Greenville, Maine — After a failed attempt to redevelop Big Moose Mountain into a four-season destination ski resort, it is now officially back on the market.
Priced at $27 million, Big Moose Mountain (formerly known as Big Squaw Mountain) has an impressive 1700-foot vertical drop and two operational lifts. The sale includes 3050 acres of additional land, including Fitzgerald Farm, Louis Peak, and over 4 miles of shoreline access on Mountain View Pond. Ultimately, the 4262-acre offering makes this a four-season destination ski resort if the right developer has time and money.
The ski area has had a tumultuous history. First opened back in December 1963, many grew to love Big Moose for its narrow trails and incredible views. Various ownership groups came and went before being purchased by James Canfalone in 1995. He didn’t properly invest in the mountain and refused to change the name of Big Squaw. The upper mountain chairlift suffered a failure in 2004, resulting in the lift closing for good.
Rather than fixing the issues, Confalone allegedly harvested timber to pay off millions in loans. This illegal timber harvesting and failure to maintain the property caused a lawsuit from the state of Maine, which could see Confalone pay more than $4.5 million in damages. In addition, James Confalone has refused to change the name of the mountain, despite most of the country now deeming the word squaw as offensive. However, the non-profit has begun referring to the ski area as Big Moose.
After being closed for a few years, the non-profit Friends of the Mountain bought a lease to operate the ski area in 2012. In recent years, the Friends of the Mountain have been revitalizing the ski area, including refurbishing the lower mountain triple chairlift and buying a snowcat to restore access to the summit. Work has continued this offseason on restoring the Upper Mountain trail network. In addition, the Moosehead Outdoor Alliance has been growing a mountain biking network.
For years, developer Perry Wiliams wanted to revitalize the property. However, he officially abandoned his plans earlier this year. This means that the Maine ski area is again being offered for sale by owner James Confalone.
This news doesn’t alter Big Moose Mountain’s operational strategy, as they plan to open for the 2024-25 season. Friends of the Mountain’s contract is active through December 2027.
You can view the listing here. More photos of the property are below.
Image/Video Credits: The Folsom Realty Group, Friends Of The Mountain
