“Plans are now being developed for lift repair, snowmaking, grooming, and various other facility upgrades, with the goal of returning winter and summer operations as soon as reasonably possible.”– Granite Gorge Partnership LLC.
Last month, it was reported that Granite Gorge Ski Area in Keene, New Hampshire was headed to foreclosure auction after being shut down for multiple seasons. According to the Keene Sentinel, a new buyer has emerged. Bryan Granger, who is the Vice-President of a local wholesale grocery company, formed Granite Gorge Partnership, LLC with various investors. Their goal is a “shared desire of returning winter and summer activities to Granite Gorge in a safe and inclusive manner.” They secured the winning bid of $430,000 after an intense bidding war with a bidder from Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Bryan Granger’s group will have to pay off just under $53,000 in unpaid real estate taxes. The LLC aims to close the purchase within 45 days of last Friday’s auction.
Granite Gorge’s history has been a roller coaster of emotions. The mountain opened up as The Pinnacle in the 1959-60 season, but then closed in 1977 due to a lack of snowmaking and subpar winters. The land sat vacant until 1999 when Baybutt Construction bought the land and started work on reopening it. The mountain reopened as a snow tubing and rope tow operation in 2003. A double chairlift was added in 2005 and helped create a major terrain expansion.
The 2010s saw various issues arise at the mountain, and its last year of operation was in 2020. In 2016, multiple mechanical issues caused their chairlift to roll back, making two chairs ram into each other. Two people needed to be taken to the hospital, but no serious injuries were reported. In its later years, Granite Gorge only ran its surface lifts, leaving the summit inaccessible. Reopening the ski area has great potential though, as there are many Keene area residents, especially school kids and Keene State students, who are looking for a quick drive to get some turns in.
Image Credits: Granite Gorge Ski Area
