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Located in the Green Mountains, Okemo is one of the most popular ski areas in New England.
Early Years
While skiing in Okemo State Forest dates back to the 1930s, lift served skiing was not developed on Ludlow Mountain until the 1955-56 season. A $200,000 development was rolled out for that season featuring two Poma lifts, including the longest one of its type in New England history (at 6,207 feet). Okemo officially opened on January 31, 1956, with Don Cutter serving as manager.
For its sophomore year, Okemo added another trail and some more open slopes. The base lodge was improved for the 1957-58 season.
Okemo circa the early 1960s |
Pomas, Pomas, and More Pomas!
A third Poma lift was likely installed for 1958-59 season, serving the lower mountain.
Two new Poma lifts were initially advertised for the 1960-61, however it is possible that only Black Poma was installed. Nonetheless, the new lift was opened in conjunction with additional trails, such as War Dance, Bow, and Arrow.
The Blue Poma was extended uphill for the 1961-62 season, providing easier connecting to the upper mountain lifts. In addition, a new trail was cut in the Glades area.
The base lodge was doubled in size for the 1962-63 season, while general trail improvements and expansions also took place. Taking Don Cutter's place as General Manager was Daniel J. Leary, who would later serve as the first manager of Enchanted Mountain in Maine.
A ski school lesson at Okemo circa the 1960s or 1970s |
Finally, a Chairlift
Already considered one of the larger areas in the state, Okemo made advances in the mid 1960s when it cut a 4,600 foot long lift line trail in 1964. The expansion was completed in 1965, when the area's first chairlift was installed, the Sachem Double. Along with the chairlift and the installation of the F 10, Okemo's lift network had grown to 7 Pomas. John S. Anderson was General Manager by this time.
To help the ski area in lean seasons, a new snowmaking system was added for the 1966-67 season, covering 12 acres on the lower mountain's Papoose and ski school slopes. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors was putting together a new financing package.
In July 1967, Okemo announced that directors John Wadhams and Kingsley Smith had obtained financing from investors and local banks. Investments were to be made in a new lodge, more land, expanded parking, new trails, and another chairlift.
The Sachem Double circa the 1960s or 1970s |
A $400,000 base lodge project debuted for the 1968-69 season, to be opened in conjunction with Okemo's second chairlift. Construction on the latter was halted due to an early season snowstorm. Combined with a lean 1969-70 season, the Northwest Summit double chairlift did not debut until February of 1970. John Bassette served as General Manager for the 1969-70 season, followed by David Rock in 1970-71. The Rim Rock Trail likely opened in 1970-71.
Financial Woes
The South Ridge double chairlift, Okemo's third, was installed for the 1971-72. With the new lift, Okemo now had top to bottom chairlift served skiing for the first time. Unfortunately for skiers, it would be more than a decade before the next installation, as Okemo was rolling into financial trouble. While Bromley manager Stig Albertsson attempted to purchase Okemo, he was unsuccessful.
The Muellers Take Over
The Muellers |
By the start of the 1980s, a planned expansion was shelved while debt increased. On August 2, 1982, Tim and Diane Mueller took a principal stake in the ownership of the mountain and began a campaign of dramatic improvements.
During their first full off season, the Muellers installed the area's first triple chairlift, ushering in an era of repeated record breaking skier visit figures. Tim Mueller later told the New York Times, "Our philosophy has been to improve and maintain a first-class ski resort and ski product, and the rest will come along."
After eclipsing 300,000 skier visits, a sizable expansion took place a few years later with 1987's Solitude development.
Okemo's first detachable quad was installed for the 1992-93 season, advertised as the world's fastest high speed quad. A $1.2 million summit lodge was constructed in 1993. Around this time, the Muellers became sole owners of Okemo.
Aided by a land swap with the state, the ski area expanded again in 1994-95 with the installation of a high speed quad at Solitude, the construction of a 70 million gallon snowmaking reservoir, and the new South Face complex. Skier visits soon surpassed 500,000.
A new snowboard park was constructed in 1996, served by a T-Bar. By the end of the decade, Okemo was launching its new nordic skiing and golf facility. Meanwhile, the Muellers became operators of Mount Sunapee, NH in 1998.
Jackson Gore
Jackson Gore, under construction in 2002 |
An ambitious project was rolled out in 2002, when a new base area and trail pod were developed on Jackson Gore. While original plans called for extensive developments such as a gondola, the implementation has been much more gradual. The main lift was installed for the 2002-03 season, whilst the base area and lower mountain lift were added for the 2003-04 season. Longtime departmental manager Bruce Schmidt was promoted to General Manager of Okemo in the summer of 2004.
On December 5, 2008, Okemo parent company Triple Peaks, LLC sold its developed ski area assets (including Okemo) to the Real Estate Investment Trust CNL Lifestyle Properties for $132 million. Triple Peaks, LLC then entered into an agreement to lease its three areas back from CNL for 40 years, therefore continuing operational control.
During the 2010 off season, the Snow Star Poma was replaced with a Magic Carpet lift, marking an end to Okemo's long Pomalift history.
More recently, Okemo has unveiled plans to develop South Face Village below South Face, providing new trails, lifts, and real estate opportunities.
Bubbles!
The Sun Burst Six (2016) |
During the 2014 off season, Okemo installed a new high speed six pack bubble chair, replacing the Northstar Express Quad. The following year, bubbles were installed on the Jackson Gore Express, which became known as the Quantum Four. As a result, Okemo became the only ski area in New England with two bubble chairlifts.
In June of 2018, the Muellers announced they would be selling their ski areas to Vail Resorts, ending their 36 year ownership of Okemo. In their honor, Vail Resorts renamed the Defiance trail to Muellers' Run. That fall, Bruce Schmidt was transferred to Mt. Sunapee, while Kirkwood General Manager Doug Pierini took over as Okemo General Manager, as well as COO of Vail's Northeast resorts. One year later, following the Vail acquisition of Peak Resorts, Schmidt returned as Okemo General Manager, while Pierini became COO of Vail's Eastern Region.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| December | 42% (3 reports) |  | | January | 71% (7 reports) | | | February | 90% (3 reports) | | | March | 91% (5 reports) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Mar. 7, 2020 by skiit
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
 | Mar. 5, 2020 by livesforwinter
Spring Snow, Variable Conditions |
| Feb. 29, 2020 by nechairliftsandskiing
Variable Conditions, Variable Conditions |
 | Feb. 12, 2020 by bostonbob
Packed Powder, Frozen Granular |
| Jan. 29, 2020 by livesforwinter
Packed Powder, Frozen Granular |
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| Okemo Mountain Resort on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
| Recent Articles |
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| Vail Resorts Cancels Capital Improvements, Slashes Payroll - Apr. 2, 2020 | | Vail Announces 2020-21 Capital Improvements - Dec. 9, 2019 | | Musical Chairs at Vail and Pacific Owned New England Ski Areas - Nov. 26, 2018 | | Vail Resorts Purchases Okemo and Sunapee - Jun. 4, 2018 | | Six Major Ski Areas Sold to Hedge Fund - Nov. 3, 2016 | | Vermont Re-approves Okemo South Face Village EB-5 Investment - Jul. 19, 2016 | | Vermont Halts Okemo South Face Village EB-5 Investment - Jun. 24, 2016 | | Okemo to Install New Quad Chairlift at Jackson Gore - Mar. 31, 2016 | | New Lifts Slow to Open - Jan. 2, 2016 | | Lifts Operating in Four States Today - Nov. 24, 2015 | | Okemo Mountain Resort NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page |
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
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2019-20 | $126.14 | | $739.00 | | 5.9 days | November 22 | March 14 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $127.20 | | $709.00 | | 5.6 days | November 16 | April 14 | | | | | 2017-18 | $110.00 | | $1375.00 | | 12.5 days | November 11 | April 22 | | | | | 2016-17 | $101.00 | | $1619.00 | | 16.0 days | November 23 | April 16 | | | | | 2015-16 | $97.00 | | $1599.00 | | 16.5 days | November 24 | April 3 | | | | | 2014-15 | $92.00 | | $1529.00 | | 16.6 days | November 16 | April 26 | | | | | 2013-14 | $89.00 | | $1499.00 | | 16.8 days | November 13 | April 13 | | | | | 2012-13 | $88.00 | | | | | November 8 | April 14 | | | | | 2011-12 | $84.00 | | $1419.00 | | 16.9 days | November 24 | March 25 | | | | | 2010-11 | $81.00 | | $1379.00 | | 17.0 days | November 23 | April 17 | | | | | 2009-10 | | | $1339.00 | | | December 5 | April 9 | 603,000 | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $77.00 | | $1299.00 | | 16.9 days | November 21 | April 12 | | | | | 2007-08 | $74.00 | | $1249.00 | | 16.9 days | November 16 | April 20 | 640,000 | | | | 2006-07 | $72.00 | | $1229.00 | | 17.1 days | November 23 | April 22 | | | | | 2005-06 | $69.00 | | $1199.00 | | 17.4 days | November 18 | April 9 | | | | | 2004-05 | $67.00 | | $1325.00 | | 19.8 days | November 12 | April 10 | | | | | 2003-04 | $65.00 | | $1375.00 | | 21.2 days | November 13 | April 11 | | | | | 2002-03 | $62.00 | | $1240.00 | | 20.0 days | November 2 | April 20 | 604,000 | | | | 2001-02 | $59.00 | | $1200.00 | | 20.3 days | November 14 | April 14 | | | | | 2000-01 | $56.00 | | $1150.00 | | 20.5 days | November 17 | April 29 | 593,000 | | | | 1999-00 | $54.00 | | $1150.00 | | 21.3 days | November 11 | April 16 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1997-98 | $50.00 | | $1110.00 | | 22.2 days | November 14 | | 560,000 | | | | 1996-97 | $48.00 | | | | | | | 540,000 | | | | 1995-96 | $46.00 | | | | | | April 21 | 508,000 | | | | 1994-95 | $45.00 | | | | | | | 480,000 | | | | 1993-94 | $43.00 | | | | | November 4 | | | | | | 1992-93 | $42.00 | | | | | | | 465,000 | | | | 1991-92 | $41.00 | | | | | | April 26 | 446,000 | | | | 1990-91 | $39.00 | | | | | | | 420,000 | | | | 1989-90 | $37.00 | | | | | | | 400,000 | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $35.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $32.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $30.00 | | | | | | | 320,000 | | | | 1985-86 | | | | | | | | 224,000 | | | | 1984-85 | $25.00 | | | | | | | 165,000 | | | | 1983-84 | $23.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1981-82 | $18.00 | | | | | November 25 | | 86,000 | | | | 1980-81 | $17.00 | | | | | | | 95,500 | | | | 1979-80 | $15.00 | | | | | | | 88,800 | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $14.00 | | | | | November 23 | | | | | | 1977-78 | $12.00 | | | | | December 2 | | 176,000 | | | | 1976-77 | $12.00 | | $300.00 | | 25.0 days | December 3 | | | | | | 1975-76 | $11.00 | | | | | December 6 | | | | | | 1974-75 | $10.00 | | | | | November 28 | | | | | | 1973-74 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $10.00 | | $170.00 | | 17.0 days | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $8.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $7.00 | | | | | | | 132,170 | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1966-67 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1964-65 | $5.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | $5.00 | | | | | December 19 | April 8 | 39,900 | | | | 1960-61 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1959-60 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1958-59 | | | | | | | | 30,000 | | | | 1957-58 | | | | | | | | 25,300 | | | | 1956-57 | | | | | | | | 11,800 | | | | 1955-56 | | | | | | January 31 | April 21 | 3,000 | | |
Visitor Memories
External Links
Okemo - official site
Ludlow Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: January 29, 2020
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