Sugarbush Owner Win Smith’s Open Letter

Dear Sugarbush Community,

For me, today is a bit like walking my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat knowing that I am about to give away someone I have raised and loved. Looking down the aisle, however, I am delighted to see someone waiting who will also love, respect, and care for her as I have done. While things will not be the same, I am excited about this next stage of our lives. And I am comforted knowing that we are not saying goodbye!

Today Summit Ventures NE LLC is announcing that it has agreed to sell the majority of its Sugarbush assets to Alterra Mountain Company. They currently own 14 very special destinations in North America and partner with an additional 27 around the world on their Ikon Pass. The transaction is expected to close in early January 2020 subject to regulatory approvals.

I have been asked to remain as President for as long as I wish in order to facilitate a smooth transition, to maintain our commitment to our guests and to the entire Sugarbush community, and to prepare the next generation of leaders to succeed me when I decide to move on to a third career. More importantly, Alterra Mountain Company wants our entire Sugarbush team to remain in place. They are buying a place they believe is working well and do not have plans to change our mission, our values, our brand, our culture, or our team. They recognize our commitment to the Mad River Valley community and want that to continue as well.

Eighteen years ago, my family and three others purchased Sugarbush from the American Skiing Company with the intention of restoring Sugarbush to what it was when founded by the Gadd, Murphy, and Estin families in 1958. Thanks to support from our loyal guests, the community here in the Mad River Valley, and the terrific team here at Sugarbush, we have turned an unprofitable and deteriorating resort into one that is profitable and respected throughout the industry. We are proud to have recently celebrated our 60th anniversary and to have continued to cultivate a spirit of lifelong adventure and camaraderie among our guests, staff, and community.

Over the years of our ownership, we have turned down several offers to sell Sugarbush and have prided ourselves on being independently owned and operated. However, recent events in the ski industry and the challenge of rising costs posed both by climate change and by doing business in Vermont have convinced me that a new owner is needed to ensure a sustainable future for Sugarbush. Until now I had not laid out a succession plan and identified who would be the best future custodian of Sugarbush. Most importantly, I needed to find someone who would care for Sugarbush as we have and as our entire Sugarbush community would expect. I have found such an owner in Alterra Mountain Company.

The multi-resort season pass has changed the landscape. It will be increasingly difficult for ski areas like Sugarbush to compete alone against Vail Resorts, Alterra Mountain Company, and others like POWDR and Boyne Resorts. The recent acquisition of Peak Resorts by Vail was the tipping point in my decision to sell.

Because of the ongoing challenges associated with climate change and stronger competition, the amount of capital required to remain sustainable will be far greater in the years ahead. In my opinion, Sugarbush will be better able to make these necessary investments as a member of the Alterra Mountain Company family. While there are many wonderful features about Vermont, the cost of doing business here is greater than in many other states. Being able to find efficiencies by being part of a larger organization in things such as purchasing power or our employees being part of a larger health insurance pool or having more affordable workers’ compensation options were other considerations in my decision.

Many of us have gotten to know the leadership team at Alterra Mountain Company over the past few years, and we had a very good experience partnering with their Ikon Pass last winter. Their philosophy is one of building a family of iconic destinations, each with its own unique brand, culture, and identity that operates within unique communities. It is important to note that one of their major shareholders, Henry Crown & Company of Chicago, has owned Aspen Snowmass for decades and brings an important family perspective to Alterra Mountain Company. They are also focused on the long term. Having spoken with the Crown family, I am confident that their involvement will be valuable in helping to maintain the independent-minded culture of each destination within the Alterra Mountain Company family. And perhaps most importantly, all whom we have met on Alterra Mountain Company’s team are passionate skiers or riders like us here at Sugarbush.

For winter 19/20, all current Sugarbush Resort products and local passes will be honored as will our Golf and Health & Recreation Center passes. Ikon Pass access will not change, with 7-day access on the Ikon Pass and 5-day access on the Ikon Base Pass. We also continue to be part of The Mountain Collective. Any pass product changes will be considered after we close in early January 2020 and before spring pass sales begin.

I never thought I would become an employee again but I am excited to do so because I believe in Alterra Mountain Company and its mission, I believe in our Sugarbush team, I love our community, and I am bullish about our future together. And, of course, my family’s commitment to the Mad River Valley will remain as strong as ever. I can assure you that I have no plans to retire to a gated golf community in Florida and still plan to ski at least 100 days this season and in many more years to come.

On Wednesday, November 20 we will have an open forum for the Sugarbush community where I and our executive team will be joined by members of the leadership team from Alterra Mountain Company to talk about our transaction, share more details about Alterra Mountain Company and our future plans, and answer any and all questions. This will begin at 5PM in the Gate House Lodge and all are welcome. We also plan to record the forum so that those unable to attend may view and hear our discussion later. As always, I am available by email (wsmith@sugarbush.com), by phone, or in person to answer any questions you might have.

I am looking forward to riding the first chair up the mountain on Saturday, November 23 (or possibly November 22 for a passholder appreciation day), successfully forerunning Pond Skimming in the spring, skiing at least 100 days this winter, and having a final run with many of you on Sunday, May 3. In the meantime, it is feeling like winter, we are staffing-up, our snowmakers have been hard at work this past week, and Mother Nature has already delivered some nice snow.

I remain enthusiastic about the future of Sugarbush and look forward to seeing you on the slopes very soon.

Win

Read our interview with Win Smith and Alterra Mountain Company CEO Rusty Gregory regarding the sale, here.