West Windsor, Vermont  — Around a decade ago, a local community came together to revive a beloved ski area. Now, the non-profit that operates the mountain is giving back to the community.
WCAX reports that Ascutney Outdoors is offering free rental gear to students who go to the Brownsville and West Windsor Elementary School. Their half-day ski school program on the slopes is also complimentary. This allows around 100 kids to access the lifts, offering opportunities that may not have been available to them.
This act of generosity is made possible by the Killington World Cup Foundation, the Edgar May Center, and Boot Pro (a ski shop in Ludlow). The kids were fitted for their gear this week; now all that’s needed is some snow. Once one of the leaders in the state for snowmaking, Ascutney relies on natural snow to open.
About Ascutney Outdoors
First opened at its present location during the 1947-48 season, Ascutney started as a small ski area. However, it evolved into a medium-sized ski resort in the decades that followed, with its most ambitious era coinciding with the installation of a high-speed quad in 2000. However, mismanagement, difficult weather patterns, and financial issues led to its bankruptcy and closure in 2010.
The lifts were auctioned off and/or removed from the mountain. As the years passed, locals came to recognize the importance of the mountain to their economic and personal well-being.
After voters approved acquiring the land, the town of West Windsor acquired the lost ski area in 2015. Ascutney Outdoors operates the mountain and has slowly grown its operations. The rope tow opened in 2016, the snow tubing lift was installed in 2017, and the new base lodge debuted in 2018. In 2019, a T-Bar was installed, which services a portion of the lower mountain. The upper mountain is still open for backcountry skiers, but it isn’t as consistently maintained as the lift-serviced terrain.
Today, Ascutney remains a four-season destination, offering skiing in the winter and activities such as mountain biking and hiking during the warmer months.
Image/Video Credits: Ascutney Outdoors, WCAX 3
