Reflecting on MRG’s Land Acquisition

Over the past few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to see Mad River Glen acquire the parcel of land affectionately known as the “20th Hole.” For many people it may seem like a simple real estate transaction, but for those of us who have been connected to the mountain and this community for a long time, it represents something much deeper.

I spent 24 years working at Mad River Glen. During that time I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the remarkable commitment of the Cooperative’s shareholders, staff, volunteers, and supporters. Mad River Glen has always been more than a ski area. It is a living example of what happens when a community decides that some things are worth protecting.

Seeing this land acquisition come together fills me with an enormous sense of pride. Not only because of the work that went into making it happen today, but because it reflects decades of stewardship, vision, and belief in a different way of doing things. Many people—across many years—helped build the foundation that made this moment possible.

The Mad River Glen Cooperative is one of the defining facets of the Mad River Valley. Its independence and its commitment to preserving the mountain experience embody the spirit of this place. In a world where so many ski areas have become corporate commodities, Mad River Glen stands apart as something rare: a community-owned mountain guided by shared values rather than outside interests.

Protecting the land that shapes that experience matters. It matters for the skiers who treasure the mountain, for the wildlife that calls this landscape home, and for the generations who will come here in the future looking for something authentic.

This acquisition is also a reminder of what our community is capable of when people work together around a shared vision. The leadership of the Stark Mountain Foundation, the Cooperative Board, Mad River Glen staff, and the many donors and volunteers who supported this effort deserve tremendous credit.

As someone who spent a significant chapter of my life on that mountain, I feel incredibly proud to see this milestone reached. It reinforces something many of us have always known: Mad River Glen is not just a ski area. It is part of the identity of the Mad River Valley.

This is something our entire community should be celebrating.

Congratulations, and thank you, to the Mad River Glen community for continuing to protect and steward something truly special.

Eric Friedman
Executive Director – MRV Chamber of Commerce