Mount Abram

Per New England Ski History's Mount Abram page, local logging brothers Norton, Stuart, and Donald Cross acquired land on Mt. Abram as a wood lot in August 1948. An additional 65-acre tract was acquired in March 1958, around when thoughts of developing a ski area "reportedly began to emerge." The Cross brothers "reportedly began developing a ski area on the northeastern slope of Mt. Abram in the spring of 1960" and formed Mt. Abram Ski Slopes, Inc. that July. Mt. Abram opened December 11, 1960, and "was formally dedicated that Christmas Eve." In July 1961, a loan from Hugh W. Hastings of Fryeburg financed installation of today's Maine T-Bar lift. The Bullwinkle trail was cut for the 1963-64 season, "providing more intermediate terrain," and a separate beginner area serviced by a Hall T-Bar opened for the 1965-66 season, financed again by Hugh Hastings. In late March of the 1966-67 season, Mt. Abram and Sunday River made their lift tickets interchangeable. Installing the "Way Back Machine" double chairlift for the 1970-71 season meant Mt. Abram "had beaten Sunday River to the punch for being the first chairlift-served ski facility in the region," per the same source. After "experiencing some difficult seasons during the 1970s," the Cross brothers looked to sell, and "the ski area was put up for sale starting in 1975." The "American Zephyr" monorail was added for 1978, described as "the first of its type in the East"; the monorail business was abandoned in the early 1980s. Snowmaking was finally added for the 1985-86 season, following a tough winter in which a helicopter was hired to haul snow onto the mountain; the Town of Greenwood helped obtain financing in exchange for clay dug from a pond used to cap a dump. The West Side area was added for the 1988-89 season, served by Mt. Abram's second double chairlift, the Skyline Chair, for additional novice and intermediate terrain. Following three tough winters, Oxford Bank and Trust foreclosed on Mt. Abram at the end of the 1992-93 season, and the area was sold at auction to Rick Hoddinott (principal owner), Jeff Van Decker, Tom Kennison, Tim Good, and Pat Dutton. Following a tough 1997-98 season, Norway Savings Bank foreclosed; Randy Duncan purchased the ski area and adjacent property for $577,500 at an August 7, 1998 auction. Camden National Bank foreclosed on the Duncans in 2000, resulting in another auction at which Josh and Susan Burns purchased the area for $325,000 on November 25, 2000. The Duncans sued the bank over its handling of their loans, and on September 24, 2004, a jury awarded them $1.5 million in damages. After eight years of ownership, the Burns sold Mt. Abram to Matt Hancock and Rob Lally in the spring of 2008. The main lodge "suffered heavy fire damage on July 6, 2011, after lightning struck it"; a temporary building was constructed in time for the 2011-2012 season. In the fall of 2013, Mt. Abram announced that Mountain Rider's Alliance was hired to run the ski area, with plans being made to potentially convert Mt. Abram to a co-op ownership model; "the arrangement likely ended in 2017." In the fall of 2014, Mt. Abram unveiled a 245-kilowatt solar farm, installed adjacent to the main parking lot. In the fall of 2019, Mt. Abram previewed a new downhill mountain biking park, which formally opened in June 2020. Mount Abram's own website describes the resort as offering "classic mountain adventure with a friendly, relaxed vibe and unmatched value," adding that with "family-run charm, and plenty of room to roam, it's a place where every run feels personal." Per New England Ski History's year-by-year lift ticket table, Mt. Abram's adult weekend full-day lift ticket price for the 2025-26 season is $42.00.