Featured Image: Burke Mountain Resort. Provided by Burke Mountain Academy.
After four years of planning, Bear Den Partners (BDP) has officially acquired Burke Mountain Resort in East Burke, Vermont, ushering in a new era of local ownership and a renewed commitment to ski racing. As part of the sale, Burke Mountain Academy (BMA) has also become a minority owner of the mountain.
Now in trusted hands, the 72-year-old resort—having experienced multiple ownership changes and weathered a past scandal—enters a new chapter of stability and renewal.
Jon Schaefer, CEO of Bear Den Partners, stated, “At Bear Den Partners (BDP), we’re holding the line against that type of corporate operation. We feel the same love, loyalty, and pride you do for Burke. We’re just so maniacally committed to fixing the resort that we bought it!”
BDP promises and has already shown that they are hitting the ground running.
Burke Mountain Academy celebrates this purchase as a pivotal step in emerging from receivership, entering a new era, and advancing the future of ski racing.
Willy Booker, the Head of School for Burke Mountain Academy, explained, “It’s been a long, long road to get to this point, but without question, the best outcome we could have ever hoped for, so that’s awesome. There’s a sense of relief and a lot of excitement.”
Bear Den Partners and Their Commitment to Burke
Bear Den Partners is a group of passionate skiers, snowboarders, bikers, and mountain sport enthusiasts. They love Burke, recognize its growth potential, and care deeply about the town and region.
They see Burke as a unique haven for mountain sports lovers seeking an authentic alternative to crowded, corporate-run resorts. Together, the partners bring over 100 years of experience exploring and enjoying Burke Mountain.
The two families that own BDP and made this purchase together are the Graham family and the Schaefer family.
In short, the Graham family purchased Burke Mountain Resort in 2000 as a defensive move to prevent its permanent closure. For decades, they have been long-standing supporters of both Burke Mountain and Burke Mountain Academy. The Schaefer family—owners and operators of Berkshire East, Catamount, Big Red Cats, and creators of Thunder Mountain Bike Park—brings more than 70 years of experience in the ski industry.
Off the bat, the group has committed to refining operations, upgrading systems, ensuring the staff has the tools to achieve success, and overall, improving what people love to do at ski resorts.
Ken Graham, chair and co-founder of BDP and a 1981 graduate of Burke Mountain Academy, stated that they are prepared and coming in swinging.
A Deep Investment in Ski Racing
BDP is committed to ensuring that Burke remains a welcoming destination for ski racers, a rarity in today’s landscape. Together, the academy and BDP are collaborating to secure long-term training opportunities, enhance facilities, and ensure that ski racing continues to prosper at Burke for many years ahead.
Ken Graham and John Schaefer were both alpine ski racers, so they deeply understand the sport; they continuously support it and recognize the niche needs it requires to thrive.
Booker emphasized, “Now we have an ownership group that understands what ski racing really is.”
The First Order of Business Elevates BMA’s Program
Ken Graham stated, “Our first focus in the capital improvement plan is to nearly triple our snowmaking capacity in time for the 2025/2026 ski season.”
A longer ski racing season can greatly enhance programs around the globe. Therefore, BDP’s commitment to improving the snowmaking infrastructure will play a crucial role in extending the season for BMA.
Booker stated, “BDP’s infrastructure improvements that are going to be made at the mountain will support all types of skiers, including ski racers. Most significantly, the snowmaking capacity.”
He continued, “The money that’s being invested in snowmaking right now is going to have an immediate impact on our ability to train in the early season and hopefully in the late season. This will give us more training access at home. It will also extend to a lot of other racers in this region, especially teams that train at Burke on a regular basis.”
Burke is a U.S. Ski and Snowboard-designated regional development site, and collegiate athletes regularly depend on the venue to practice. The extended access to this facility will improve training efficiency and offer higher-level athletes a greater variety of options.
Additionally, Burke Mountain Resort has solid water rights in place, but right now, it’s only using about a quarter of the amount it’s allowed to draw. That means there’s plenty of room to ramp up snowmaking without putting any extra strain on the water source, which is promising for the entire future of operations.
BMA Continues to Work On Enhancements at the Academy
The academy understands the hardships of the ski racing industry and education. They recognize the importance of paying their teachers fairly and making the program as affordable as possible in an economic landscape that makes it challenging.
One significant way they are trying to combat these issues is by providing campus housing.
Booker explained, “We’ve more than doubled our faculty and staff housing in the last eight years.” He continued, “We still have plans to increase even more, with the goal of having 100% of our staff living on campus.”
Booker is confident that BDP will support his goals to continue to make the town and academy economically feasible for the athletes and staff alike.
Booker firmly believes that independently owning a mountain helps the ski racing industry in the long term.
“I believe independently owned mountains will support ski racing in the long term, which plays a crucial role in sustaining the ski racing ecosystem. Few resorts truly welcome or support ski racers.”
Ken and John have expressed their deep passion and dedication to the ski racing industry through various statements drawn from their extensive experience in the sport.
The acquisition of Burke Mountain Resort by BDP, with Burke Mountain Academy as a minority owner, marks a fresh start rooted in shared values and a passion for skiing.
Committed leadership, major infrastructure investments, and a deep focus on ski racing position the resort for long-term success. This new chapter promises stability, growth, and a renewed sense of community, ensuring Burke remains a home for mountain sports and athlete development for years to come.
Please join Burke Mountain Academy and Bear Den Partners on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Burke Mountain Hotel for a community celebration marking this exciting new chapter for Burke Mountain.
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
