Burke's Bear Den Partners Expand Again

[thetrailboss]

Vermont's The North Star Monthly is reporting that Bear Den Partners have now taken an ownership stake in Berksire East and Catamount. Frankly, I am not surprised. With the Burke acquisition and then the Smuggs purchase, it seemed to me that the Schaefers and Grahams were working together very well and that this was just the next step of the evolution.

The resorts will operate under the Bear Den Mountain Alliance, a network of independent mountains that share resources, operational expertise and long-term capital while maintaining local leadership, unique identities and guest experiences. Current owners remain actively involved. Senior leadership will continue, including Berkshire East general manager Andy Cornish, Catamount general manager Mark Smith and Melissa Roberts, chief financial officer for both mountains.

"This step represents an evolution for my family, not an exit," Bear Den Partners CEO Jon Schaefer said. "This merger is about securing the future of two great, independent mountains by building an enduring structure that allows them to thrive for generations to come. Our family remains deeply invested in both resorts and in Bear Den Partners as a founding partner."

Berkshire East and Catamount join Bear Den Partners

Berkshire East Mountain Resort and Catamount Mountain Resort have joined Bear Den Partners, the independent mountain ownership group founded by lifelong skiers and mountain owners Ken Graham and Jon Schaefer.

www.northstarmonthly.com

 

[Abominable]

Interesting.

Curious the impact on catamount and Berkshire east, both mountains have had talks about expansion over the past five years or so, although both have seen some upgrades too. Wonder if that puts everything on hold while the focus turns to smuggs.

Haven’t been to Smuggs since the 90s. How’s the lodge, snowmaking? Does it need a champagne bar?

There must have been some part of this arrangement Bousquet ownership didn’t want to be a part of.

 

[urungus]

Curious the impact on catamount and Berkshire east, both mountains have had talks about expansion over the past five years or so, although both have seen some upgrades too. Wonder if that puts everything on hold while the focus turns to smuggs.

Looks like future expansion at Berkshire East and Catamount is now on hold … according to article linked below “Berkshire East and Catamount have both just completed major capital cycles, although there are optimizations that will continue to happen at both mountain, Schaefer said.”

Berkshire East and Catamount Join Bear Den, New Mountain Alliance Form

SAM Magazine—Charlemont, Mass., March 23, 2026—Berkshire East and Catamount Resorts in Massachusetts have joined Bear Den Partners, formalizing an ownershi

www.saminfo.com

 

[4aprice]

I wonder if we are starting to see a shift in the skiing market ?. As dissatisfaction with Epic and Ikon grows for whatever reason could smaller teams of areas be a path forward. But I do enjoy some variety and back before the multi mountain passes when I had season pass to my local mountain I always wished they could have worked out something with some other mountains to make it advantageous to travel there. Seems Boyne has a good line up and their NE Passes sell very well. Now this group with 4 good ones. I have really enjoyed this season with Indy and my Ikon but I'm not blind to situations these passes cause. Someone with more business acumen then me can tell me if they think that help or not (BG?)

 

[Newpylong]

I would expect zero changes at Berkshire East and Catamount, it's the Schaeffers anyway.

 

[urungus]

I would expect zero changes at Berkshire East and Catamount, it's the Schaeffers anyway.

I am also expecting zero changes, unfortunately that includes the northeast expansion at Berkshire East that they have been talking about for the last decade