Wilmington, Vermont — Private ski resorts don’t tend to open their gates to the public because that’s not who they’re intended for. However, one private ski resort in Vermont does offer locals a chance to ski there once a season.

Earlier this month, the Hermitage Club announced that it will host a Community Day on February 3rd. Lift tickets will cost $46.49 dollars ($39 plus fees on Eventbrite), with the proceeds going to the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry and Deerfield County Community Cares. The day pass also includes a lunch at the Club.

It should be noted though that this is only for residents of Wilmington, Dover, Wardsboro, Jacksonville, Readsboro, and Whitingham, or employees whose businesses are a part of the VT Deerfield Valley Chamber. Folks who are going are being asked to bring memorabilia from the mountain to celebrate Haystack’s 60th ski season.

The Hermitage Club, also known as Haystack, has a funky history. For decades, the public enjoyed it as a quieter skiing experience than Mt. Snow. However, it closed to the public in 2005. It then became a private ski resort in the 2010s, which featured new lifts and a modern lodge. These major investments ended up resulting in bankruptcy, and some of the infrastructure was sold off. However, a group of club members bought the mountain in 2020, and has kept it open under the private model.

Since then, Hermitage has been more successful. In 2024, the Hermitage Club stated that it had grown to approximately 700 members, and was the fastest growing company in Vermont. as demonstrated by this event, they’ve created a better relationship with the local community. Hermitage also does a lot of charitable endeavors, stating that it had donated to roughly 500 charities nationally and locally as of early 2024.

Private ski resorts can have rocky relationships with the local community. However, Hermitage Club has shown an effective way to not only preserve a private skiing experience for members, but also be a welcoming and helpful partner in the community.

Image Credits: Hermitage Club, James Niehues

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