McHenry, Maryland — Maryland is the ninth smallest state, so it may not be a surprise that there’s only one active ski resort that exists there. However, there actually were a decent chunk of ski areas that existed there back in the day. The only one remaining is Wisp Resort.
Yesterday, it was announced that the winter of 2026-27 will be the final season for Wisp Resort’s General Manager Ron Hawkes, who is semi-retiring. He’s spent 49 years in the ski industry, including being a PSIA Examiner and working at Chile’s Portillo. However, he will assume a new role with Pacific Group Resorts as a strategic advisor. In this role, he will help the company with ski and snowboard school programming across the portfolio.
In his place will be Erik Barnes. Serving as the General Manager Designate for the 2026-27 season, he will focus on risk management, safety initiatives, and snow surface quality. Over the past several years, he’s been the General Manager of Ragged Mountain Resort in New Hampshire. Before that, he was the General Manager of Mount Snow in Vermont. He’s also been a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Examiner for the past 23 years.
“Erik’s background makes him uniquely qualified to lead a resort as diverse as Wisp,” said Mark Fischer, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Group Resorts. “His experience spans mountain operations, golf, guest services, risk management, capital planning, and team development. Just as importantly, he is a people-first leader who understands that exceptional guest experiences begin with exceptional employees. This transition gives Erik the opportunity to learn from a respected leader with deep Mid-Atlantic roots while ensuring continuity for our guests, team members, and community partners.
“This transition represents the passing of the torch between two professionals who have devoted their lives to the sport,” added Fischer. “Combined, Ron and Erik bring nearly nine decades of experience to this partnership. Ron has spent his career helping people discover a lifelong passion for skiing and snowboarding, and we’re fortunate that his influence will continue across our portfolio for years to come. At the same time, Erik’s passion for teaching, operations, and leadership makes him the ideal person to build on the foundation Ron has created at Wisp.”
Both will work together during the 2026-27 season. Following next ski season, Barnes will officialy become the General Manager of Wisp Resort.
“One of the things that gave me confidence in this retirement decision was knowing Wisp would be in capable hands,” said Hawkes. “Erik brings tremendous operational experience, strong leadership skills, and a shared passion for introducing first-timers to the sport. Most importantly, he understands that Wisp’s success is built on its people, its guests, and its place in the community. We’ve shared a commitment to teaching and growing the sport, and that gives me great confidence in the future of Wisp. I’m confident Erik will do an outstanding job leading Wisp into its next chapter and look forward to helping him get to know the resort, our team, and the Deep Creek community.”
What makes this hiring interesting is that Ragged was formerly operated by Pacific Group Resorts. It was sold to a group of longtime Ragged skiers last November, with Erik staying on to help guide the ship during the first season under new ownership. No word yet on who the new GM of Ragged will be.
About Wisp Resort
Wisp Resort features 33 trails across 132 skiable acres. There are 10 lifts at Wisp, including 7 chairlifts. During the offseason, there are activities on the adjacent lake, a mountain coaster, aerial adventure tours, and golf (both mini and 18-hole).
First opened during the 1955-56 season, the ski resort began with a rope tow, a small hut, and a truck used for rentals. It’s grown a bit since then. The 2025-26 season featuref $2.5 million in improvements, including 28 new snow guns, a renovation of the Wisp Lodge, and IT upgrades.
Image/Video Credits: Wisp Resort
