07/23/2026
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Letter from the GM: Yes.
All of us at Entabeni and Indy Pass have been busy moving across the country to our new home at Black Mountain. As more and more people and equipment start to fill the parking lot, my attention has constantly been drawn to the other side of the lot, where the Shovel Handle Pub and Whitney's Inn stand.
The Whitney's Inn is a historic property that has been welcoming guests in some form since 1842. 184 years of hospitality make Black Mountainâs 91 ski seasons seem almost elementary. Black Mountainâs pioneering birth is almost certainly owed to this historic propertyâs longstanding welcoming nature.
I have always thought the Whitney's, the Shovel Handle Pub, and Black Mountain should operate under common direction and ownership. These properties perfectly complement each other. I firmly believe that independent ski areas need multiple revenue streams in order to stay viable and affordable. From the first day of my involvement at Black Mountain, I have tried to make that a reality. Whitneyâs latest ownership group finally said yes.
I am happy to announce that we have completed the purchase of the entire 12-acre property at the base of Black Mountain. It includes the Whitney's Inn, the Shovel Handle Pub, and the source and storage of our snowmaking water supply. For the first time in almost 50 years, the properties will again be under common ownership and purpose. But this is not an opportunity to bulldoze the inn and its history. Never should it be replaced with tasteless condominiums in the hope of short-term real estate returns. You wonât see fancy master plans and press releases here. Instead, this is an opportunity to build an authentic home for Entabeni and the Indy Pass at the base of Black Mountain.
We will continue to operate the historic inn and restaurant with the same passion and investment we have given Black Mountain. But we will not just operate; we must also innovate here. This opportunity to build technology solutions for a hotel, restaurant, and ski area should not be overlooked or understated. I believe we now have all the businesses, tools, people, and motivation to build meaningful solutions that I hope will help keep skiing independent and accessible at Black Mountain and beyond.
As I have begun building my own life here, I have met many new people. It has been a privilege to meet all sorts of guests, passholders, neighbors, business owners, and leaders from around the Mount Washington Valley and across New England. I genuinely enjoy the front-line aspect of my work and life. One person that I have met on this journey sticks out.
After leading a playful torchlight parade and a rowdy fireworks display this past New Yearâs Eve, I walked into the base lodge and was introduced to Ashley by common friends. I had very little gas left in the tank after an exhausting and well-documented struggle with all our chair lifts that week. After very little small talk, we got straight into the most important questions: âWhat are you looking for?â âHave you been married?â âDo you hope to be married?â âDo you have kids?â âDo you want kids?â âDo you ski, or do you snowboard?â We aligned on everything except that she was a snowboarder. Confident in my ski instruction capabilities, I asked Ashley on a date. She said yes.
Blame it on the Champagne, but I fired up the snowcat, and we went on that first date 5 minutes later. We spent the very end of 2025 and the very beginning of 2026 at the Alpine Cabin. We chatted for hours about what we had done so far in life and what we aspired to do in the future. Not wanting our first date to end, we took the snowcat back down the mountain to my house. Despite my best efforts, we woke up my visiting parents. In just a few hours of knowing each other, we had gone on both a first date and shared a very awkward âmeet my parentsâ moment.
Over the next 6 months, Ashley stepped into all the adventures that come with running Black Mountain. Most of our dates continued to include snowcats, and some of our favorite solo time spent together ended up being overnight snowmaking runs. There is something special about 2 am rides on the double chair and walking from snow gun to snow gun down the mountain under starry skies. While I wouldnât call it quiet, these were some of the most peaceful hours we have spent together.
When I struggled with the decision to keep Black Mountain and possibly pivot the business and my life here, there was no one more supportive and accepting of either option. It was through that process that I realized, for the first time in my life, that it didnât matter where I was. What mattered much more was who I was with.
On the 4th of July, Ashley and I were enjoying another peaceful ride on the Summit Double together. Only this time, I had a ring and a very important question.
She said yes.
Thanks for being here.
Erik Mogensen
President and General Manager
Black Mountain Community Corporation
