Whaleback Mountain to Open Partial Ski Season After Fundraising
Whaleback Mountain will open for the 2025 to 2026 ski season on December 26 despite its summit chairlift remaining out of service, following a community fundraising push that raised roughly $460,000 this year. The scaled back operation matters to Sullivan County residents because lower attendance and reduced pass revenue are expected to deepen a projected operating loss of at least $300,000, with ripple effects for local retailers and youth programs.
Whaleback Mountain announced plans to open on December 26, 2025 with two surface lifts serving roughly half of the ski terrain, after contractors found major gearbox and bullwheel damage while beginning repair work on the summit chairlift. The nonprofit mountain raised about $250,000 earlier in the year toward repair and then roughly $210,000 after an October appeal to cover operating shortfalls. Those funds allowed the resort to operate, but the extent of mechanical damage meant the chairlift could not be returned to service in time for the season.
Management estimated the reduced operating plan would produce at least a $300,000 operating loss for the season. Reduced lift capacity and truncated terrain typically depresses day ticket sales, season pass revenue and ancillary spending on rentals, lessons, food and local lodging. To encourage use and offset lost revenue, Whaleback cut the adult season pass price to $99 from about $299, and it will run youth racing programs using a recently installed rope tow. The mountain will also expand base area programming and live events to attract families and newcomers while continuing fundraising and engineering work to fully repair and reengineer the chairlift during the offseason. Skiers will have the option to skin to the summit for access when conditions permit.
The implications extend beyond the slopes. Local youth programs run by Lebanon Recreation, area ski retailers and community volunteers were actively involved in the fundraising effort, underscoring Whaleback's role as an entry point for children learning to ski. For Sullivan County, a smaller season at Whaleback reduces predictable winter foot traffic for downtown businesses and seasonal employers that depend on consistent weekend crowds. The situation highlights a broader challenge facing small nonprofit ski areas where aging lift infrastructure can require large capital outlays that are difficult to fund from operating revenue alone.
Looking ahead, Whaleback faces two parallel tasks. It must manage a constrained winter season to retain community engagement and mitigate financial losses, and it must secure engineering solutions and capital for a full chairlift rebuild to restore summit access and protect the mountain's long term contribution to local tourism and youth sports development.
