Mount Jefferson Ski Area, ME, Up For Sale for $3.5 Million

Maine’s Mount Jefferson Ski Area has recently been put up for sale for $3.5 million. Located in the small town of Lee, the ski area offers six miles of slopes on a 152-acre property, as well as “an operating ski and tubing area, a functioning firewood business and lumber kiln operation, extensive commercial infrastructure and equipment, and residential and commercial development opportunities,” according to the resort’s listing on Zillow.

Mount Jefferson officially opened its doors in 1964, serving multiple generations of Lee and central Maine skiers who did not want to travel far to get on the snow. It is one of the state’s smallest ski area operations, with just three surface lifts, 12 runs, and 432 feet of vertical drop. The resort’s infrastructure is on the older side, with its most recent lift — a handle tow — being installed in 2007. Its other two lifts, which are t-bars, were installed in 1994 and 1964.

The resort features a variety of runs covering all levels, with 32% beginner terrain, 42% intermediate, and 26% expert. 

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Over the past several decades, Mount Jefferson has undergone various changes as it battled financial struggles. The resort was initially owned by the Delano family for 51 years before it was sold to Massachusetts ticket broker Kevin Zimmerman and his company, Bostonian Tickets, in 2016. Zimmerman had planned to use the resort for music festivals in the summer, as well as adding a tubing area to attract more winter crowds.

“You feel the bass sound a long way up the mountain. I have been to other festivals on mountains, and you can really enjoy the sound. All the trees will help muffle the sound [from disturbing neighbors] and keep it full,” Zimmerman said in a 2016 MaineBiz article. “It’s almost like a natural amphitheater.”

Unfortunately for Zimmerman and Mount Jefferson, his plan to add festivals to the resort never truly came to fruition, but tubing was added on one of the resort’s beginner runs. Zimmerman continued to operate Mount Jefferson for multiple years as a ski and tubing resort amid its financial struggles. The resort cancelled its 2019-20 season due to “unforeseen circumstances and lack of snow,” but was surprisingly able to open during the 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the start of the 2025-26 season, the owner admitted that if they didn’t make enough money, they would likely shut down the ski operation. But thanks to a busier-than-normal season, the resort announced it would continue operations.

While the resort had a solid recent season, the owners are going through with the sale of the resort. 

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Mount Jefferson has been known across Maine for having the cheapest lift tickets in the state, costing just $30 for a day ticket last season. However, its lack of natural snowfall and snowmaking equipment make it particularly vulnerable in poor weather. The resort does not have snowmaking equipment, though it has been mentioned as a future possibility, according to New England Ski History.

While the resort does not host festivals as Zimmerman planned, there is a nine-hole disc golf course and mountain biking trails for summer visitors. The resort also operates firewood and lumber kiln businesses on the property, which can help the resort generate more revenue when crowds are particularly small.

Although the resort has struggled financially for years, some real estate developments at Mount Jefferson could be attractive for potential buyers. The property features 10 slopeside lots ready for development, complete with driveways and cleared building areas. Three of the lots have already been sold for residential construction. The sale also includes two additional commercial lots, offering additional opportunities for future development and expansion.

Mount Jefferson has not yet released any updates regarding potential buyers. Whoever steps up will be getting a beloved piece of Maine skiing history.