Saddleback aims to open

djspookman

Ugh. Really wishing I could have skiied there w/ lift access. Maybe some year soon it will go again, but if not, I hope to at least make it up there to skin/ ski it!D

sugarloaf

Hopefully equipment doesn’t start to be sold off, because that’s likely the end of Saddleback. I’m hoping the non for profit group can rescue the place.

powderstud

Has anyone heard anything about Saddleback?  It’s hard to be optimistic that the Majella deal will happen.  And then if it does, what this whole process has made clear is that they’re not a deep pocket, which means that it’s only a matter of time before they run into trouble.  Rinse and repeat.

joshua_segal

The Berrys seem to have put all their eggs in the Majella basket and the deal is going no where - delay after delay, with no resolution in sight.  Unfortunate, but if I were a betting man (and I’m not), I seriously doubt that Saddleback will ever function as a ski area again.

powderstud

Joshua, thanks for that posting.  If I may ask, is there some sort of personality conflict between the Berrys and the people behind the non-profit group trying to acquire Saddleback?  The information in the public domain suggests that there is something more than disagreement about $$$ preventing a deal from getting done.  One thing’s for sure:  If it really is about maximizing $$$, then the Berrys are mis-playing their hand, because the longer Saddleback goes idle, the less value it has.  Given the options on the table, it seems (from imperfect information) that they are compounding their mistakes.I wonder if the Berrys failed in their due diligence on Majella, or if they simply were desperate and would have struck a deal with any for-profit buyer no matter how limited their resources.

pagamony

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“joshua_segal”>The Berrys seem to have put all their eggs in the Majella basket and the deal is going no where - delay after delay, with no resolution in sight.  Unfortunate, but if I were a betting man (and I’m not), I seriously doubt that Saddleback will ever function as a ski area again.</blockquote>

It seems that way and that is very frustrating. I was there in April about 10 years ago, the snow was deep, lifts were running, skiers were friendly, and cars filled the lots with some along the access road. It was fabulous. I know… costs, insurance, options, yada yada, but man what a wonderful place.  State of Maine - make this a park !!  

ski_it

I hear ya Pagamony except that last line will be a tough slog. The other non profits up there are already up against it. Maine Winter Sports Center now called OSI and others already have perpetual funding issues. Unfortunately it may be time to rename this thread. :(

sugarloaf

Where into February with no update on Sugarloaf Today since 1/12. When does Saddleback go on NELSAP?

ski_it

Well I’m thinking the people that run that site are in no hurry to write places off. Not sure what the exact criteria are but you’ll see the Balsams is not on there and Tenney is on the list as open.

ciscokid

Boy that Rangely center pole lattice ’63 Mueller “was” a beauty!

And correct me if my memory failed once again but wasn’t the famous eclair tbar escapade at Saddle?( and who were the two stars of that show?)

riverc0il

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“ciscokid”>Boy that Rangely center pole lattice ’63 Mueller “was” a beauty!

And correct me if my memory failed once again but wasn’t the famous eclair tbar escapade at Saddle?( and who were the two stars of that show?)</blockquote>

Sledhauler and I were involved in eclair tbar incident. Sled did the deed while I documented. I think those pics were in SJ1.0, not sure if I still have them at this point.

sugarloaf

It seems that Saddleback is still under contract and some employees are still being paid. It’s looking like we will be into year three of no operations as I doubt they will open with the season mostly over.

sugarloaf

The website is gone, with a re-direct to Majella. Put a fork in this place.

joshua_segal

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“sugarloaf”>It seems that Saddleback is still under contract and some employees are still being paid. It’s looking like we will be into year three of no operations as I doubt they will open with the season mostly over.</blockquote>

As far as I know, the few employees are for the most part, being paid from the condo fees associated with plowing and trash pick-up.

JimK

Hopefully, the coop group can re-emerge as a steward to restore and reopen this beautiful ski area.

loafasaur

The website is back up.  It does make it appear that Saddleback isn’t a front-burner matter for Majella, though.  Who turns a lift first, SB or Balsams?

sugarloaf

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“loafasaur”>The website is back up.  It does make it appear that Saddleback isn’t a front-burner matter for Majella, though.  Who turns a lift first, SB or Balsams?</blockquote>

Its not up when I tried it, still a Majella re-direct.

TomWhite

Below is entry on Liftblog.com. The new broadcast suggests that Majella isn’t interested in opening Saddleback.

The Australian man who was supposed to buy Maine’s third largest ski resort is caught on tape saying, “We’re not going to deliver on Saddleback,”  “Opening the mountain is not a primary concern for us,” and  “We’re not going to lose any sleep with regards to it,” acknowledging it was mostly about cashing in on the EB-5 immigrant investor program.

Below is the link to the TV news broadcast.

http://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/now/australian-ceo-on-tape-i-wont-lose-any-sleep-if-saddleback-doesnt-open/97-528149662

joshua_segal

Here are a few additional snippets on SB:

http://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/now/former-saddleback-employee-sues-aussie-development-company-for-unpaid-wages/97-528956555

https://bangordailynews.com/2018/03/15/business/prospective-saddleback-buyer-refutes-claim-that-he-just-wants-resort-for-immigrant-visas/

IMO, less than 5% chance that SB will ever operate again as skin area.  My sources indicate that buyers (many of the major skiing corps) are lined to buy the South Branch and Kennabago lifts.

lotsoskiing

Looks grim…still

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