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Bolton Valley Resort, Vermont: the DesLauriers family's mountain, bought back in 2017

Bolton, VT

Part of Skiing New England

Bolton Valley was founded in 1966 by Ralph DesLauriers and his father, per Wikipedia's Bolton Valley Resort article, and remains family-owned and operated today, run by four of Ralph DesLauriers' children: Lindsay, Evan, Adam, and Eric, according to the resort's own About Us page. Beginning around 1997 the resort passed through a series of outside owners and struggled financially; in spring 2017 Ralph DesLauriers and a small group of investors purchased the mountain back, returning it to local ownership.

  1. A family-owned chairlift-served ski resort founded in 1966 and bought back by the founding DesLauriers family in 2017.

Lifts and lodging through the decades

Chateau des Monts, a 20-unit hotel condominium complex, was completed at the resort in 1971, per Wikipedia. The Vista Quad chairlift, installed in 2005, serves as the main lift out of the base area; the Wilderness Double, dating to 1966, is the longest lift on the mountain. The resort offers night skiing and riding on a portion of its trails, typically five nights a week from 4 to 10pm, according to Bolton Valley's own Night Skiing page. Bolton Valley's own site states it offers 71 trails across 300 skiable acres.

Energy, awards, and riders

In 2009 Bolton Valley installed a Northwind 100 wind turbine, per Wikipedia's Bolton Valley Resort article. In 2010 Bolton Valley received the National Ski Areas Association's Silver Eagle Award for Energy Conservation/Clean Energy, according to the resort's own About Us page. Professional snowboarder Jake Blauvelt grew up at Bolton Valley and hosts an annual banked slalom event there, per Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bolton Valley still owned by the DesLauriers family?
Yes. Ralph DesLauriers and his father founded the resort in 1966. After a stretch of outside ownership beginning around 1997, Ralph DesLauriers and a small group of investors bought the mountain back in spring 2017, and it is run today by four of his children, per the resort's own About Us page.
Does Bolton Valley offer night skiing?
Yes. The resort offers night skiing and riding on a portion of its trails, typically five nights a week from 4 to 10pm, according to Bolton Valley's own Night Skiing page.