The fleet of snow guns at the ski area are scheduled for removal.
Thursday, August 29, 2019, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Four dozen snow guns are set to be removed from the defunct Haystack ski area, the Brattleboro Reformer reports. The Hermitage Club was moved to Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this summer, meaning the ski area is on a path to liquidation.
According to the Brattleboro Reformer, the Lakeland Bank loaned $900,000 to the Hermitage for snowmaking equipment in February 2016, when New England ski areas were enveloped in one of the worst winters on record. Since the bank is still owed $720,730 and hasn't received payment since December 2017, a judge has given preliminary approval for removal and sale of the snow guns.
Berkshire Bank filed a foreclosure complaint in February 2018, with some $16.5 million owed by the company for its lavish new base lodge. The filing paved the way to the appointment of receiver Alan Tantleff. The bank is hoping to auction off the assets this summer.
Located in the Deerfield Valley near Mount Snow, the Hermitage Club features the Haystack ski area, a golf course, and numerous inns and restaurants. Hermitage founder Jim Barnes acquired the defunct Haystack ski area in October 2011 and soon installed two new SkyTrac fixed grip quad chairlifts. An 80,000 square foot lodge was constructed for 2014-15 and a $7.3 million Doppelmayr heated, high speed detachable six person chairlift for 2015-16. In addition, the ski area also has a CTEC triple and a Poma triple.
