VIRGIL — Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Virgil and Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius are now operating under the ownership of one family. John and Christine Meier of Elmira and their family are now the sole owners of both Central New York ski areas. John Meier had owned 50 percent with a business partner for six […]
VIRGIL — Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Virgil and Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius are now operating under the ownership of one family.
John and Christine Meier of Elmira and their family are now the sole owners of both Central New York ski areas.
John Meier had owned 50 percent with a business partner for six years until the Meier family acquired the partner’s 50 percent interest in November. With the transaction, the Meier family assumed controlling interest of the two Central New York ski areas.
Terms of the buyout deal weren’t included in the Dec. 16 news release.
Meier and business partner, Marc Stemerman, also of Elmira, bought Greek Peak for about $7.5 million in 2013.
Meier and Stemerman have invested more than $10 million in the two businesses since 2013. They bought Greek Peak out of bankruptcy in 2013 and purchased Toggenburg in 2015.
“We have invested $10 million into Greek Peak in the last six years, with 95 percent of the improvements being on the ski side,” said John Meier, who is also president of Meier Industries in Elmira. “I believe in investing in the mountain. Snowmaking and grooming equipment, pumphouses, lifts, trails and all of the associated infrastructure, both above and below ground, are what separates us from any other ski area in the region.
John and Christine Meier, who have been skiing at Greek Peak for more than 30 years, are “excited” about the future of the two ski areas.
“I think becoming the 100 percent equity owners of Greek Peak will give a unifying vision around the direction of the resort moving forward,” John Meier said. “We are a family of skiers and snow sports are near and dear to our hearts. We live the brand.”
About the ski areas
Greek Peak is a year-round, 1,400-acre resort with attractions “for all seasons” that include Hope Lake Lodge, Cascades Indoor Water Park, Outdoor Adventure Center, and Waterfalls Spa.
Greek Peak has 220 skiable acres with six ski lifts, 60 trails, night and cross-country skiing, and tubing.
Toggenburg has 20 trails, five lifts, and a tubing center.
“We acquired Toggenburg because it is the go-to ski area in the Syracuse market and we offer reciprocal season passes between Greek Peak and Toggenburg,” John Meier said.
The two ski areas are located about a 40-minute drive from each other.
Greek Peak Mountain Resort is open year-round, while Toggenburg Mountain opens during the winter months. They attract visitors from the Syracuse area and the wider Central New York region; along with Elmira, Binghamton, and Ithaca in the Southern Tier; as well as the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
“Having raised our children as skiers at Greek Peak from the time they were toddlers, Greek Peak is a lifestyle for us — getting fresh air in the winter, doing outdoor activities year-round, unplugging and spending quality time together has been the best thing that we could do for our family and we’ve had a blast while doing it,” said Christine Meier. “We were customers long before we were owners, so we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to guide the future of the two mountains.”