Whaleback (ski area)

The ski area dates to 1956, when a small slope called Snow Crest Ski Area was developed by Lebanon Outing Club ski jumping champion Ernest Dion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/NewHampshire/whaleback.php|title=Whaleback Mountain History - New Hampshire - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com|website=www.newenglandskihistory.com}} It had a {{convert|1500|ft|adj=on}} T-bar and a {{convert|600|ft|adj=on}} rope tow for novices.

Snow Crest closed in 1968 and reopened in 1970 as Whaleback Ski Area. It operated continuously until 2001 when then-owner Timothy Herbert closed it.{{cite web| url=http://www.ourherald.com/news/2004-12-16/Front_page/f05.html| title=Evan Dybvig Buys Whaleback Ski Area| publisher=The Herald of Randolph| date=16 December 2004| accessdate=19 December 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211174243/http://www.ourherald.com/news/2004-12-16/Front_page/f05.html| url-status=dead| archivedate=11 December 2013}} On 8 December 2004, Herbert sold Whaleback to Evan Dybvig, a former freestyle skier for the US Ski Team. In preparation for its reopening, $1 million was spent in renovating the area, which opened for the 2005-2006 ski season.{{cite web| url=http://www.wptz.com/r/5675561/detail.html| title=Whaleback Ski Area Back in Business| publisher=WPTZ.com| date=27 December 2005| accessdate=19 December 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314010812/http://www.wptz.com/r/5675561/detail.html| archivedate=14 March 2012}}{{cite web| url=http://www.gondyline.com/ski_nh.php| title=New Hampshire Ski Area Guide -- Very Complete| publisher=Gondyline.com| accessdate=19 December 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105225718/http://www.gondyline.com/ski_nh.php| url-status=live| archivedate=5 January 2013}} Dybvig intended for the ski area to diversify its offerings into the freestyle sports market, including constructing an indoor sports facility. However, after several investors dropped out of the project, and a planned loan from the Small Business Administration failed to materialize, these plans were dropped. During the area's first two seasons, poor weather hurt it financially, leading to a program announced in August 2006 where individuals could pay to either place a plaque on or paint one of the chairs on Whaleback's chairlift.{{cite web| url=http://www.firsttracksonline.com/news/stories/115446178642513.shtm| title="Buy" a Chairlift Seat at Whaleback Mountain Ski Area| publisher=First Tracks!! Online| date=1 August 2006| accessdate=19 December 2010}}{{dead link|date=March 2013}} As of 2010, the ski area employed between five and nine employees, and had a revenue of between $500,000 and $1 million per year.{{cite web| url=http://www.manta.com/c/mmjw2q3/ski-whaleback-ltd| title=Ski Whaleback Ltd| publisher=Manta.com| accessdate=19 December 2010}}

On 14 March 2013, Whaleback announced that high debt had led the mountain to close. According to Dybvig, Whaleback owed its creditors more than $1 million, and was unable to raise additional funding, leading it to liquidate before it was forced into foreclosure.{{cite web| url=http://www.vnews.com/home/5104739-95/whaleback-dybvig-mountain-ski| title=Debt Breaks Whaleback: Enfield Ski Mountain Set to Close| publisher=Valley News| date=14 March 2013| accessdate=19 March 2013| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317193506/http://www.vnews.com/home/5104739-95/whaleback-dybvig-mountain-ski| url-status=live| archivedate=17 March 2013}}

During the summer of 2013, a local non-profit organization, the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (UVSSF), was established to operate and eventually purchase the mountain.{{cite web | url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20131203/NEWHAMPSHIRE0311/131209843/-1/newhampshire0305 | title=Whaleback Ski Area opens Dec. 26 | publisher=New Hampshire Union Leader | date=2 December 2013 | accessdate=7 December 2013 | author=Humphreys, Kathleen | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213201545/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20131203/NEWHAMPSHIRE0311/131209843/-1/newhampshire0305 | url-status=dead | archivedate=13 December 2013}} An initial round of fundraising raised about $200,000, enough to reopen Whaleback for the 2013–2014 season. The UVSSF signed an agreement with the owner of the property, Randolph National Bank, to operate the ski area for a year, and purchased it in 2013 for $650,000. It is seeking to raise money to purchase a second parcel adjoining the ski area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whaleback.com/uvssf/|title=Whaleback.com - UVSSF}}

Whaleback has 30 trails on {{convert|85|acre|ha|abbr=on}} of skiable terrain.{{cite web| url=http://www.americaskiing.com/New-Hampshire/Whaleback/Resort-Info.php| title=Whaleback Ski Area| publisher=America Skiing| accessdate=19 December 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050728/http://www.americaskiing.com/New-Hampshire/Whaleback/Resort-Info.php| url-status=dead| archivedate=22 February 2014}} 28% of the trails are rated as easy, 39% are intermediate and the remainder are advanced. The longest trail is {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} long. There is one terrain park, and 60% of the terrain has snowmaking installed on it.{{cite web| url=http://www.whaleback.com/trail-map.html| title=Trail Map| publisher=Whaleback official website| accessdate=19 December 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320221944/http://www.whaleback.com/trail-map.html| url-status=dead| archivedate=20 March 2013}} There are four lifts: a double chair, a T-Bar, a magic carpet and a handle tow. The mountain's base elevation is at {{convert|1100|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and the summit is at {{convert|1800|ft|m|abbr=on}}, for a vertical drop of {{convert|700|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Whaleback has an average annual snowfall of {{convert|110|in|cm}}.

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Category:Ski areas and resorts in New Hampshire

Category:Buildings and structures in Grafton County, New Hampshire

Category:Tourist attractions in Grafton County, New Hampshire

Category:Enfield, New Hampshire