Story byJeanette DeForgeFri, December 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM UTC·5 min readThis is a biweekly column about all things skiing and snowboarding in New England. Longtime owners of Berkshire East are expanding again and at the same time saving another struggling independent ski area in New England. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn May the Schaefer family, owners of the popular Western Massachusetts ski area, joined with other partners to purchase Burke Mountain in Vermont for $11.5 million. The new owners are hoping to give the overlooked area the stability needed to survive after decades of turmoil, including multiple owners and at least one bankruptcy. Most recently, it has operated under receivership for nine years after a scandal over the misuse of federal funds sent its owner and two others to jail. Jon Schaefer sees great potential in the often-overlooked Vermont mountain located off Interstate 91 and has faith Bear Den Partners can overcome its chaotic past.“There is a lot of mountain biking, it has incredible glades, it has a beautiful hotel,” said Schaefer, who is serving as chief operating officer at Bear Den Partners. “It is another great independent mountain.
