Okemo ski area is celebrating its 70th anniversary this season. But the story of Okemo goes back more than 70 years and some familiar names were involved.

In the early 1930s, Vermont State Forester Perry Merrill put the CCC to work developing a ski trail on the west side of Ludlow Mountain, also called Okemo Mountain. The Okemo Outing Club was formed and organized winter carnivals centered in Ludlow which included skiing events.

In 1935 the State of Vermont made a then-controversial purchase of 4000 acres that included Ludlow Mountain and would become the Okemo State Forest. In 1937 the Okemo Outing Club proposed cutting four ski trails and installing a ski tow on the Ludlow side of the mountain. It became a reality in March of 1938 and attracted hundreds of skiers. The tow was lengthened and a ski school added in subsequent seasons. However WWII would interrupt the operation.

In 1953 a group of Ludlow citizens began discussions with Perry Merrill about building a lift-served ski area on Ludlow Mountain. On January 7, 1955 Okemo Mountain, Inc. was incorporated with stock only available to Vermont residents and the purchase of 100 shares would get you a lifetime pass! The corporation purchased land on the lower mountain and got a commitment from the State of Vermont to lease an additional 4500 acres.

Trails and lifts were laid out by a team that included Charlie Lord of Stowe fame. Poma lifts were chosen both for cost and safety reasons. The Red Poma was over 6000 feet in length serving 1565 feet of vertical while the shorter Yellow Poma served the lower novice area. That Red Poma was the longest Poma lift in the United States at the time and must have been one Hell of a ride!

The new Okemo ski area had planned to open by Christmas for the 1955-56 season. However lack of snow would delay the opening until January 31, 1956. An estimated 1000 skiers were there for the opening weekend.

For its first 10 years Okemo continued to grow in terrain, lifts, and popularity. Although it earned the nickname “Poma Mountain” since all their lifts were surface lifts! Their first chairlift was added in 1965 kicking off their second decade. That decade would see more new chairlifts and the addition of snowmaking. It also saw the beginning of slopeside real estate development by Okemo which was earlier than most of the other eastern ski areas.

The 1970s were tough on ski areas and Okemo was no exception. Bad snow years and rising insurance costs put financial pressures on all ski areas. In the winter of 1979-80 Okemo’s upper mountain was only skiable for five days! The following winter was almost as bad. Okemo was $1.4 million in debt and the bank had stopped its line of credit.

Enter Dianne and Tim Mueller. The couple purchased Okemo Mountain Resort in 1982 after seeing a master plan for development and set out to transform Okemo into a premier winter sports destination. Under their leadership, the resort experienced tremendous growth and became known for its exceptional snowmaking, grooming, top-notch amenities, and warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Together they invested more than $100 million and added more than seventy new trails, one of the most extensive snowmaking systems in the east, three base villages, and a championship 18-hole golf course. They achieved skier visits that put Okemo in the top twenty nationally by 1996 and the top three in Vermont in 2001. Acquiring two nearby golf courses and the development of Jackson Gore Village and Adventure Center made Okemo a successful year-round resort.

In 2018 the Mueller’s sold Okemo Mountain Resort to Vail Resorts along with two other resorts that the Muellers owned, Sunapee Mountain Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.

As history shows, Okemo and the town of Ludlow have always had a close relationship. So understandably Vail’s acquisition raises concerns. However in July 2023 when Ludlow experienced devastating flooding, Okemo opened its inn to displaced residents, cooked meals, and sent machinery to clear debris.

Walter Frey had the answer that “Okemo” has been translated from its Native American origins as “All Come Home.” It’s debatable whether that’s an actual translation, but for the decades that so many skiers have called Okemo home, it seems appropriate!