Magic Mountain Purchase and Sale Agreement Signed Ski Magic LLC expects to take ownership of the ski area this fall. Tuesday, August 16, 2016, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com In an Alpine Update posted today, Magic Mountain announced a Purchase and Sale Agreement had been signed. Ski Magic LLC expects to formally take ownership of the 709 acre property in 6 to 8 weeks.



Ski Magic LLC will immediately begin off season preparations, mainly focused on lift and snowmaking repairs. According to the press release, Ski Magic LLC has a 5 year plan that will expand snowmaking coverage while improving the lift infrastructure. The group hopes to have the Black Triple Chair operational this winter.



Ownership Background

Located in Londonderry, Vermont, Magic Mountain was originally opened in 1960-61 by Hans Thorner. In recent decades, the area has been plagued by financial problems, including a 6 year closure during the 1990s. Since reopening in 1997-98, the ski area has seen multiple owners and operators.



John "Larry" Nelson, whose family had owned a home at the mountain for decades and was reportedly owed $1 million, purchased the area with four partners in August 2002 for a reported $500,000. Nelson passed away in April of 2009, leaving his stake to his family.



Three main entities are involved in the ski area: an asset owner/mortgagor, a ski area owner/borrower, and a ski area operator.



According to sources, Nelson's family technically owns the ski area land and assets. The family is the primary mortgagor of the ski area, with a firm named Magic Mountain Management LLC ("MMM") serving as the borrower. Magic Mountain Resorts LLC ("MMR") then leases the ski area from MMM.



According to a source, the Nelson family transferred their stake in the MMM entity to minority owner Thomas Barker two years ago. Robert Lyszczarz is reportedly the majority owner of MMM while Thomas Barker is the sole proprietor of MMR. The Nelson family has expressed its goal is to see the property sold because they "want Magic to get back on track and to flourish as a ski area."



On May 6, 2015 former Vice President of Marketing at Magic Geoffrey Hatheway formed Ski Magic LLC. While a tentative agreement was struck that summer to take over ownership and operation of the ski area, MMM backed out of the deal in September. Ski Magic LLC has remained an active Vermont business entity since then.



Meanwhile, MMM was unable to pay its 2015 property taxes amidst mounting debt. MMR operated the ski area during the "dismal" 2015-16 season from January 16 to March 13.



Sale negotiations resumed in the spring of 2016.





Magic Mountain in February 2016







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More Information

Magic Mountain Ski Area on NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com Magic Mountain Ski Area on NewEnglandSkiHistory.com



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