Toggenburg Ski Resort, NY, Sale in Progress
A sale is in the works to potentially reopen the long-shuttered Toggenburg Ski Resort in Fabius, New York, following a judge's ruling against its current owner, Intermountain Management. The resort, which closed abruptly in 2021, is being eyed by local businessman Douglas Wheeler, whose family has historical ties to the land.
The potential sale comes after New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert Antonacci II ruled in April that Intermountain Management, which also owns Song and Labrador Mountains, violated the state's Donnelly Act (an antitrust law) by purchasing and then immediately closing Toggenburg. The New York Attorney General's Office argued that the move created a monopoly on local season ski passes, leading to higher prices and more crowded conditions at Intermountain's other resorts.
Justice Antonacci is now considering remedies for the legal violation and has indicated a strong preference for a swift sale to a buyer who will reopen the ski area. In a recent hearing, he encouraged Intermountain's president, Peter Harris, to settle the case by selling the property. The Attorney General's office is seeking a $4 million fine against Intermountain, but the judge suggested that cooperating with a quick sale could result in a more favorable outcome for the company.
The interested buyer, Douglas Wheeler, is a Fabius resident who had his first job at Toggenburg. His great-grandfather once owned the land where the resort now stands. Wheeler has offered to purchase the 100-acre ski area for $1.75 million, a decrease from the original asking price of $1.995 million. He plans to reopen the resort and relocate his other businesses, including sign manufacturing and auto repair, to the site.
However, Wheeler's attorney, John Petosa, cautioned that a reopening this coming winter season is unlikely. The resort would require significant time and financial investment—at least $2 million and several months—to become operational again. This includes refurbishing the property and potentially reinstalling lifts, as some equipment was reportedly stripped from the site after its closure.
The potential sale has been met with enthusiasm from the local community, many of whom have fond memories of the resort. Since its closure in 2021, a Facebook group called "Reopen Togg" has remained active, keeping the community informed about developments. The sudden closure of the resort, which had been in continuous operation since 1953, was a significant loss for local skiers and a popular community hub where many teens got their first jobs.
