Bear Den Partners Acquires Two More Northeast Ski Resorts

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Mar 24, 2026 3:34 PM ET

The ownership group that famously purchased the Vermont ski area Burke Mountain and, more recently, Smugglers' Notch, has added two more ski areas to its portfolio.

Bear Den Partners was formed last year to rescue Burke from its prior court-appointed receivership by the Northern Vermont-based Graham & Schaefer families. Both families have deep roots in Vermont skiing, with the Schaefer family having been involved in resort operation and ownership in the state since 1976.

Bear Den Partners announced on March 23, 2026, that Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Massachusetts and Catamount Mountain Resort in New York/Massachusetts would be joining their portfolio.

Berkshire East has been owned and operated by the Schaefer Family since 1976, with brothers Jim & John Schaefer acting as owners and operators. The Schaefer family also acquired Catamount in 2018. Jon serves as the CEO of Bear Den Partners, and Jim holds a seat on the board, meaning that both resorts will continue to operate under their existing leadership structure, but ownership will be under the Schaefer's combined efforts with the Grahams in the Bear Den Partners name.

In other words, both ski areas will operate effectively the same, but ownership will be under the existing owner's new business venture.

Smuggler's Notch was acquired on February 11, 2026, by Bear Den Partners via a collaborative ownership transition. The ski area was previously owned by the Strizler Family.

With the addition of these resorts, Bear Den Partners has formed the Bear Den Mountain Alliance, an independent network of ski mountains that will share resources, operational expertise, and long-term capital. Fundamentally, the partnership was formed on the values of local leadership and preserving the spirit, authenticity, and community of Northeastern ski areas.

"From the beginning, Jim, Jon and I shared a belief that great independent mountains can be stronger together without losing what makes them special," said Ken Graham, co-founder of Bear Den Partners in a press release. "Bear Den is about bringing together iconic New England ski resorts and giving them the support they need to thrive—while keeping the local character and independent spirit that skiers feel the minute they pull into the parking lot."

Berkshire East and Catamount will keep their General Managers and the CFO for both mountains.

Berkshire East is located in Charlemont, MA, and operates as a year-round mountain resort with skiing and night skiing in the winter and transitioning to the world-class Thunder Mountain Bike Park in the summer, along with a full roster of other summer adventure activities. Berkshire is also the first ski area to produce 100% of electricity on-site through wind and solar energy.

Catamount sits on the border of Massachusetts and New York and offers skiing in the winter and an adventure park and event venue in the summer.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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