{"id":1779385,"date":"2026-02-18T20:23:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1779385"},"modified":"2026-02-18T20:23:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:23:17","slug":"burke-mountain-vt-report-from-castaway-to-part-of-an-independent-skiing-resurgence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1779385","title":{"rendered":"Burke Mountain, VT, Report: From Castaway to Part of an Independent Skiing Resurgence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Burke\"Burke
The resort is only served by two chairlifts, but both are high-speed, making it quick to get around. | Credit: Liam Abbott\/SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Burke Mountain Conditions Report from February 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Less than 48 hours before I got in my car to drive up to Burke Mountain<\/a> for the first time, some of the biggest ski industry news out of the East Coast hit my email: Smugglers\u2019 Notch Resort, Vermont, was Purchased by Bear Den Partners.<\/a><\/strong> For those of you who don\u2019t already know, Smugglers Notch is one of the biggest ski resorts on the East Coast, and is widely known to be a fiercely independent mountain. Family-owned and operated for the past several decades, there was talk for many years about what may happen to Smuggs, and more specifically, who would take over this cherished resort.<\/p>\n

So when the news on Wednesday first came out that Bear Den Partners was acquiring a majority stake in the resort, I was surprised, yet delighted to hear the news.<\/strong> While Bear Den Partners may sound like an obscure name, they are the owners who recently acquired<\/a> Burke, and whose CEO, Jon Schaefer, separately owns Berkshire East and Catamount, Massachusetts. In addition to skiing at Burke for the first time, I was now curious what the new ownership group had done halfway through its first season, and what the local perception was of the changes being made. I was thinking it could give us a glimpse into what the future of Smugglers Notch may hold as well.<\/p>\n

\"Burke\"Burke
The trees at the top of the mountain looked almost like snow ghosts. It was beautiful. | Credit: Liam Abbott\/SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quick Facts & History<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n