levesque, and Charles Tousley, reportedly constructed the area. Summers, founder of the Summers Backcountry Sports store in Keene, served as manager.
Plans for expansion were publicized in 1961, as Sel Hannah was hired to lay out ski trails for a future expansion to include a chairlift and snowmaking. For the 1961-62 season, an 800 foot rope tow (the area's second) was added, as well as a new skating rink. By this time, the area claimed 10 acres of ski terrain, a 100-car parking lot, a 40 by 20 foot warming hut, and night skiing.
The area stepped up a notch in 1962-63 when it added a 1,000 foot long novice Poma lift on a new 100 foot wide slope. As a result, business increased by 280% over 1961-62. John Summers and Paul Burns directed the ski school.
Pinnacle lost its warming hut to a fire in February 1966. A ski instructor who was trying to rescue some equipment suffered minor burns. Students and staff members at Franklin Pierce College, where John Summers' wife Elizabeth taught, pitched in to help remove the remains and put up a temporary structure within days so that the area could continue to operate. Unfortunately, Pinnacle Mountain Development Corporation's days were numbered.
On December 14, 1966, Charles Beauregard & Sons foreclosed on Pinnacle Mountain Development Corporation. By 1967, George LaBrecque had taken over the management of the ski area. With funding from Maurice Stone, LaBrecque installed a new Poma T-Bar, which likely increased the area's vertical drop by 50 feet to 300 feet.
Pinnacle recorded a record season in 1968-69, with business reportedly up 95%. By the time 1971-72 arrived, Pinnacle featured 4 slopes served by the T-Bar and Poma lift. While the area had night skiing, it still did not have snowmaking. In addition to skiing, Pinnacle also offered camping.
In the fall of 1973, George LaBrecque acquired Eaton Mountain, Maine and had put Pinnacle on the market.
Former Labrador and Song Mountain assistant ski school director Franz Nagy reportedly purchased an ownership stake in Pinnacle for the 1974-75 season. By that point, Pinnacle advertised day skiing six days a week and night skiing five evenings a week, as well as full camping facilities.
Closure
Aerial image of the defunct Pinnacle ski area (1998) |
Following the 1974-75 season, George LaBrecque transferred the ski area to Maurice Stone. One year later, Stone sold the area to Paul and Eleanor Jensen of Connecticut. Dealing with subpar snowfall, no snowmaking, and aging infrastructure, the Jensens only operated the Pinnacle for the 1976-77 season. Following the season, when mortgage payments were missed, Stone foreclosed and took back the property. There would be no more lift served skiing at Pinnacle for the rest of the twentieth century.
In November 1980, Stone sold the 94-acre Pinnacle property to Juanita Robinson of Kentucky and her three sons, one of whom lived in Massachusetts. Though "big plans" were teased with skiing to return in 1980 or 1981, Pinnacle remained idle.
In December 1985, the Robinsons sold the property to Bald Mountain Park, Inc. The real estate entity held the property for fourteen years.
Granite Gorge
Early reconstruction of the former Pinnacle ski area (2002) |
In September 1999, Baybutt Construction purchased the former ski area and commenced studies for a potential reopening. Based out of Keene, the company was founded in 1964 by Richard Baybutt. In 1985, he hired his youngest son Frederick as a field engineer. Within ten years, Fred had become president of the firm, which was one of the region's largest construction companies.
Former owner Maurice Stone passed away on September 26, 2000 at the age of 92.
After a quarter of a century of idleness, the Pinnacle became a work site in the spring of 2002 when a new bridge was built from Route 9 to the base area.
The Pinnacle reopened in early 2003 under the name of Granite Gorge. Former employee Chip Woodbury was brought back as director of skiing. The tiny startup on the Bunny Buster slope featured a rope tow and snowmaking. Providing a tour of the area to the press, Baybutt remarked, "Like many people in the Keene area, we had whole families who learned how to ski here, and I was fond of it. We bought the land because we believed the time was right to revive those family-based ski experiences for the region." Baybutt described the business model as "debt-free" with expansion handled as "pay as we go."
Aerial image of Granite Gorge circa the mid 2010s |
After multiple years of planning and decades after the first proposal, Granite Gorge saw a significant expansion in 2005 with the addition of a double chairlift to Spruce Peak.
Snowmaking and night skiing were expanded for the 2006-07, which also featured a new base yurt. Snowmaking was expanded to the top of the chairlift for the 2008-2009 season, while night skiing followed up the mountain for the 2009-2010 season.
In 2010 Granite Gorge was approved for a 300-person lodge, to be built in phases. Portions were completed in 2011 and 2012.
In late 2012, parent company Baybutt Construction was dealing with escalating financial problems. One of Baybutt's lenders, Interstate Electrical Services Corp., arranged for a foreclosure auction of some of Baybutt's properties, including Granite Gorge ski area, for February 1, 2013. The auction was cancelled at the last minute and the ski area remained open. That month, Baybutt Construction Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The base area (2018) |
Granite Gorge continued to operate and grow in subsequent years, including adding to its off season offerings and events. The ski area made a dramatic cut in prices for the 2017-18 season, slashing the day ticket price by one third in order to draw more skiers.
Granite Gorge scaled back operations for the 2018-19 season, as it ceased operating the chairlift and instead focused on snow tubing and skiing on the Bunny Buster trail. After nearly being auctioned off in the summer of 2019, the ski area continued to operate its surface lifts during the winter of 2019-20.
On August 3, 2020, Fred Baybutt died of a sudden heart event at the age of 60. Following his death, Granite Gorge sat idle.
The area reopened under new ownership during the winter of 2022-23.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| February | 63% (3 reports) |  | | March | 52% (3 reports) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Mar. 11, 2023 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
| Mar. 11, 2023 by brianna
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
 | Mar. 3, 2018 by newenglandskier13
Spring Snow, Variable Conditions |
 | Feb. 10, 2018 by rocket21
Variable Conditions, Variable Conditions |
 | Feb. 14, 2016 by arthurhastings
Packed Powder, Powder |
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| Granite Gorge on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
| Recent Articles |
| Resurrected Granite Gorge and Tenney Mountain Ramp Up Operations - Feb. 18, 2023 | | Granite Gorge Reopens - Jan. 15, 2023 | | Reopening Work Continues at Granite Gorge and Tenney Mountain - Dec. 11, 2022 | | Reopening Work Continues at Granite Gorge and Tenney Mountain - Oct. 17, 2022 | | Reopening Work in Progress at Granite Gorge and Tenney Mountain - Sep. 13, 2022 | | Granite Gorge Sold at Auction - Jun. 6, 2022 | | Granite Gorge Facing Auction Again - May. 9, 2022 | | Defunct Since COVID - Jan. 29, 2022 | | Granite Gorge to Remain Closed - Dec. 7, 2021 | | Granite Gorge Owner Passes Away - Aug. 8, 2020 | | Granite Gorge NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page |
Expansion History
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2023-24 | $65.00 | | $399.00 | | 6.1 days | December 15 | March 16 | | | | | 2022-23 | | | $399.00 | | | January 14 | April 2 | | | | | 2019-20 | $30.00 | | | | | December 7 | March 8 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2017-18 | $33.00 | | $299.00 | | 9.1 days | December 14 | March 25 | | | | | 2016-17 | $49.00 | | $445.00 | | 9.1 days | December 15 | March 12 | | | | | 2015-16 | $49.00 | | $445.00 | | 9.1 days | December 23 | March 13 | | | | | 2014-15 | $47.00 | | $445.00 | | 9.5 days | | | | | | | 2013-14 | $47.00 | | $425.00 | | 9.0 days | | | | | | | 2012-13 | $45.00 | | | | | | March 31 | | | | | 2011-12 | $42.00 | | $399.00 | | 9.5 days | December 17 | | 27,725 | | | | 2010-11 | $42.00 | | | | | | | 30,000 | | | | 2009-10 | $45.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $39.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2007-08 | $29.00 | | $299.00 | | 10.3 days | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $29.00 | | $299.00 | | 10.3 days | | | | | | | 2005-06 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2004-05 | $20.00 | | | | | December 18 | | | | | | 2003-04 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1977-78 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1976-77 | | | $50.00 | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $4.75 | | | | | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1964-65 | $3.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $3.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $3.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | | | | | | December 23 | March 27 | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "Hi Fred Baybutt co-owner of Granite Gorge here. Great history report; couple things I never knew!An update for you regarding GGs status. The ski area is up and operating and will be fine! Come on up for " | | Fred Baybutt , Nov. 8, 2013 |
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External Links
Granite Gorge - official site
Granite Gorge - SmallSkiAreas.com
Granite Gorge - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Pinnacle - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
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Last updated: April 29, 2023
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