Vermont legend Betsy Pratt, former owner of Mad River Glen, passed away on Friday, March 17, at the age of 95. According to a Facebook post from the ski area, she spent her final days surrounded by loved ones while watching as snow fell on the Single Chair webcam.
Pratt, born in 1928, first skied at Mad River Glen while a student at Vassar College. She purchased the mountain with her husband Tuxton Pratt, who she met on a ski trip in 1954, along side a few other investors in 1972. Tuxton passed away in 1975.
Owning the mountain for two decades, Betsy is responsible for major contributions in making the ski area what it is today, including the addition of snowmaking, the iconic “Ski It If You Can” stickers, and the early allowance and eventual permanent banning of snowboarders. Her most notable contribution, however, was likely the idea of selling the mountain to the skiers themselves.
In 1995, the skier’s Co-op purchased Mad River Glen from Betsy Pratt. She will forever be known as a legend in Vermont and quite possibly the entire world of skiing. For a more in depth and beautifully written piece on the incredible woman that Betsy will forever be remembered as, I encourage you to read this piece on the Mad River Glen website. Our thoughts are with Betsy’s family and friends at this time, and with every person who’s been impacted for the better by her incredible life.
Image Credit: Mad River Glenn via Facebook
