Magic Mountain Ski Area

History:

Swiss-born Ski Instructor, Hans Thorner, founded Magic Mountain, VT in 1960. And, by 1962, the first skiers were descending from Magic's peak and soon discovering southern Vermont's most challenging mountain.

It is no wonder Thorner was so selective in his search for a mountain at which he could create "A Little Corner of Switzerland." He ended selecting Glebe Mountain in Londonderry Vermont. Glebe's separate valleys created diverse terrain heading in various directions from the lifts almost like miniature Swiss Valleys. At the bottom of it all Hans built a miniature Swiss Village complete with hotels like Dostal's and the Blue Gentian. Every structure from the base of the access road to the summit was master planned.

In the early days Magic was equally famous for its nightlife whether it be the Abracadabra Lounge, on-mountain Swiss feasts or Dostal's bar. Each year Thorner would hand select a fleet of ski instructors from Switzerland who lived on the mountain creating arguably one of the best ski schools in the country.

In 1985 the mountain was sold and neighboring Timber Ridge ski area was annexed, the ownership eventually ended up in Bromley's hands and Magic, Bromley and Timberside could all be skied on one ticket. Unfortunately a few bad snow seasons coupled with bad real estate ventures forced the mountain to close in 1991.

For six long seasons the mountain remained dark with three of its lifts sold to other New England areas to pay off debt. In 1996 a group of investors re-opened the mountain and it has slowly progressed into one of the East's finest skiing hills. Experts everywhere and ski personnel from other mountains flock to Magic on powder days. Both the trail systems and the second hidden system of off-piste glades have become proving grounds for many of New England's finest free skiers. It is currently home to one of four tour stops of the Ski The East Free Ride Tour that tests the best skiers on the most extreme terrain and at Magic, it's on the infamous Black Magic trail.