Black Mountain

Black Mountain of Maine is located outside Rumford in western Maine and is considered by many to be one of the few remaining ski resorts in the United States where the original soul of skiing is still clearly present. The resort has been part of the alpine culture of New England for nearly 90 years and has long been run with a focus on skiing, rather than ancillary activities and large-scale resort development.

Since 1995, Black Mountain has been run by John Fichera and his family, with the goal of keeping skiing accessible, affordable, and independent. After several financially challenging seasons, the business was forced to temporarily close due to staff shortages and lack of profitability, which provoked strong reactions within the North American ski community. For many, Black Mountain was seen as an important symbol of the local and non-profit ski culture.

The solution came through Indy Pass, which provided both financial and operational support to keep the facility operational. After another demanding season, a full transition began where ownership and management are gradually transferred to Indy Pass, with the goal of Black Mountain being operated as a community-owned and cooperative ski area starting in the 2024/25 season.

In practice, this means that Black Mountain will continue to be an independent facility with strong local roots, where the focus is on classic alpine skiing, natural terrain and short laps rather than lift-borne mass tourism. For skiers seeking genuine New England skiing, with history, continuity and a clear skiing focus, Black Mountain is an unusually clear example of how a ski resort can live on through community rather than commercial expansion.