Who Owns Sugarbush Resort? Alterra, Ikon and History

Alterra Mountain Company owns Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont. Alterra announced the purchase on November 13, 2019, and Sugarbush's own history page dates the acquisition to January 14, 2020. Sugarbush joined the Ikon Pass system in 2018, has a 2,600-foot vertical drop and 111 trails, and opened in 1958.

Who owns Sugarbush Resort?

Alterra Mountain Company owns Sugarbush Resort. Alterra announced the purchase on November 13, 2019 without disclosing terms, according to Seven Days, and Sugarbush's history page says the acquisition took place on January 14, 2020.

Win Smith owned Sugarbush before Alterra. He and investors formed Summit Ventures NE LLC in 2001 and bought the resort from the American Skiing Company, according to Sugarbush. Smith owned more than 90 percent of Summit Ventures, VTDigger reported, and he cited industry consolidation, rising costs and climate change as reasons for selling. Sugarbush says Smith's team invested more than $70 million in the mountain over 18 years.

Is Sugarbush on the Ikon Pass?

Sugarbush is part of the Ikon Pass system. Seven Days reported in November 2019 that Sugarbush had joined Ikon the year before, which means the partnership began in 2018, before Alterra bought the resort.

Win Smith said at the time that he was not confident the partnership would continue on the same terms, which was one reason he sold. Pass terms change each season, so check the current Ikon Pass listing before planning a trip.

How big is Sugarbush Resort?

Sugarbush has a 2,600-foot vertical drop and 111 trails across two mountain areas, Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. SkiNewEngland ranks the drop as the second largest in Vermont and the third largest in New England.

Published acreage varies by source, from 484 to 508 acres in the reference listings above, and one local news report cites 4,000 acres. Check Sugarbush's current trail map before quoting an acreage.

What connects Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen?

The Slide Brook Express quad chairlift connects Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. Sugarbush says the lift was installed in 1995 and travels 11,012 feet between the two mountain areas, and the resort bills it as the longest detachable quad in the world.

Wikipedia describes Lincoln Peak, on the south side, as the resort's main mountain area, with Mt. Ellen to the north and Slide Brook Basin between them.

What changed after Alterra bought Sugarbush?

Sugarbush named John Hammond, a team member for more than 30 years, president and chief operating officer in September 2020, according to the resort. Wikipedia reports tens of millions of dollars of investment since then, mostly in snowmaking at the Mt. Ellen summit area and the Pushover and Easy Rider area at Lincoln Peak.

The VTDigger report on the sale said all 165 year-round employees would be kept on and that Smith would stay on after the sale. Seven Days noted that Sugarbush was once known as "Mascara Mountain."