Skiers take the lift to the top of Toggenburg Mountain on March 15, 2017.
Fabius, N.Y. — The state Attorney General’s Office is trying to force the sale of the Toggenburg Mountain ski resort after it was purchased and closed, creating what state officials say is a monopoly.
The resort in Fabius was bought by Intermountain Management (also known as SkiCNY.com) and then closed in 2021. The company also owns and operates two other nearby ski areas: Song Mountain in Tully and Labrador Mountain in Truxton.
The AG’s office claimed the company bought Toggenburg and closed it to create a monopoly in an anti-trust lawsuit filed in October 2022. The three resorts are less than 15 miles from each other.
Now, the AG’s office has filed a motion trying to force the sale of the ski resort, according to filings in State Supreme Court.
James’ lawsuit also said Intermountain went a step further to lockdown the ski and snowboard business around Syracuse when it restricted Toggenburg’s deed to block future owners from using it as a ski area.
The company also entered a non-compete agreement with Toggenburg’s owner before finalizing the buyout, the AG’s Office said. For $195,000 John Meier, who runs Greek Peak Mountain in Cortland County, said he would not hire any of Intermountain’s resort employees for five years.
Longtime fans of Toggenburg Mountain were saddened and angered by the announcement that the ski resort is closing.
James said that the contract was illegal. Meier has since agreed to pay the government the money he took in the deal, according to the AG’s Office.
Intermountain Management filed a motion this week claiming they did not conduct “unlawful anticompetitive conduct,” according to court filings.
Peter Harris, president of Intermountain Management, previously told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that there are not enough people to support the number of ski areas and resorts in the region and not a big enough workforce to support it either.
The Toggenburg had been part of Central New York’s winter sports scene since 1953 until its closure in 2021.
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or [email protected].
©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit syracuse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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