The General Manager that transformed Cannon Mountain into arguably the best ski resort in New Hampshire is heading out west. Ski Area Management reports that John DeVivo, who has been the General Manager of Cannon Mountain since 2007, will become the GM of Antelope Butte in Wyoming.
While at Cannon, he oversaw numerous major projects. John and his leadership team transformed Mitersill, which had been closed for decades, into a comprehensive expansion for the ski resort. In its first few years, it was more of a side-country experience, but it has become more of a racing facility over time, with two lifts being added to Mitersill. His last major project was getting the funds needed from the State of New Hampshire that will replace the tramway with a new one.
Antelope Butte isn’t as historic as Cannon, but it’s become a great comeback story. Opened back in the 1960s, it’s had a turbulent history. It closed in 2004 and sat abandoned for over a decade, with the infrastructure falling into a depressing condition. The Antelope Butte Foundation bought the ski area in 2016 and renovated everything. The mountain fully reopened during the 2019-20 season after a partial reopening during the 2018-19 season.
Erik Mogensen, who is a board member at the Antelope Butte Foundation, said the following about DeVivos’ credentials.
“JD has always stood out as a remarkable operator, and this is a franchise quarterback hire for Antelope Butte. Attracting national talent and leadership is key to creating a sustainable operation at Antelope Butte as well as fostering a model that can be applied to other small ski areas.”
John DeVivo released the following statement to Ski Area Management:
“[Our goal is] to stabilize and revitalize a community-based ski area and year-round recreation area from the inside out, become more popular and profitable, and perhaps support additional opportunities at other similarly sized ski and recreation areas within the region over the next 5 to 10 years.
[I’m coming to Antelope Butte] partially based on an interest in bringing back affordable skiing, year-round outdoor recreation, and independent venues.”
The biggest challenge is to establish consistency of operation and product. Consistency will drive added business, and every facet of the operation will be run as a professional operation.
Ever since Covid, small is the new big. People gravitate toward the home hill—but only if you can provide a great experience. We want to be the ones that create this new, sustainable model of a small independent ski area—we want to be the model that people follow.”
DeVivo’s final day at Cannon will be August 31st, and his position at Antelope Butte will begin on September 5th. The successor for DeVivo at Cannon Mountain has yet to be announced.
Image Credits: Antelope Butte Foundation, John DeVivo (Header Image)
