The People Have Spoken… Again!
Saddleback Mountain Selected Down East Readers’ Choice “Best Ski Mountain” in Maine for the 2nd Year in a Row
Rangeley, Maine (August 29, 2023) – The people have spoken… again! The results are in and Saddleback Mountain has been named “Best Ski Mountain” in Maine for the 2nd year in a row based on a Down East Magazine reader poll. Saddleback is in good company with four other Rangeley businesses also being recognized. This accolade is another chapter in Saddleback’s incredible comeback story since reopening in 2020 after a five-year closure.
Down East readers first voted in a write-in round, from which the top five vote-getters in each category became finalists. Then, some 10,000 voters picked the winners in a final round earlier this summer.
At 4,120’ in elevation and 600+ acres, Saddleback is the third-largest ski area in Maine. Boundary to boundary, it might not be the biggest, but has quickly gained a reputation for a wide variety of terrain, including some of the gnarliest expert terrain in the East. The Casablanca Chutes & Kennebago Steeps area of the mountain is home to some of the most expansive glade terrain in New England.
The Saddleback story has rippled across Maine, New England and national industry news outlets. The Chronicle, a long-running show about people and places in New England, featured Saddleback in 2023, calling it “a good old-fashioned comeback story.”
Pivotal to Saddleback’s success has been $30+ million in mountain improvement projects, beginning with the Rangeley high-speed quad installed the first season to three more lifts, expanded snowmaking and eco-groomers, and the latest: a new upscale 70-seat mid-mountain restaurant located at 3,620’.
Driven by a strong sense of independence and a warm and welcoming vibe, Saddleback feels more approachable and accessible than other corporate resorts. From the fall lines to the buzz of the rustic base lodge, Saddleback has a genuine soul, and feels more like the way alpine skiing and riding used to be.
“Wowza – Down East readers have spoken again,” said Jim Quimby, Saddleback’s General Manager. “Thanks again for singing Saddleback’s praises. We are very proud to represent the Saddleback faithful in Maine for the second year in a row. We are a mountain by and for the skiers and riders in our community. We look forward to seeing our friends (old and new) again this winter. These are exciting times for Saddleback. Think snow, everyone!”
Amid expansion and growth, the focus on the guest experience remains the same.
“We want to be the type of place where not only are you greeted with a smile, there’s a host offering to help you carry your skis to the rack and you instantly feel welcomed,” says Molly Shaw, Saddleback Brand Manager. “This intimate culture is key.”
“Saddleback’s magic is both skiing and the people,” says Kate Synder, a season passholder from the Portland area. “The incredible range of terrain will keep all levels of skiers happy and challenged. And, the people who work at Saddleback create a culture every single day that creates a really unique sense of belonging.”
The full list of “Best of Maine” winners appears in the September 2023 issue of Down East, on newsstands, and online. Saddleback plans to open in early December 2023 for the 2023/2024 winter season.
