Green Story

Originally founded in 1938 as Pleasant Mountain, Shawnee Peak is Maine’s longest continually running family ski park. In 1988 Pleasant Mountain was purchased by Shawnee Mountain, a Pennsylvania ski company, and renamed Shawnee Peak. In 1994, it was purchased by current owner Chet Homer, and has since remained a decidedly family-owned and run operation.

Servicing over 135,000 skiers every year, Shawnee Peak has long been one of New England’s most popular and well attended ski resorts. Half of their 240 acres and 40 ski runs are lit at night, making it an attraction for families and students from all over New England.

But what really sets Shawnee Peak apart from the competition is their growing list of green initiatives. For instance, they recently purchased a fleet of super-efficient snow guns, which allow them to cover 98 percent of the property even when the snow isn’t falling, all while cutting their fuel consumption for the machines by two-thirds. What’s more, instead of using on-site, man-made holding ponds to create their snow – pretty much the standard in the industry – Shawnee Peak makes use of the nearby Moose Pond. At the end of every season, the melted snow simply runs back down into the pond, making it a truly unique way of recycling.

The last few years have seen Shawnee Peak drastically reduce their fuel consumption, as well as having invested in more efficient boilers to heat the lodge area. On top of the requisite comprehensive recycling program, the lodge also makes use of natural lighting, as well as housing super-efficient foam insulation in their walls. All lighting on the premises is high-efficiency CFL, and their paperless hand dryers and motion detectors help reduce even further their overall carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the parking lot includes a special front row which is reserved exclusively for hybrid vehicles. Even the staff jackets were bought from fellow GA Business Partner Earthtec Outfitters, and are made primarily from recycled plastic bottles.

Beyond their impressive green efforts, Shawnee also boasts an incredible history of community involvement. They offer free passes for the families of those actively serving in our military, as well having made significant contributions to the Loon Echo Land Trust and Maine Children’s Cancer Program. They also work closely with organizations ranging from the Boys and Girls Club to school districts throughout the region, allowing children to ski at discounted rates during the school week.

If there’s one industry that knows well the potential pitfalls of climate change, it’s the ski industry. Luckily, Shawnee Peak has gone a long way in proving that theirs is an industry ready to embrace the solutions to help keep people on the slopes.