Industry News
Whaleback Mountain has reached its $250,000 fundraising goal, allowing the nonprofit ski area to move forward with critical repairs to its only chairlift, the resort confirmed in a social media post on Sunday.
“We asked for help, and you showed up in a big way,” the resort wrote. “Together, we raised over $250,000 to keep Whaleback alive and thriving.”
The small Upper Valley, New Hampshire, ski hill, which has been closed since March 16, launched the campaign after its sole chairlift broke down in February. Mechanics traced the issue to failing gearbox bearings. To prevent further damage, the lift was shut down entirely, and the mountain turned to the community for help covering the cost of a full gearbox rebuild.
Instead of replacing the lift outright—a project estimated at $3–4 million—Whaleback opted for a more sustainable route: shipping the gearbox to specialists for an 8-to-10-week refurbishment. The part is expected to be reinstalled in time for the 2025–26 ski season, with lift repairs scheduled to begin by July.
To reach the fundraising target, Whaleback hosted a benefit concert on April 19, headlined by guitarist Zach Nugent and capped at 180 attendees. By April 14, the campaign had already raised $180,000, including $75,000 in its first week, leaving just $70,000 to close the gap before the concert.
With the goal now met, Whaleback says it has stabilized operations, retained its staff, and is planning for winter with not just the Sky Lift back online, but also a new surface lift. “This mountain is all about community, and we’re proud of how everyone showed up,” the statement continued. “Thank you for believing in this mountain.”
Whaleback has already begun selling 2025–26 season passes and says it remains committed to long-term sustainability. Leaders hope to begin planning for a full lift replacement later this decade.
