Searchmont Ski Association will absquatulate on April 30

After operating Searchmont Resort for most of the past two decades, Searchmont Ski Association Inc. will cease to exist on April 30, 2019.

The not-for-profit organization's pending absquatulation was announced this week at its final annual general meeting, held Tuesday night at Sault College.

Tyler Epp, president of the SSAI board, said that all the group's Searchmont assets were acquired by Detroit-based Wisconsin Resorts Inc. on Nov. 1.

But transferring a liquor licence to an American owner is not a simple matter, so alcohol sales at Searchmont are being conducted for the time being under the ski association's existing licence.

SSAI board members Travis McCormak, Craig Lee, Brian MacDonald, Curtis Berkenbosch and Janet Gawne will remain in office until the end of the current fiscal year on April 30.

The ski association is to be dissolved on that date.

The troubled ski resort was bought in January, 2015 by Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. (SSMEDC), which paid $750,000 to discharge SSAI's mortgage, and spent another $750,000 to pay off some of the resort's accumulated debts.

After searching several years for a new owner, SSMEDC sold the land and equipment last month for $2 million to Wisconsin Resorts, which owns and manages three Michigan resorts: Pine Knob in Clarkston, Mt. Holly in Holly and Bittersweet in Otsego, as well as Alpine Valley in Elkhorn, Wis.

Epp said that the resort's new owner is honouring all past agreements, including passes for students at Algoma University, Sault College and Lake Superior State University. 

He thanked Tom Dodds, former SSMEDC chief administrative officer, for playing a major role in saving the ski hill by transferring ownership to the EDC.

Two bring-your-own-bottle celebrations are being planned: one for current and former SSAI directors and another for other ski association supporters.