CAMELBACK SOLD
EPR Properties announced that it purchased Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville, Pa. for close to $70 million from Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. Ken Ellis and Art Berry will continue to operate the resort under a 20-year extension on its lease.


MOUNTAIN RIDER’S ALLIANCE TO RUN MT. ABRAM
Building on an existing partnership, Mt. Abram, Maine, has hired Mountain Rider’s Alliance (MRA) to manage the ski area. MRA is a grassroots organization whose mission is to create sustainable mountain playgrounds. Led by GM Dave Scanlan, MRA personnel will fill other key positions of Mt Abram’s leadership team.


BEAR VALLEY DEAL FALLS THROUGH
A deal to sell Bear Valley, Calif., fell through in early September, but current management will operate the resort this season while another buyer is sought. In December 2012, the resort’s development plan was approved, which includes a lift to connect the village to the ski area, new mountaintop dining, trail improvements, 300 condominiums, and a new lodge. The owners have been seeking a buyer ever since, and that effort will continue.


TWO AUCTIONS, ONE SALE
Alpine Mountain Ski Area, Pa., was sold at auction to a local investor who plans to continue to operate the ski and tubing area.
In New Jersey, after announcing an auction for October 1, Hidden Valley remains unsold after no-one bid on the resort.


OBITUARIES
Ken Keenan, director of mountain operations at Bristol Mountain, N.Y., died in mid-August after a battle with cancer. Keenan’s career at Bristol started in the early 1970s.

Dinah B. Witchel, skiing author and one-time editor at Skiing Magazine, died in late August.


PEOPLE
Tiger Shaw has been named the new COO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

Robert F. Mulcahy retired as president of Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vt., after 44 years at the resort. . .At Killington/Pico, Adam Lippa was promoted to lift operations manager and Mike Garceau was promoted to action sports manager. Eric Rusch is the new executive chef at Killington’s Peak Lodge.

Brad Larsen has accepted the VP of sales and marketing position at Telluride, Colo. . .At Steamboat Ski & Resort, Sarah Metcalf was named the new director of ticket operations.

At Taos Ski Valley, N.M., Alejandro Blake, grandson of founder Ernie Blake, announced his departure from the company. Filling in as events and summer operations manager is Jonah Salloway.

Steve Paccagnan is the new president and CEO of Panorama Mountain Village, B.C.


SUPPLIER NEWS
SNOW Operating, providers of the Terrain Based Learning method, announced the addition of Chris Hargrave as chief progression officer. In related news, SNOW Operating announced that Snowshoe, W.V., Cranmore, N.H., Jiminy Peak, Mass., and Bromley Mountain, Vt., will be debuting Terrain Based Learning this coming season.

Roger Lohr was named cross-country ski editor at Snocountry.com.

Billy Anderson is the senior brand director at Burton Snowboards.

French Company Techfun, which is owned by the MND Group, has purchased Erbschloe Fun Construct.

Bruce Rosard was promoted to executive VP for the Mountain Travel Symposium.

Factory Media and GrindMedia, which includes the Transworld brands, have united to form a large single action sports digital sales network worldwide.

Briton Engineering Developments Ltd, makers of Snowflex, announced that the YMCA of the Rockies will be installing a synthetic tubing run.


CORRECTIONS
In the September issue of SAM, we announced that Jack Filiault, CFO at Jiminy Peak, Mass., was retiring. Filiault is going to retire, but after a 20-month transition period.

In the May 2013 issue of SAM, we mistakenly refered to author Mark Harrison, “Powder to the People,” as Mark Hamilton.