The DesLauriers family — including patriarch Ralph, who founded the ski area in 1966 — has bought back the resort.
The purchase ends 10 years of ownership under developers Doug Nedde and Larry Williams, who owns the commercial real estate company Redstone. Terms of the deal, announced Friday, were not disclosed.
“When I built Bolton Valley back in the ’60s, I made it my mission to give every Vermont child the opportunity to ski,” Ralph DesLauriers said in a news release. “We established after-school programs where kids could take the bus up after school and learn to ski — and tens of thousands of kids all over Chittenden and Washington counties have learned to love skiing at Bolton Valley. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of, and it’s that same family centered mission and love of Vermont that’s driving me and my kids back into this business.”
The management group, including resort president George Potter, will stay on to oversee day-to-day operations, according to the announcement. The new ownership company includes DesLauriers, his son Evan and daughter Lindsay, along with a group of local investors.
Ralph DesLauriers sold the ski area in 1997 and it subsequently changed hands at least five times.
The new ownership group envisions a major revitalization, with “plans to update and renovate the property, restore summer amenities and enhance customer service,” according to the announcement.
The sale includes “700 acres of land, six lifts, a 64-room hotel, 10 lodge condominium units, four restaurant facilities, a small general store and deli, and a 20,000-square-foot indoor sports center,” the announcement said.
Bolton Valley, the closest resort to Burlington, is the latest Vermont ski area to change hands. Vail Resorts bought Stowe Mountain Resort in February, while Aspen Skiing Company purchased the company that owns Stratton Mountain Resort earlier this week.
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This makes me happy! I love skiing Bolton Nordic and Backcountry and hope this transition means it’ll be around for another 50 years, climate change permitting.
Welcome back Ralph. I skied there with Joe Parkinson and friends when you last owned it. Hope you get an exit off interstate. Best wishes.
Please bring back mountain biking in the summer
Bolton is Happiness! Mazel Tov Ralph!! I love your mountain <3
I have SO many memories of skiing Bolton, like racing my sis and best friend down Sherman’s pass, seeing Tre Anastasio in the quad line, making the radical transition from skiing to snowboarding, lapping Adam’s Solitude, going big off the cliff in Wood’s Hole, heading up Thursdays after school to hit Devil’s in the dark with our headlamps, and hitting the nordic trails with my dog Chester. This place is magical and, while the ski industry undergoes a massive corporatization movement, this news makes me happy.
Bolton is where I spent the happiest days of my life. It is the place that ignited a passion for skiing and mountain life that will burn in my soul for eternity. It is were APO was formed and the home of the boxer run. Oh what I would give to be sitting at Cobrass Cafe’ right now. I’m glad the place is back in loving hands.
Hi Ralph & Family!
I am so pleased to hear this! I worked there back in the day with Rob, Eric, Megan and Elliot…to mention a few! Sold condo packages during the day and skied every day! I also rode my mt bike up that enormous hill on the lovely backside dirt road when the road washed out! Do you remember that? Anyway…good on ya! Good luck! Maybe I will bring my daughter to ski one day from Boise! So happy for you! Jude Friz McDougall