Squaw Mountain set to open Dec. 20

Snow guns tested in case they’re needed

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    BIG MOOSE TOWNSHIP — The soda machines are filled, parking lot cleared, snow guns tested, rest rooms renovated and several other things checked off the “to-do” list.

Contributed photo

    FIRED UP — Snowmaking returned to Squaw Mountain for the first time in several years as two used snow guns purchased from a resort in upstate New York were fired up on Dec. 8. The mountain is scheduled to open for the season on Dec. 20.

    On Saturday, Dec. 20, Big Squaw Mountain officially opens for its third season as a non-profit entity.
    As of last week, the area was spared the brunt of the freezing rainstorm that glazed over most of Piscataquis County. “We’ve had mostly snow so far, although some of it came down in pellets,” said Amy Lane, president of the Friends of Squaw Mountain. “But we started the snow guns for the first time on Dec. 8, just in case we need them.”
    The ski area bought three used snow guns from Plattekill Mountain, a small resort in upstate New York earlier this fall. “What’s nice about Squaw Mountain is that we can usually offer natural snow,” said Lane. “But we now have the snowmaking equipment in case we need it. It’s also nice to be able to cover up any bare spots.”
    After three years of dormancy, Squaw Mountain reopened in February 2013 with a cadre of volunteers who donated enough time and raised enough funds to get it off the ground.
    Last winter, however, abundant snowfall and a vibrant social media campaign sparked the sale of more than 7,000 tickets. And the money went right back into the business.
    “There’s probably $250,000 invested in the mountain right now, not including the donated material and labor,” Lane said. “Plus, our payroll was $65,000 last year – money that will be spent in the community.”
    Another major goal accomplished was the IRS approval of Big Squaw Mountain as a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation. “This opens an opportunity for us to apply for some grant money,” Lane said. “That involves a lot more time and some expertise, but we’re working on it.”
    Support from corporations and businesses also helped revive the winter resort through in-kind donations and sponsorship of lift chairs.
    For example, Moosehead Cedar Log Homes donated the log siding for the ski lodge; Newport Glass replaced all the old windows at a significant discount and Designed Living of Shirley built new, roomier stalls for the rest rooms.
    Noel Wohlforth, vice president of the Friends of Squaw Mountain, said that the lodge and lower trails “haven’t looked this good since the place opened.”
    Wohlforth was painting the rest rooms last week and said that the only major project left is replacing the carpeting in the main lodge “and that’s something we’ll do down the road. But I’m really upbeat about the new season. Amy (Lane) has done a fabulous job.”
    Wohlforth agreed that the non-profit status would be a big plus for future fund-raising activities for the mountain. “It took a little longer than we expected to get approval from the IRS,” he said “It seems that there aren’t a lot of nonprofit ski areas in the country, so we might have undergone a little more scrutiny.”
    The mountain originally opened in 1963 and went through a host of changes and operators during the past five decades until Florida businessman James Confalone purchased the ski area in August 1995.
    In August 2010, Confalone offered to lease the facility to Piscataquis County for $1 per year for 30 years. The county did not accept the offer, so Confalone shut it down.
    However, Confalone later agreed to lease the property to the Friends of Squaw Mountain for $1 a year for the 2012-13 seasons and recently renewed the agreement through 2015.
    Wohlforth said that fellow board member Rodney Folsom is working with Confalone to extend the lease for 20 years. “And I’m inclined to think he’ll do it,” Wohlforth said.
    Many skiers, like Scott Moulton of Abbot, are also upbeat about the mountain’s future. “My wife (Trisha) and I were married at the lodge at Squaw Mountain in 1998,” Moulton said. “I grew up skiing there and taught our kids to ski at the mountain.”
    Moulton is general manager of Rowell’s Garage in Dover-Foxcroft and noted that it was a welcome change “to see traffic coming from the Bangor area to Piscataquis County instead of the other way around.     It’s nice to see the skis and snowboards going by and it’s great to have an affordable, family-oriented mountain in the area.”
    Season tickets are still on sale either through the mountain’s website or at Northwoods Outfitters in downtown Greenville.
    For more information, visit www.skibigsquaw.com and find them on Facebook.