SAM Magazine—Canton, Mass., Aug. 5, 2024—Local investor Geoff Homer has acquired the five-year operating lease for state-owned Blue Hills Ski Area, with plans to grow the Boston-region operation in the coming years. The ski area was previously operated by the management of Campgaw Mountain in New Jersey under the LLC Ski Blue Hills Management. 

"I am humbled and excited to be the next operator of Blue Hills Ski Area,” said Homer. “A local operator is exactly what this mountain needs to achieve its full potential. … Urban ski areas like Blue Hills are vital to the continued success and growth of the industry, and I can’t wait to get started.” 

Homer said he will share details about capital plans to “enhance and grow the on and off-hill skier experience and year-round opportunities” in the coming weeks as the ski area launches its summer season pass sale.

Geoff and his father, Chet, previously owned and operated Pleasant Mountain (formerly Shawnee Peak) in Maine for 27 years, before selling it to Boyne Resorts in 2021. A resident of Boston who ski raced at Blue Hills, Geoff is also the owner of Hirschmann Windows & Doors, a manufacturing company in West Rutland, Vt. 

“We are excited about this new partnership with Blue Hills Recreation LLC and Geoff Homer,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “The commitment to enhancing the Blue Hills ski operation, along with the promise of significant capital investments over the next five years, aligns perfectly with our goals of improving and expanding recreational opportunities across Massachusetts. We look forward to this collaboration, which will bring exciting new developments to our community.”

Blue Hills general manager Molly Gilleece and operations manager Iwan Fuchs will remain on board under the new ownership.

For more ski area sales, acquisitions, and auctions, check out SAM’s interactive ski area ownership timeline.