Saddleback Mountain | The History & Future

Saddleback Mountain was forced to close down in 2015 as the resort struggled to find the capital to replace their stolid 51-year-old Rangeley double chair that provided the main access from the base lodge to the summit. Then in what could be described as the worst year for the planet in the last 50 years a new buyer for the mountain was appointed and a new chapter was commenced. We only just stumbled across this incredible video which speaks through the journey of the rebirth of the mountain but also what it meant for the town and community of Rangeley, Maine. Saddleback truely is ‘More Than a Mountain’ and we cant wait to visit to experience it ourselves. Riders who visit this legend of the northeast will have 6 lifts to choose from which span out from a central base area and rise to a summit elevation of over 4,000ft. 68 trails are spread out over the 400acres of terrain and include 35% of advanced terrain that includes The Kennebago Steeps. It’s some of the best challenging terrain in the East with every glade is hand-cut by skiers and riders. What sets this resort apart if the rich history that is packed full of wonderful old-school touches which can be felt the moment you arrive at the resort, this place is oozing in Maine ski culture. Anyone looking to really explore the resort will need a place to rest, the lakeside town of Rangeley, ME is the perfect place to choose your accommodation. Rangeley has everything you and your travelling party will need and includes accommodation options that range from hostels, motels through to lakeside houses for the whole family. Summit Elevation: 4120ft / 1256mBase Elevation: 2460ft / 750mVertical Drop: 1660ft / 506mBeginner: 32%Intermediate: 33%Advanced: 25%Expert: 10%Number of Runs: 68Number of Lifts: 6Avg Annual Snowfall: 225" / 18.75ft / 572cmResort terrain: 440 acres / 178 haPass Type: Indy