Lee, Maine — After announcing the “cheapest” lift ticket prices in the state of Maine a few months ago, we now know why they lowered them.
This past weekend, Mt. Jefferson Ski Area announced its projected opening date for this upcoming winter: January 31st. In a social media post, the ski area also stated that this will likely be its final season of operations. This is unless they see major visitation this winter, but losing out on two major guest visitation periods (Christmas and MLK weekend) makes this seem unlikely.
New ownership purchased the ski area in 2016, but it doesn’t appear they’ve figured out how to turn a profit from it. They’ve faced challenges such as warming winters and a 2024 fire. Not having a website probably doesn’t help either, as they only really have a Facebook page.
If you’re looking to visit, daily lift ticket prices are $30, which are noticeably lower than day ticket prices at some major ski resorts. Other price highlights include $25 two-hour tubing tickets, a $30 rental package, and a season pass priced at $259.
Click here to learn more about Mt. Jefferson’s history.
Similarities & Differences Between New Hermon Mountain
If you follow Maine ski news, you may recognize that another Maine ski area recently hinted at a closure. That ski area is New Hermon Mountain. The current ownership group there is ready for retirement and said they would close the mountain following this winter if no one bought it. However, it appears they’re closing in on new owners.
The key differences between these two ski areas are the lift infrastructure, snowmaking, and location. Hermon Mountain has snowmaking; Mt. Jefferson does not. New Hermon has a chairlift and a few surface lifts, while Mt. Jefferson has all surface lifts. Mt. Jefferson Ski Area stated that they need to acquire a chairlift to make the snowmaking system worthwhile, but other ski areas in the state have proved they can be successful with just surface lifts. New Hermon Mountain is also very close to Bangor, which is one of Maine’s largest cities. Because Mt. Jefferson is more remote, its chances of survival are less likely.
Image Credits: Mt. Jefferson Ski Area
