The central Maine ski area has halted snowmaking operations due to the fire.
Thursday, December 5, 2024, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Snowmaking is on hold at Hermon Mountain as crews hustle to rebuild the pumphouse and locate replacement equipment.
Owner Bill Whitcomb first noticed an issue early Wednesday morning when a pump warning light turned on during snowmaking operations. Smoke was detected rising from the pumphouse and the roof soon collapsed. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Though Whitcomb initially thought the pumphouse was a full loss, the pump has been sent to a machine shop to see if it can be rebuilt. A replacement electric motor and drive have been ordered and a new roof is being constructed.
Whitcomb told Fox 23 News, "It's a catastrophe, but we don't envision it keeping us down for very long, as much as you might think it'll be a big impact, it really won't be. We might lose two snow-making sessions."
The area still expects to make its typical Christmas week opening date.
Located just outside Bangor, Hermon Mountain debuted in the mid-1960s. Bill and Marlene Whitcomb acquired the area in 1989 and installed a chairlift in 1998. The family placed the area on the market in 2022 for $5 million.
