^Upper trails of the resort that haven’t been used in over a decade. Courtesy: Newenglandskihistory.com
Moosehead Lake Ski Resort, formally known as Big Squaw, was just granted up to $135M in bond financing from the state of Maine, according to Judy Harrison of Bangor Daily News.
The ski area currently operates as a nonprofit on the lower portion of the mountain. The upper trails and lifts have not been used since a chairlift malfunction injured four people back in 2004.
^The current operating lift. Old trails on the upper mountain can be seen in the background.
The money will be used to replace chairlifts to provide access to the entirety of the ski area, acquire new snowmaking equipment, build a new base lodge with a brewery, and build hundreds of lodging options for guests.
Returning Moosehead Lake Ski Resort to its full operating potential will reestablish the resort as Maine’s 4th largest ski resort by vertical rise.
The ski resort will create hundreds of jobs for Piscataquis County which is the least populous and poorest counties in Maine.
I’m happy to hear that things are moving along to redevelop this historic ski area. It was tragic that the former owner let the area fall into disrepair because of his arrogance.
You can read more about that clown here.