This upcoming season was supposed to be Mad River's 50^th Anniversary season as Roland planned to begin operations in 1947. But too much snow in October and November forced construction on the Single to cease. During the following Summer the lift was completed and everything was ready for opening day. All except Mother Nature who deprived the fledgling outfit of snow. Finally in December of 1948 Vermont's Governor and the reigning Miss Vermont took the first two chairs up the Single Chair, which at the time was the longest chair in North America and one of only two in Vermont.

The first five years of operation brought little snow, but as the mid-fifties approached the weather patterns changed and "real" Vermont winters became the norm. Mad River's golden age ensued. Over the next fifteen years the Sunyside Double Chair and a T-Bar were built and the Basebox Lodge was enlarged three times. During this period the ski shop, nursery and ski patrol hut were all built. During this period the "Mad River Glen Community" grew exponentially as building lots were sold for seventy private homes and six ski lodges.

In 1972 the mountain was sold to a group led by Truxton Pratt of Greenwich, Connecticut. "Trux" , a longtime Mad River ski patrolman, ran the area until his death in 1975. His wife, Betsy became the principal shareholder and for the next twenty years ran both the ski area and the Mad River Barn Lodge. In December of 1995 Betsy Pratt sold her ski area to the only people she felt she could trust, Mad River's devoted skiers.

On December 15, 1995 a new era began at Mad River Glen. Just like in 1948 a ceremony was held at the base of the Single Chair. This time with a huge helping of fresh powder. Mad River Glen became the first ski area in America to be owned by a cooperative of it own skiers. "Old Faithful" will begin its 49^th year of service when Mad River's 1997-98 ski season begins. Plans for a season-long 50^th Anniversary celebration are already in full swing.

e-mail us at ski@madriver.com