Yesterday, we reported that Independent Skier Magazine had reported that Brighton ski resort (really Boyne USA, Brighton’s owners) had purchased Solitude. Â Shortly after publishing that article we got an email and then got on the phone with John Kircher, managing director of Boyne Resorts and president of Crystal Mountain, WA.
John informed us that:
Regretfully, I have to tell you that the recently published story on the acquisition of neighboring resort Solitude by Brighton Ski Resort did not happen.
Widely rumored in the area, it is in fact true that negotiations were going on, unfortunately the deal will NOT happen due to lack of third party financing that was anticipated by both resorts.
Both resorts are disappointed but will operate this coming season as they have for the past many years.Brighton has been operated by Boyne Resorts since 1986. Solitude remains owned and operated by the DeSeelhorst family since 1986 as well. – John Kircher [managing director of Boyne Resorts and president of Crystal Mountain, WA.] email to SnowBrains.com
On the phone, John went on to explain that Boyne had been in negotiations to buy Solitude ski resort for some time. Â In the 11th hour of the deal, a financier pulled out. Â If the deal would have gone through, the price of a dual mountain ticket would have stayed the same as the current Sol-Bright pass.
But, John informed me that “We’re hoping it’s a future possibility.”  John hopes that at some point in the somewhat near future, that Brighton and Solitude will become one.
In the meantime, all we can to is wait and see.  We think this would be a great move.  We’d love to see more European style resorts.
What do you guys think? Â Join Brighton and Solitude, or not?
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Sorry…Boyne does not own Brighton Ski Resort. They lease it from the current owners CNL…neither are in the ski resort business as evidenced by the food, customer service, infrastructure…they are however in the money business. It shows.
Way old (and inaccurate) trail maps used in this story
This deal was very, very close.
According to our sources, it almost happened one year ago, but didn’t. So the failure for it to happen again this year, marks the second time that it couldn’t be pulled off in the space of approximately 12 months.
That begs the question, “is the third time a charm?”
We will see what happens in the near future, but given the effort being put into the project by both parties involved, it would not be surprising if a deal does get done in the next year or two.