On December 31st 2010 Saddleback Ski Resort will celebrate 50 years of skiing. I have just left a meeting to plan for how we will celebrate this monumental event. A lot happens in 50 years and we need a year to do a good job to be able to recognize all of the people who were instrumental in making Saddleback happen and function throughout the years. We discussed a book, decorations, souvenir items such as commemorative patches & pins, a 50th logo design, a banquet, a video slide show, torch light parade and fireworks. We have a lot of good ideas to create excitement around the 50th.

Jim Quimby, our Director of Mountain Operations, has volunteered to work in collaboration with a ski writer aquaintance, to publish a book about Saddleback's history. Jim is a Rangeley native and is an avid history buff about this region and Saddleback. He has tons of Saddleback memorabilia and his Grandfather worked at Saddleback in the beginning. So, there is no one more able to document Saddleback's fifty years. This December 31st marks the one year countdown the actual anniversary. To celebrate, we will have a fireworks display at 8:00PM. We will follow that the next evening with the first concert of our winter concert series. In the fireplace room of the base lodge, we will feature Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys and their southern Cajun tunes. Tickets are $25. I hope that you will be able to join us on December 31st and January 1st for these events. If you have any suggestions as to how we should recognize 50 years of Saddleback, please write me at cklefos@saddlebackmaine.com .