Campaign begins to purchase Big Moose Mountain

GREENVILLE — Several weeks after launching a campaign to purchase the Big Moose Mountain ski property, a local nonprofit is nearly a sixth of the way to its $5.95 million goal.

Friends of the Mountain launched the first phase of its endeavor, the “Ski the View, Save the Mountain” campaign, to purchase the 1,700-acre property. The Friends are working with the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation, with phase two seeking more than $13 million additional funds through 2030 for more improvements to the site in a $19.65 million project.

The goal of the campaign is to provide a permanent nonprofit ski area for the Moosehead Lake Region and a year-round outdoor recreational asset that will revitalize the area’s economy. 

Amy Lane, executive director of Friends of the Mountain, and Margarita Contreni, president of the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation and a board member of Friends of the Mountain, spoke about the campaign with the Greenville Select Board during a Feb. 5 meeting.

“The momentum is building incredibly, I mean every day, every conversation there is enthusiasm,” Lane said, mentioning she and Contreni have been working together for more than a year. She said she feels now is the time for the town to get involved.

She “can’t imagine life without” her hometown mountain, where she grew up skiing.

“We’ve been kind of sitting back for the past 20, 30 years just watching, waiting, thinking someone is going to do this for us,” she said, with the organization operating the ski mountain since 2012. “I’m in that company however I’m not convinced anymore that someone else is going to do this for us” as now Friends of the Mountain and MLREC have come together.

“The work they have done over these last 13 years is nothing short of extraordinary,” Contreni said.

“We really want it to be community-owned and community lead so that’s our overarching goal,” she said, starting a slideshow.

“It’s a historic treasure, it’s a huge recreational asset for the community and most importantly, perhaps, it’s a vital cornerstone of our region’s economy so it’s really important we get this done,” Contreni added.

Goals are to restore Big Moose Mountain to its former glory, protect the property by purchasing it from owner James Confalone, and preserve the unique and vital cornerstone of the Moosehead Lake Region economy for generations to come.

“The mountain is right in the backyard of Greenville, how lucky are we?” Lane asked, as the site sits just 5 miles north of town in Big Moose Township. “We always think of it as outdoor winter recreation and at our current capacity we are serving about 10,000 skier visits, but just having the convenience of being located to the proximity of Greenville and the hospital in particular is a tremendous resource for us.”

The mountain rises to 3,150 feet and has 27 trails, with one chairlift, along with a full-service ski and rental shop and snack bar and grill in the lodge. Lodging is not available on site. The campaign would enable the purchase of the ski resort and an adjacent 500 acres for projects that reflect community priorities and help sustain the ski area in the future.

It has been 21 years since the chairlift reached the top of the mountain, Lane said. Rental equipment is updated regularly and ski and snowboard lessons are offered.

“We’ve already operated 23 ski days, we only operated 27 last year but we’re well underway to have at least 60 this year,” Lane said. The 10,000 skiers in the 2024 season generated $700,000. 

“Our mission is always to keep skiing affordable and accessible,” she said about $40 ticket prices for adults and $35 for children. Free passes are available for Greenville elementary students and middle-schoolers have a free program, as do other schools traveling from further away.

“We found that by allowing a child to ski for free that encourages Mom and Dad to join with them and it doesn’t hold them back,” Lane said. “People are recognizing this is an easy, affordable place to get to and they’re bringing their kids to ski with us.”

Since 2012, $1.5 million has been raised for infrastructure through donations and volunteer efforts, including nearly $240,000 for lift upgrades, more than $150,000 for snowmaking repairs and upgrades, $65,000 to fix and expand the parking area, and nearly $57,000 to clear the upper mountain.

“Of course we have a tremendous volunteer group, we depend on them, and support locally from businesses and private individuals” Lane said. “We seem to be the place people want to go to get their hands dirty and feel good about it, we’re lucky.”

“This mountain campaign is the single most important project that we can undertake that would have huge benefits for the community, would really help the economy of the region and the prosperity of our residents,” Contreni said. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Friends, they’re such an amazing group of people with what they’ve accomplished.”. 

Community ownership would preserve affordable, recreational skiing for generations with all revenue going back into the mountain, according to a slideshow Contreni presented. Fifty to sixty jobs would be created, including 10 full-time, year-round positions; 20,000 additional visitors would be attracted, for a total of 30,000 annual skiers; and businesses would be able to hire seasonal ski employees for summer/fall employment to help address the region’s labor shortage. 

About $850,000 has been raised so far, nearly a sixth of the way to the $5.95 million goal, Contreni said. This will enable the acquisition of the property and to conduct surveys, environmental assessments and infrastructure planning.

The second phase is “a huge endeavor but we are thrilled to be tackling it,” she said. 

The $13.75 million would open the upper mountain; provide for new ski lifts, snowmaking equipment, and infrastructure upgrades; renovate the upper mountain lodge and develop housing options; and secure private development for hotel renovation.

Town Manager Mike Roy praised the work done and asked about where Big Moose Mountain visitors have come from.

Lane said she recognizes a lot of faces but for those she does not she tries to take the time to ask where they are from. Locations include the Maine coast, Bangor, and Machias.

Select Chair Geno Murray also congratulated Lane and Contreni on what has been done so far. 

“It’s really nice to see the activity, I as well grew up on the mountain,” he said, mentioning his grandfather worked there as a cook during Murray’s childhood.

“It sounds like there is a good plan in place, I would highly encourage my colleagues to consider a gift,” Murray said. He said the town budget process starts in March and a donation to the Friends of the Mountain would likely be considered.