SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Oct. 18, 2023—A week after announcing that it would not open for the 2023-24 season, owners of New Hampshire’s Black Mountain have reconsidered after reaching an operating agreement with Indy Pass and its parent company Entabeni.

Black Mountain officials announced on Oct. 11 that the ski area would remain closed due to “circumstances beyond our control,” citing soaring energy costs, staffing shortages, and unpredictable weather among other factors. Through the new arrangement, Black Mountain GM and owner John Fichera, along with his family, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations with assistance from Entabeni, which will also help locate a buyer for the area.

"We all have a role to play in keeping skiing independent," said Entabeni founder Erik Mogensen via a joint press release. "We are not interested in owning ski resorts but are firmly committed to supporting independent operators like Black Mountain.”

The struggles that have plagued Fichera and his family, said Mogensen, are the same that many small ski areas across the country face every day.

"We joined the Indy Pass originally to boost awareness and generate a few skier visits,” said Fichera. “Never did we realize the partnership would be so vital to the survival of Black Mountain as an independent ski area. I am proud to collaborate with the passionate folks at Indy Pass to find a solution for Black Mountain and affordable skiing." 

According to the joint release, Andy Shepherd, who has helped other struggling ski areas find positive outcomes, including Maine’s Saddleback Mountain, Quoggy Jo, and Big Rock, will assist Indy in the effort to find a buyer for the area. 

Black Mountain has operated continuously since it opened in 1935. Nestled in the heart of the Mt. Washington Valley, it offers “classic New England skiing and riding” on more than 140 acres, with five lifts, 45 trails, and snowmaking on 98 percent of terrain.