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Pleasant Mountain: a 1938 name, lost in 1988, restored in 2022

Bridgton, ME

Part of Skiing New England

Pleasant Mountain's official opening under that name took place on January 23, 1938, per the resort's own "Our History" page. According to New England Ski History, a 1,100-foot rope tow "reportedly opened" the same day, serving the mountain's lower slopes, and the Town of Bridgton acquired the land in 1941. Sumner T. Bernstein, Virginia W. Libby, and Viola E. Smith formed the Pleasant Mountain Corporation on April 3, 1969, purchasing the existing ski operation that June 30, per New England Ski History. In 1988 the ski area was sold to Shawnee Mountain Corp., per New England Ski History, and, per the resort's own site, "Pleasant Mountain was renamed Shawnee Peak." The locally owned and operated Homer Family purchased the ski area in 1994, per the resort's own site; new owner Chet Homer considered restoring the original name but, per New England Ski History, "opted to keep the Shawnee Peak identity due to the brand that had been established."

  1. A Bridgton ski area that opened under this name in 1938, was renamed Shawnee Peak in 1988, and had the original name restored by Boyne Resorts in 2022.

  2. A Bridgton museum devoted to itinerant folk artist and Scientific American founder Rufus Porter.

  3. A Bridgton museum housed in an 1869 Methodist church, covering 250 years of local history.

  4. A 66-acre downtown Bridgton park of woodlands, fields, streams, and wetlands.

  5. An independent general-interest bookstore in downtown Bridgton, founded in 1993.

  6. A Bridgton location of the Maine discount department store chain Reny's.

  7. An 1797 Bridgton farmhouse bequeathed to the Bridgton Historical Society in 1986, now a seasonal house museum.

Boyne buys Shawnee Peak, October 2021

On October 22, 2021, per the resort's own press-releases page, longtime owner Chet Homer sold Shawnee Peak to Boyne Resorts, announced in a release headlined "Boyne Resorts Expands Portfolio With Purchase Of Shawnee Peak." Homer said, per New England Ski Industry's report published that same day, that the buyer had agreed to "provide enhanced employee opportunities, continue with capital improvements each year and continue the family friendly atmosphere that I think we have established."

The name restored, September 14, 2022

Under Boyne Resorts' ownership, the ski area's name was restored from Shawnee Peak back to Pleasant Mountain on September 14, 2022, per the resort's own press-releases page, in a release headlined "Pleasant Mountain Name Restored At Shawnee Peak." The restoration followed a survey conducted the previous spring that was, per the operator's own "Our Name Change" page, "overwhelmingly in support of bringing back the original name"; General Manager Ralph Lewis said, "With the tremendous amount of history associated with this ski area, plus having new ownership and your support, I strongly feel that now is the right time to make this change." Pleasant Mountain is today, alongside Sugarloaf and Sunday River, one of three Maine ski areas in the Boyne Resorts portfolio.

In Bridgton

The Rufus Porter Museum, per its own website, describes itself as "celebrating the life, legacy, and imagination of" Rufus Porter, "folk artist, inventor, writer, and founder of Scientific American," through "immersive exhibits, historic murals, and hands-on learning." The Bridgton Historical Society, per its own website, offers visitors a way to "experience 250 years of history through permanent exhibitions, and outstanding collections," headquartered in an 1869 Methodist Church on Main Street. Pondicherry Park is, per the Loon Echo Land Trust's own page, "66 acres of woodlands, fields, streams, and wetlands" in downtown Bridgton, established in 2012 through a partnership between Loon Echo Land Trust and the Lakes Environmental Association. Bridgton Books, per its own website, was "founded in 1993 by Justin and Pam Ward." Reny's, the Maine discount department store chain, operates a location at 151 Main Street, per the chain's own store-locations page. Narramissic, the Peabody-Fitch Farm — an 1797 farmhouse with a c.1830s barn and restored blacksmith shop — was bequeathed to the Bridgton Historical Society in 1986 and today operates as a house museum with seasonal tours, per the Society's own Narramissic page.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the mountain called Pleasant Mountain again, after decades as Shawnee Peak?
Pleasant Mountain opened under that name on January 23, 1938, per the resort's own site. It was sold and renamed Shawnee Peak in 1988, per New England Ski History. Boyne Resorts, which bought the area from owner Chet Homer on October 22, 2021, restored the original "Pleasant Mountain" name on September 14, 2022, following a survey the operator describes as "overwhelmingly in support" of the change.
Who owns Pleasant Mountain?
Boyne Resorts, since Chet Homer sold the ski area — then still named Shawnee Peak — on October 22, 2021, per the resort's own press-releases page.

Connected pages

Shared history