The 55-year-old chairlift has been closed this month due to a mechanical issue.
Thursday, March 13, 2025, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation ("UVSSF"), the non-profit that operates Whaleback, is seeking $250,000 to repair its broken chairlift and get through the off-season.
According to an e-mail from UVSSF, the chairlift issues "have created significant financial strain, threatening our ability to continue operations."
Installed in 1970, the Heron Poma double chairlift serves Whaleback's entire 700 foot advertised vertical drop. Without the lift, the area has less than 200 vertical feet of terrain accessible via surface lifts.
The chairlift has needed numerous repairs in recent years and caused the area to close early during the 2019-20 season. UVSSF plans to replace the chairlift by 2030.
Located just off I-89 south of Lebanon, Whaleback has struggled through numerous bankruptcies over its nearly 70 year history. The non-profit Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation took control of the ski area starting with the 2013-14 season. While significant investments have been made in snowmaking, surface lifts, and lodge renovations, the area has struggled with issues with its lifts, lighting, and snowmaking.
