Jeffersonville, Vermont — In one of the most surprising ski industry stories so far this winter, Smugglers’ Notch has a new owner.
Long owned by Bill Stritzler, Smugglers’ Notch is beloved for its varied terrain and plenty of off-slope activities and dining options.
This week, it was announced that Smugglers’ Notch will now be run by Bear Den Partners, which was created last year to operate Burke Mountain Resort in Vermont. This group includes Ken Graham, an investor and a Burke Mountain Academy graduate, and Jon Schaefer, who owns/operates Berkshire East and Catamount Mountain Resort. What does this mean for the future of Smugglers’ Notch?
Here are some thoughts on the future of Smuggs.
Potential For A Multi-Mountain Pass
Earlier this year, Burke Mountain announced that its season pass now includes two days of access to Berkshire East and Catamount Mountain Resorts. The same offer goes for passholders at Berkshire East and Catamount. For this winter, no Smuggs pass changes will occur, but passholders at the other three mountains will now get lodging discounts at Smuggs. With Smuggs now part of Schaefer’s portfolio, it seems likely that the benefits will also be offered at the Vermont ski resort.
What could happen is the creation of a multi-mountain pass that includes access to Berkshire East, Burke, Catamount, and Smugglers’ Notch. But unlimited access seems unlikely, as they pointed out in the press conference, there are concerns about how unfettered access has affected North America’s ski industry. If they do launch a pass, it will be a good thing for skiers and riders who live in Massachusetts and Vermont.
A future collaboration with the Indy Pass also seems possible. Smugglers’ Notch is currently one of the few major ski resorts that’s not included in a multi-mountain pass. Meanwhile, all the mountains Jon Schaefer owns/operates are on Indy.
“I would certainly expect an independent resort like Smuggs and an independent pass like Indy to align,” said Erik Mogensen to the Storm Skiing Journal.
No Connector Lift
The ownership change likely means the end of the proposal to connect Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch via gondola. The proposal was floated in 2023, as Smuggs considered how to grow its business in an evolving ski industry. However, the plan faced opposition from many in Vermont and made little progress in the approval process. Stritzler said he was still looking to make it happen, but this ownership change likely ends that pursuit.
However, we’ll see whether the new ownership tries other ways to connect the two, such as the trail that was once advertised on the website.
Vail Resorts Strikes Out
When the connector lift was making the rounds, it was speculated how the relationship could evolve with the owner of Stowe, Vail Resorts. One consideration was eventually becoming an Epic Pass partner. There were also rumors of a future sale to Vail Resorts. However, that never came to fruition. For Vail, it loses out on a destination, but it would’ve been a capital-intensive project.
Lift Replacements
Perhaps the most surprising part about this major ski resort is that it relies mostly on fixed-grip Hall chairlifts. This lift system has its pros, such as less crowded slopes and better snow quality. However, it can also lead to long lift lines on peak dates, and the ride up is very slow. That ride time is a good way to catch up on your podcast episodes.
Some lift replacements that make sense include those at Morse Mountain, Sterling, and Madonna 2. The big debate will be whether to add high-speed chairlifts or stick with fixed-grip lifts. The one lift I don’t think should be replaced is Madonna 1, which to me is comparable to lifts like Castlerock at Sugarbush and the Single Chair at Mad River Glen. If it needs to be replaced, it should be kept at around the same capacity.
Image/Video Credits: Smugglers’ Notch
