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| Enchanted Mountain Ski Area |
| Jackman, Maine |
| Status: |
Lost/Defunct
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| First Season: | 1965-66 |
| Last Season: | 1972-73 |
| Vertical Drop: | 1200 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | |
| Past Lifts: | 1 double, 1 T-Bar, surface lift |
| Left: Enchanted Mountain Ski Area and Coburn Mountain (2013) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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Located south of the rural near-border town Jackman, Coburn Mountain is one of the most prominent mountains in all of New England. Towering over timber country, the 3,717 foot tall peak was the site of a massive ski area proposal in the 1960s. Named Enchanted Mountain, the ski area never progressed beyond its first phase. Geographically only a few miles west of Big Squaw ski area and north of Baker Mountain ski area, Enchanted Mountain operated for less than a decade.
Early Years
An aerial view of Enchanted Mountain circa the late 1960s or early 1970s |
Hours from the nearest city in the cold mountains of the Moosehead Lake region of Maine, Enchanted Mountain was designed by E. H. Lord-Wood Associates as a destination ski area. Michigan-based Comprehensive Planning Services, Inc. was also involved in the development. Led by president Edward Comber Jr., the Jackman Regional Development Corporation sought a $475,000 loan from the Farmers Home Corporation, however the application was reportedly withdrawn when the plans were deemed by the lender to be too large. The development corporation subsequently landed a $380,000 United States Small Business Association loan.
Connecticut-based North Haven Construction Company built the initial ski area in 1965, consisting of multiple trails spanning 1,200 vertical feet on Coburn Mountain. The ski area was reportedly built on land leased by the development corporation from Scott Paper Company, which would later become owner of nearby Big Squaw ski area. The actual ski area may have been operated by the Enchanted Mountain Corporation.
The lower portion of the ski area debuted on natural snow in early 1966 with a 1,200 foot T-Bar lift and possibly a 900 foot novice Poma lift. There is no record of snowmaking ever being installed at Enchanted Mountain, as the area's location and elevation typically resulted in abundant natural snowfall.
A 4,200 foot double chairlift was added for the 1966-67 season, increasing the trail count to seven. Rounding out the improvements, a new access road was constructed by the state. With its remote location, the area could easily boast that there were no lift lines. Former Okemo manager Daniel Leary served as General Manager.
Long term plans for the 14,000 acre project included a three-mile long aerial tramway, three more trail pods, and six double chairlifts. Two golf courses were to be developed, as well as housing and restaurants. Financial problems intervened, however.
Financial Problems
By the time the fall of 1969 rolled around, Enchanted Mountain was out of business and on its way to the auction block after foreclosure. The area was eventually sold by the Small Business Administration to Terry Tyler (founder of Maple Valley), Willis LeFavour, and Robert LeFavour, possibly operating as Enchanted Mountain Ski Area, Inc. The new ownership reopened the ski area in February of 1970 and had plans to build lodging on site.
Heading into the early 1970s, the area tried to provide unique offerings, such as night time snowshoe tours and free boarding in the lodge for anyone who brought their own sleeping bag. Roger Neault served as General Manager during the winter of 1971-72.
Closure
One of the Enchanted Mountain ski trails (2013) |
The LeFavours were unable to rescue the remote ski area from financial doom. Enchanted even offered free skiing to season passholders from any other Maine area, but could not attract large crowds.
Though listed in some ski publications for many years after, there is no known record of Enchanted Mountain operating beyond the 1972-73 season. The area was advertised as for sale in industry publication Ski Area Management in 1973. With no buyer found, the Small Business Administration moved to liquidate the area in 1974.
Since then, the lifts and buildings have been taken down. A small communications facility was built near the top of the chairlift, while a larger one sits at the top of Coburn Mountain. All terrain vehicles and snowmobiles still use some of the otherwise overgrown trails.
A large logging project commenced in the early 2010s, further eliminating the remaining traces of the lower portion of the ski area.
Image Gallery
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1972-73 | $6.00 |  | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $6.00 | | | | | December 4 | | | | | | 1970-71 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $5.50 | | | | | | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I was part owner of Enchanted mt from 1970 to 72. Roxy Rockefeller used to call me every morning for the snow report. Morning after morning I’d look out the window and tell him we had another foot of snow. He didn’t believe me until he drove up to see for himself. He said that he had never seen that much snow east of the Rockies. That was the winter of 1970-71. We had to bull doze the snow out from under the chairlift for the first 100 ft. Dick Wallingford pushed back the snow banks on the access rd three times so that we could still plow it." | | Jerry Wright, Nov. 15, 2022 | | "A friend I grew up with had a camp at the bottom of the entrance to Enchanted, on Markham Pond. We watch them building the ski area. In the early 70's we went up skiing during winter break. One day the winds were so high that they wouldn't open the chair lift because the chairs were banging against the masts as they went by. The temperature was in the single digits. There were only 3 of us and they finally opened the place up to us 3. It was awesome! We had the place to our-selfs because no one else was stupid enough to be out there skiing. It was a great place to go sking because there was always plenty of snow and you never had to wait to get on a lift." | | Steve Bragg, Jan. 15, 2017 | | "A friend and I drove snowmobiles to the top of enchanted ski area about the year of 2001. When stepping off the sleds, I was warned not to step past the packed snow. It was so deep, the 'shrubs' I was standing near we're actually treetops!! Had I stepped too far, I could have been swallowed by the snow! Beautiful up there." | | Michael W, Jan. 30, 2015 |
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External Links
Enchanted Mountain - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Coburn Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: March 29, 2020
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