Granite Gorge ski area continues to push towards a comeback. Ski Area Management reports that Keith Kreischer has been named as Granite Gorges’ new General Manager. Keith got his bachelor’s degree from the Killington School of Resort & Hospitality Management. He began his career in the ski industry as the only member of the terrain park crew at Shawnee Mountain in Pennsylvania. He then was the terrain park director at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Massachusetts. For the last eight years, he has worked as the terrain park manager and snow surfaces manager at Windham Mountain in Pennsylvania. For the people who loved Granite Gorge for its unique terrain park features, Keith is clearly all about that life. This follows the news of Granite Gorge Partnership, LLC (GGP) buying the property at an auction for $430,000 after it was closed following the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
The new Granite Gorge crew is “currently working with the state tramway board, engineers, and third-party maintenance providers to overhaul Granite Gorge’s lift infrastructure and bring it up to standard. Other projects include trail reclamation, erosion and water control, lodge and building repairs and maintenance, new snowmaking equipment, new tubing equipment, and a website overhaul.”
While their plan is to get the mountain open for next winter, they’re erring on the side of caution on what they’ll have open for the 2022-23 season:
“We are being realistic about our timelines and priorities. We have contingency plans in place in the event some preparations are not going to be attainable. GGP understands all too well how eagerly this community wants this place back in operation, and we want to deliver a quality experience when we welcome them back.”
I hope this comeback plan works out, as Granite Gorge is one of the closest ski areas to where I live. It’s always fun to see once-closed ski areas make a comeback, and I hope this comes to fruition.
Image Credits: Ski Area Management, Granite Gorge Ski Area, Keith Kreischer, Skimap.org
