Mad River Glen, VT, Buys 1,100 Acres to Conserve Land for Backcountry Use - SnowBrains

"We will be putting the land in conservation with a focus on recreation and backcountry skiing. We're not looking to develop it in any way. The purchase was financed through a crowdsourced fundraising effort that raised roughly $2.8 million, according to the resort. Mad River Glen said remaining funds will go toward stewardship of the land."

"The land has long historical ties to Mad River Glen. It was part of the original property associated with the ski area but remained under ownership of the Pratt family after longtime owner Betsy Pratt sold the resort to the cooperative in 1995. Pratt, who died in 2023, played a central role in shaping the resort's cooperative model."

"The resort emphasized that the land purchase does not signal trail expansion or new lift development. Instead, Mad River Glen plans to work with conservation and recreation groups, including the Green Mountain Club and Catamount Trail Association, to determine future stewardship of the land."

Mad River Glen, a cooperatively owned ski area in Fayston, Vermont, completed a $2.5 million acquisition of over 1,100 acres of land adjacent to its resort. The purchase, financed through crowdsourced fundraising that raised approximately $2.8 million, more than doubles the cooperative's land holdings from 700 acres. The 2,500 shareholders voted to approve the acquisition, which followed the resort exercising its right of first refusal after another buyer submitted an offer. The land will be protected for conservation and backcountry skiing purposes with no development planned. The property has historical significance, having been part of the original ski area before remaining under Pratt family ownership after the cooperative's formation in 1995. Mad River Glen plans to collaborate with conservation and recreation organizations to determine future stewardship of the land.

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