SAM Magazine—Sheridan, Wyo., April 7, 2023—Four Antelope Butte Foundation (ABF) board members have resigned this week, three citing safety concerns regarding operation of the Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area (ABMRA) Summit lift on the mountain’s closing weekend, according to a news release from ABMRA. 

The Summit lift did not operate on Friday, March 31, after the ski area’s lift maintenance staff detected that a small assembly piece on a lift tower needed maintenance. The required maintenance was performed off-hours. The summit lift then ran fully loaded April 1 and 2 without incident, according to the release. 

Emerson Scott, a former owner of Antelope Butte and newly appointed ABMRA board member, oversaw the maintenance. “I installed the Summit lift, and know it well,” said Scott. “The mountain staff and I kept our professional tramway engineer abreast and followed all proper procedures to get the lift reopened after assembly repairs were completed on tower four.” 

In addition to the board resignations, The Sheridan Press reports that ABF executive director Rebecca Arcarese has also resigned. “I feel like the mission and the vision changed with some new board members and I no longer can align with that,” she told the Press. “I didn’t feel like I could (work with) the organization in a new direction.”

The news release confirmed that Arcarese is no longer with the organization but offered no further comment on her departure. It does state that an internal investigation and full financial audit across both the foundation (ABF) and operating entity (ABMRA) is underway by an outside accounting firm.

Three new members recently joined the ABF board of directors: Emerson Scott; Entabeni Systems and Indy Pass owner Erik Mogensen; and returning board member Jeff Grant. Grant served as ABMRA president from 2018 to 2022.

In an interview with SAM, Grant said that with its recent success and continued growth, ABF is making the transition from a sponsor-supported foundation to a more comprehensive and sustainable business model that can support the ski area into the future.  

“It’s been a difficult transition at times, but bringing in the technology that Entabeni offers [to AMBRA] was a huge first step, and now having someone with Erik’s knowledge on the board is a big benefit, and having Emerson is a full circle,” he told SAM. 

ABMRA reported a record 2022-23 season in terms of visitation and revenues, and has reported record early sales of it 2023-24 season passes. Capital investments for the upcoming season include a new groomer purchased through a partnership with Peterson Equipment, The Indy Ski Pass, and a private donor.

“A passionate group of people took heroic efforts to save a ski area, and now the organization is transitioning to running a ski area,” said Mogensen in the release. “I believe strongly that the Antelope Butte project needs to succeed not just for the local community, but for the sake of skiing itself.” 

Meanwhile, Scott, who owned Antelope Butte from 1985 to 2004, said, “For me personally this a good time to bring my knowledge, expertise, and passion to the board, while continuing to honor the efforts that so many others have made in the past.”

Antelope Butte Ski Area closed in 2004 after 44 years of operation. The Antelope Butte Foundation was formed in 2011 with the goal of revitalizing the ski area, which reopened as AMBRA in 2018.