Bemidji, Minnesota — The future ownership of a Minnesota ski area is uncertain following the announcement of criminal charges against its owner.
Lakeland PBS reports that Buena Vista Ski Area owner Suzanne Thomas has been charged with financial exploitation of a vulnerable individual. That individual is her 95-year-old aunt, Muffy Dickinson, who worked at the ski area for many years. Muffy agreed to move $1.5 million worth of property from her trust to Suzanne & her husband, Don.
Court documents allege that family members have grown worried about Suzanne’s influence over Muffy, who has been suffering from dementia over the past couple of years.
In 2021, the family hired an attorney to revoke Muffy’s will from 1996 that had Suzanne Thomas as her executor. Later that year, Muffy transferred a piece of property in Buena Vista via a Quitclaim Deed, which included her home, to Suzanne, which oddly was done by that same attorney. After that sale, Muffy met with another attorney to demand that they nullify the deed, as she didn’t understand what she was signing. The property ended up going back to Dickinson.
In the years that followed, Muffy’s mental health deteriorated. She was placed in a long-term care facility due to her suffering from dementia. By that point, Suzanne was seeing Muffy basically every day and helped her function.
In February 2024, Thomas transported Muffy to a pre-planned meeting at Buena Vista Ski Area. At the meeting, Dickinson approved the sale of 13 different parcels to Suzanne’s mother, Mariann Dickinson. The other six parcels went to Suzanne & Don. She didn’t receive any payment for these sales. This move ultimately terminated her 1996 trust. At the meeting, Muffy also established a new will that gave her estate to Suzanne and Don.
To make the signing official, the meeting had lawyers and witnesses present. This was despite the fact that by that point, Muffy was not of a competent mind to sign. In addition, a 2023 doctor’s note detailed that Mariann was suffering from advanced dementia and was about to die. Mariann passed away in March 2024. Suzanne was listed as the executor of her estate, meaning she would have control over all 19 parcels.
However, Suzanne’s sister requested to be the conservator and guardian for Muffy, which was granted. Then, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota took over for her and alleged that Suzanne illegally obtained the thirteen parcels of land. With Muffy not being of sound mind, the 2024 documents were found not to be legally binding.
In April 2024, Muffy was interviewed by local authorities. Muffy told the investigators from Beltrami County that she believed she didn’t sell the parcels and didn’t receive any compensation for it. As previously mentioned, the value of these 19 parcels is around $1.5 million. Authorities ended up charging Suzanne with financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. If convicted, she faces a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 20 years in prison.
According to the Bemijdi Pioneer, Suzanne’s first court appearance will be on June 20th.
Image/Video Credits: Buena Vista Ski Area, MN Ski Areas Association, Lakeland PBS
