The defunct southern New Hampshire ski area could head to the auction block in June.
Monday, May 9, 2022, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Granite Gorge is heading to the auction block next month, the Keene Sentinel reports.
Reopened in 2003 on the site of the former Pinnacle ski area east of Keene, Granite Gorge perhaps peaked in around 2011, when a chairlift was in operation with snowmaking and night skiing. Financial and equipment struggles resulted in operations being limited to surface lifts in recent years. Owner Fred Baybutt passed away unexpectedly in early August 2020, leaving the future of the ski area in doubt. Granite Gorge did not operate during the winter of 2020-21 or 2021-22.
According to the Sentinel, Baybutt's brother John owns the defunct ski area and has "pretty much decided to move on from it." Choosing to enjoy retirement, Baybutt had lined up a tubing operator earlier in 2021, but "right now, we're kind of on hold."
The Town of Roxbury recently placed a lien on the property for nearly $15,000 in unpaid property taxes in 2021. There is also a lien on the property for unpaid property taxes from 2020.
