Lee, Maine — Have you ever wanted to run a ski area? Your latest opportunity to do so appears to be in Maine.
Recently, Mt. Jefferson Ski Area hit the market. Priced at $3.5 million, what makes this property interesting is what it has going on outside of skiing and riding.
The Property
Opened in 1964, Mt. Jefferson Ski Area has served families in Lee and surrounding towns for generations. In 2016, new ownership took over, partly to begin hosting music festivals there. However, that didn’t happen. The ski area has continued to operate, but has reportedly struggled financially.
Before the last ski season, the owner admitted that if they didn’t make enough money, they would likely shut down the ski operation. However, Mt. Jefferson did end up having a busy season and said they would keep operating. They also said they were in talks to acquire a used chairlift. However, it’s unclear whether this sale process indicated a strategy.
The ski area features 10 trails, 3 lifts, and a snow tubing park. Lift tickets are among the most affordable in the region, costing only $30 last season. Its major weakness is the lack of snowmaking, which many New England ski areas rely on to operate. I do wonder whether the fix is the next-door Merrill Pond or the relatively close-by Silver Lake. A small base lodge keeps guests warm during those colder days.
In terms of offseason activities, there’s a nine-hole disc golf course and mountain biking trails. Future additions by a new owner could include hiking trails, ATV trails, and lodging options.
The owner also runs firewood and lumber kiln businesses on site, creating potential additional cash streams outside of skiing and riding.
Potential For Ski Real Estate
Also worth noting is the potential for slopeside homes on the property. The property has ten ready-to-build slopeside lots, with driveways and cleared areas. Three separate lots have already been sold for housing. Two additional commercial lots are also part of the sale, providing potential for expansion. If you have the money and the time, this place could make you some money. Not a lot of money, because this is the ski industry, after all.
You can view the listing here. More photos of the property are below.
Stats
- Acres: 152 +/-
- Businesses: Ski area, tubing facility, firewood businesses, lumber kiln operation, and real estate subdivisions.
- Listing Price: $3.5 Million
Image/Video Credits: Next Home Experience, Brian_207, Mt. Jefferson Ski Area, Google Maps
