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| Mad River Glen |
| Waitsfield, Vermont |
| Status: |
Open
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| First Season: | 1948-49 |
| Vertical Drop: | 2037 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | 3 doubles, 1 single, surface lift |
| Past Lifts: | Surface lifts |
| Left: The single chair (2015) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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| 11/10/2017: Ski Areas Open in 4 States This Weekend |
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Located on the eastern face of General Stark Mountain, Mad River Glen is a well known "old school" ski area, famous for its unique terrain, single chairlift, and snowboarding ban.
Development and Delays
A 1950s Mad River Glen advertisement |
The roots of Mad River Glen date back to the late 1940s, when Roland Palmedo (of Stowe fame) looked to develop a new ski area. While Mt. Abraham was considered, Palmedo settled on General Stark Mountain. Initially planned for the 1947-48 season, the construction of the single chairlift was ironically halted by a late fall snowstorm. In a second batch of irony, the opening of the chairlift for skiing was delayed until January of 1949 due to a lack of natural snow.
Initially managed by Charlie Lord and Howard Moody, Mad River Glen featured about half a dozen trails, the Base Box, and a Sig Buchmeyer ski shop for its debut season.
For its second season, Mad River Glen added easier terrain, including a 2.5 mile trail from the top, as well as novice rope tow slope.
In 1953, Connecticut resident Betsy Stratton met a banker friend of Palmedo while skiing at Mad River Glen. She and Truxton Pratt married in 1954 and celebrated their honeymoon at the ski area. Meanwhile, Ken Quackenbush relocated from North Creek to Mad River Glen, becoming lift manager.
For the 1958-59 season, a T-Bar was installed on the Practice Slope.
The Sunnyside complex, served by a double chairlift, opened for the 1961-62 season.
The Birdland complex, featuring novice and intermediate terrain, debuted for the 1966-67 season.
Pratt Ownership
Mad River Glen in the 1970s |
In early 1972, real estate developer Bradford Swett and Truxton Pratt formed McCullough Corp. Circa early March, the company purchased 92% of Mad River Corp., making Swett President, Pratt Chairman of the Board, and General Manager Ken Quackenbush Vice President.
For the 1972-73 season, the Practice Slope Chair was installed, replacing a T-Bar. To date, this is the last net new chairlift installation at Mad River Glen.
1975 proved to be a difficult year for Mad River Glen, starting off with an accident on the single chairlift in February. In July of that year, Truxton Pratt passed away after a long fight with cancer at the young age of 49. Following her husband's death, Betsy Pratt took control of the ski area, eventually acquiring a principle stake.
Snowmaking made its debut at Mad River Glen for the 1975-76 season, covering the Practice Slope.
In 1984, Mad River Glen introduced its now famous 'Ski It If You Can' bumper sticker, emphasizing the character of the terrain, as well as the lack of snowmaking/grooming.
Circa the late 1980s, snowboarders were banned from the single chairlift due to deropements. After a confrontation between young snowboarders upset about the partial ban and Betsy Pratt circa 1991-92, snowboarders were banned from the entire area.
Meanwhile, circa the 1990-91 season, Pratt made her intentions to sell the area known, as well as her desire to keep it from being purchased by a corporate entity hoping to make it a destination resort.
Mad River Glen Cooperative
Former owner Betsy Pratt |
On September 27, 1994, the Mad River Glen Cooperative was registered as an entity in the State of Vermont. After nearly a quarter of a century of ownership, Betsy Pratt entered into an agreement to sell the ski area to the cooperative in December of 1995. Planning immediately began for long term improvements while retaining the character of the ski area. One core value was clear - snowboarding would not be allowed.
In April of 1998, the coop sold its 1,667th share, raising enough money to own the ski area outright. Much needed lift improvements were about to begin.
For 1998-99, the Sunnyside chairlift was rebuilt, dramatically extending its useful life.
In April of 2007, the single chairlift carried its last skiers before shutting down for an unprecedented construction project. That off season, Doppelmayr-CTEC completed a $1.5 million renovation of the lift, including restoring towers and terminals while fabricating replica replacement chairs, sheaves, and bullwheels. The rebuilt lift was completed in the fall of 2007.
Mad River Glen in 2015 |
The Mad River Glen Cooperative continues to sell shares to this day in lump sum and payment plan options, with well over 2,000 (of up to 3,000 allowed) sold to date. Concern about not operating during periods of poor snowfall has once again raised the question of whether or not to install a larger snowmaking system. For now, a meager snowmaking set up covers a small portion of the ski area, as Mad River Glen decidedly remains a natural snow skier's destination.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
Expansion History
Image Gallery
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
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $89.00 |  | $965.00 | | 10.8 days | | | | | | | 2017-18 | $89.00 | | $992.00 | | 11.1 days | December 15 | April 8 | | | | | 2016-17 | $79.00 | | $992.00 | | 12.6 days | December 10 | April 9 | | | | | 2015-16 | $79.00 | | $992.00 | | 12.6 days | January 9 | March 13 | | | | | 2014-15 | $75.00 | | $963.00 | | 12.8 days | December 12 | April 19 | | | | | 2013-14 | $71.00 | | $963.00 | | 13.6 days | December 15 | April 12 | | | | | 2012-13 | $69.00 | | $963.00 | | 14.0 days | December 24 | April 7 | | | | | 2011-12 | $66.00 | | $963.00 | | 14.6 days | December 30 | March 18 | | | | | 2010-11 | $65.00 | | $944.00 | | 14.5 days | December 24 | April 10 | | | | | 2009-10 | $62.00 | | $944.00 | | 15.2 days | December 12 | April 3 | 74,658 | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $60.00 | | $944.00 | | 15.7 days | | | 77,283 | | | | 2007-08 | $54.00 | | $899.00 | | 16.6 days | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $54.00 | | $780.00 | | 14.4 days | | April 8 | 60,000 | | | | 2005-06 | $50.00 | | $780.00 | | 15.6 days | December 17 | April 1 | 65,000 | | | | 2004-05 | $50.00 | | $780.00 | | 15.6 days | December 16 | April 10 | | | | | 2003-04 | $45.00 | | $740.00 | | 16.4 days | December 7 | April 3 | | | | | 2002-03 | $42.00 | | $650.00 | | 15.5 days | | April 6 | 86,000 | | | | 2001-02 | $40.00 | | $650.00 | | 16.3 days | | | | | | | 2000-01 | $40.00 | | $650.00 | | 16.3 days | | April 29 | | | | | 1999-00 | $36.00 | | $650.00 | | 18.1 days | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $36.00 | | | | | | April 4 | | | | | 1997-98 | $34.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1996-97 | $32.00 | | $590.00 | | 18.4 days | | | | | | | 1992-93 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $24.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1984-85 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1983-84 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1980-81 | $17.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $17.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $14.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1976-77 | $13.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $8.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1966-67 | $7.00 | | $115.00 | | 16.4 days | | | | | | | 1964-65 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | | | | | | December 16 | April 22 | | | | | 1959-60 | $4.75 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1957-58 | | | | | | | | 25,000 | | |
Visitor Memories
| "Skied The Glen regularly in the late 50`s for four years. Favorites were the Chute & Fall Line. Yes, 'Ski it if you can' and it was great. I remember skiing with Betsy Pratt in the 60`s. In the late 50s we would regularly leave skis and poles in the out-door rack returning to fetch them and ski the next day. Those were the days. And yes, I was at the bar as Gussie was first opening! Great memories of my favorite, General Stark Mt. and Mad river! Greetings to Betsy and all. Newt" | | Newton Pendleton, Feb. 25, 2016 | | "I used to go to shaker mountain school out of Burlington and starksboro.Thanks to the ownership we were able to get lift tickets to Mad River glen on Thursdays for $1,this was in 77-78.What a good time we all had on the slopes.The climb up the mountain off of RT116 some mornings in those ole late 60s dodge vans was pretty rough.If anyone reading this remembers please write back,Thanks." | | Eric Edwards, Dec. 2, 2015 |
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External Links
Mad River Glen - official site
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Last updated: December 1, 2016
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