The non-profit group hopes to demolish and replace the building.
Monday, December 19, 2016, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Ascutney Outdoors acquired the burned Ascutney base lodge on Friday, allowing for the building's demolition to move forward. The lodge was burned beyond salvage on January 8, 2015.
The non-profit Ascutney Outdoors reopened the defunct ski resort as a small rope tow operation last winter and has plans to gradually expand. The rope tow opened on December 17, while upper mountain terrain has been mowed for backcountry use.
According to the Valley News, donors have already lined up to fund the lodge demolition. In the future, Ascutney Outdoors hopes to construct a multiple purpose building in its place.
Background
Originally developed as a surface lift ski operation in the mid 1940s, the financially troubled Ascutney Mountain ski area closed amidst foreclosure proceedings during the 2009-10 season. The high speed quad was removed in 2012 and the triple chairlifts in 2014. The remaining double chairlift is not currently functional. The Town of West Windsor approved the acquisition of the defunct ski area on October 14, 2014.
A local non-profit group, Mount Ascutney Outdoors was established as a Vermont business entity on September 13, 2015.
Some 460 to 470 acres containing the bulk of the ski terrain were purchased by Trust for Public Land in late 2015, then transferred to town with a conservation easement held by Upper Valley Land Trust. A 3.38 acre tract at the base of the Screaming Eagle trail was purchased by the town and may not have as many use restrictions. The tract includes the maintenance building and original (surface lift era) base lodge.
