Whaleback Mountain
Whaleback Mountain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community ski and snowboard area in Enfield, New Hampshire, operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation. It offers affordable lift-served skiing, lessons, rentals, night skiing, summer camp, and events to Upper Valley residents and regional visitors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersEnfield, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Whaleback Mountain does
Whaleback Mountain is a community-owned, 501(c)(3) nonprofit ski and snowboard area operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (founded 2013, EIN 46-2741734) on a mountain originally established in 1968 in Enfield, New Hampshire. The resort serves families, youth, adult learners, uphill/backcountry enthusiasts, and event clients in the Upper Valley region spanning New Hampshire and Vermont, with a mission of affordable, accessible snow sports access regardless of ability to pay.
The business operates a traditional ski resort stack: lift-served downhill skiing and snowboarding on the mountain itself, with standard snowmaking, grooming, and rental shop infrastructure, complemented by night skiing Tuesday through Friday, an alpine touring and splitboard uphill program, and an extensive lesson portfolio covering children as young as 2.5 through adults, including women's and non-binary skills programming. Summer operations extend the asset with the Whale Camp day camp for children ages 5-10, Friday Family Night event series, and a ticketed summer concert calendar.
Revenue is generated through seven streams: lift tickets (weekday adults $20, weekend/holiday adults $50), season passes (with early-bird 2026-27 on sale), equipment rentals ($45-50/day packages), private and group lessons ($120/hour private), food and beverage through the Spouter Lounge, event hosting in lodge and deck facilities, and donations including sustaining monthly giving and planned gifts. Distribution combines on-site sales, an e-commerce storefront at estore.whaleback.com, and partnerships with Indy Pass, Uphill New England, and approximately eight reciprocal partner mountains across the Northeast. The go-to-market motion is community- and event-driven, anchored by free Upper Valley resident ski days, the Fall Flannel Fest fundraiser (raising ~$30K in 2023), and earned media coverage including a 2024 Boston.com / Men's Journal recognition as one of two best "mom 'n pop" ski resorts in New England.
Whaleback Mountain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Whaleback Mountain
- Legal name
- Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation
- Website
- https://whaleback.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Whaleback Mountain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community ski and snowboard area in Enfield, New Hampshire, operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation. It offers affordable lift-served skiing, lessons, rentals, night skiing, summer camp, and events to Upper Valley residents and regional visitors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Whaleback Mountain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ski Resort Operations
- NAICS
- Skiing Facilities (71392), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ski Areas & Lift Operations (Independent Mountains) (THAAAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing) (THAAAJAD), Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities) (THAAAAAK)
Keywords
Where Whaleback Mountain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Enfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Whaleback Mountain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Lift Tickets: Day lift tickets sold at varying price points based on weekday/weekend, time of day, and age category. Weekend adult tickets are $50, weekday adult tickets are $20. Half-day twilight tickets available for $20.
- Season Passes: Annual and multi-season passes providing unlimited access to the resort. Early bird season passes for 2026-27 season currently on sale. Partner pass programs offer reciprocal access at partner mountains.
- Equipment Rentals: Ski and snowboard rental packages for adults ($50/day) and children ($45/day). Individual component rentals available (skis only, boots only, helmets). Backcountry equipment rentals for AT and splitboard touring.
- Ski and Snowboard Lessons: Group lessons, private lessons, and multi-week skills development programs. Private lessons priced at $120/hour, $170/2 hours, $210/4 hours. Additional guests charged $15 each. Season pass holders and community members receive priority access.
- Summer Camp Programs: Day camp programs for children ages 5-10 running during summer months. Camp includes nature exploration, wilderness education, arts & crafts, sports, and water activities. Financial aid available for qualifying families.
- Food and Beverage: On-mountain food service through the Spouter Lounge pub and cafe. Alcohol service, hot food, and beverages available during operating hours. Catering services for private events.
- Event Hosting: Venue rental for private events including weddings, reunions, corporate meetings. Facility accommodates events in upstairs lodge (40' x 50'), downstairs (40' x 30'), and outdoor deck spaces. Catering and beverage service available.
- Donations and Community Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Whaleback relies on charitable donations from individuals and corporate partners. Donation programs include one-time gifts, sustaining monthly donations, and planned giving through estate planning. EIN 46-2741734.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend/Holiday Lift Tickets |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Weekday Lift Tickets (Mon-Fri) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Military Pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Uphill Day Pass |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ski Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Snowboard Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lessons |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Event Ticket Sales |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Whaleback Mountain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Whaleback Mountain operates a nonprofit ski and snowboard area offering lift-served alpine skiing and snowboarding, youth and adult lessons, equipment rentals and tuning, night skiing, a summer day camp, and event hosting. The mountain is operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) and focuses on accessible, affordable, and inclusive winter recreation for families, beginners, and the Upper Valley community in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Product overview
Whaleback Mountain operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community ski area in Enfield, NH offering a comprehensive portfolio of snow sports products and services. The core offerings include lift tickets and season passes providing ski/snowboard access, complemented by extensive youth and adult learning programs (Lil Skippers, Beluga Explorers, GNARwhals, adult lessons). Summer operations feature Whale Camp day camp for children ages 5-10 and Friday Family Night event series. Additional services include equipment rentals, uphill passes for alpine touring, night skiing, event hosting, financial aid programs, and charitable giving options. The resort functions as a year-round community gathering place supported by corporate partnerships and donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Day Lift Tickets Day-of access to lift-served skiing and snowboarding at Whaleback Mountain, available to individual guests and walk-up visitors, with tiered pricing for children, students, adults, and seniors.
- Season Passes Subscription-style passes providing multi-visit or unlimited access to Whaleback Mountain throughout the winter season, sold in tiered categories by age and household composition.
- Night Skiing and Riding Evening lift-served skiing and snowboarding on illuminated trails, sold as a separately ticketed offering during designated nights of the ski season.
- Ski and Snowboard Lessons (Youth) Group and private ski and snowboard instruction for children and teens, delivered through the youth learning center, including development programs such as the Mountain Force Team.
- Ski and Snowboard Lessons (Adult) Group and private ski and snowboard instruction for adults, ranging from first-time beginners to intermediate skiers seeking technique improvement.
- Equipment Rentals and Tuning Rental of skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets for guests, plus tuning and repair services for personal equipment.
- Whale Camp (Summer Day Camp) Supervised summer day-camp programming for children at the mountain during the off-season from winter operations, including outdoor activities and on-mountain experiences.
- Uphill Pass Pass product granting designated uphill access to Whaleback Mountain for human-powered skiing and touring on permitted routes, including inclusive ski touring options.
- Thursday Night Race League
Quantifiable outcome
- Fall Flannel Fest 2023 raised nearly $30,000 with over 100 attendees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Whaleback Mountain
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Whaleback Mountain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Whaleback Mountain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Indy PasscoreWhaleback is a full Indy Pass Resort Partner. Season pass holders get access to Indy Pass pricing add-ons, and Indy Pass holders can ski/ride at Whaleback with their passes. This partnership expands customer acquisition reach to Indy Pass's national membership.
- Uphill New EnglandcoreUphill passes sold through Uphill New England platform. Provides unlimited uphill skiing/riding at Whaleback plus 11 other resorts: Berkshire East, Big Moose Mountain, Black Mountain of Maine, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Dartmouth Skiway, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Mt. Abram Ski Resort, Saddleback Maine, Tenney Mountain, Waterville Valley Resort.
- Tecnica Group (Nordica/Blizzard)coreMajor equipment partner providing ski and snowboard products. Logo displayed on partners page. Tecnica Group brands include Nordica and Blizzard.
- Fiddlehead Brewing CompanyminorLocal brewery sponsor of Thursday Night Race League and Upper Valley Free Day events. Provides promotional support and brand association.
- Lawson's Finest LiquidsminorVermont brewery sponsor of Adam Ezra Group concert. $1 off all Lawson's draft beers during the show.
- Dartmouth HealthminorDH Under The Lights event sponsor. Dartmouth Health Office of DEIB, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Dartmouth Children's, Geisel School of Medicine DICE sponsored the event for employees and families.
- Hilton Garden Inn Hanover/LebanonminorEvent sponsor for Adam Ezra Group concert and Okkervil River benefit concert. Provides promotional support for ticketed events.
- Henderson Ski & SnowboardminorEquipment partner providing extra rentals for DH Under The Lights event. Helps accommodate overflow demand when Whaleback's rental shop sells out.
- Dartmouth SkiwayminorPartner mountain offering Whaleback season pass holders 50% off ticket window day passes. Dartmouth-owned ski area in Lyme, NH.
- Ragged MountainminorPartner mountain in Danbury, NH. Weekday: 50% off retail ticket rates, Weekends: 25% off. Excludes holiday/blackout dates.
- Pats PeakminorPartner mountain in Henniker, NH included in Whaleback season pass reciprocal discount program.
- PlattekillminorPartner mountain in Roxbury, NY. 50% off non-holiday weekdays, 30% off non-holiday weekends for Whaleback pass holders.
- Magic MountainminorPartner mountain in Londonderry, VT. Whaleback pass holders eligible for $59 adult and $44 youth tickets Thursday, Friday, Sunday non-holidays.
- Bretton WoodsminorPartner mountain in Carroll, NH. 15% off purchase of full day Adult, Teen, or Junior lift ticket. Valid any day except blackout dates.
- Inclusive Ski TouringcoreIST runs Open To All Program at Whaleback with no-drop tours every Sunday. Program fosters inclusivity in ski community with modest program cost and onsite equipment rental options. Participants require uphill season pass or day pass from Whaleback.
- Upper Valley Land TrustminorCo-beneficiary of Okkervil River benefit concert. Joint community organizations supporting Upper Valley region.
- Golf & Ski WarehouseminorEquipment retailer partner. Logo displayed on partners page.
- J SkisminorSki manufacturer sponsor of Pride Celebration with Joslyn Fox event.
- Dutille's Jewelry Design StudiominorLocal business partner. Logo displayed on partners page.
- MK WoodworksminorLocal custom woodwork business partner. Logo displayed on partners page.
- Carpet Mill USAminorLocal flooring retailer partner. Logo displayed on partners page.
- CasellaminorWaste management services partner. Logo displayed on partners page.
- SteeplechaseminorPartner in Mazeppa, MN. Whaleback pass holders eligible for 3 free days (one per day per pass holder).
- Mont EdouardminorPartner in Quebec, Canada. Whaleback pass holders eligible for free day pass.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Whaleback Mountain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Saddleback Maine: Independent ski area in Rangeley, ME that reopened under community/local-investor ownership with a mission-driven model — fellow Uphill New England partner and directly comparable as a non-corporate, mission-driven independent mountain in Northern New England.
- Berkshire East Mountain Resort: Family-owned, independent ski area in Charlemont, MA with lift operations, learning programs, night skiing, and tubing — fellow Uphill New England partner and comparable in scale, customer focus, and event-driven GTM.
- Dartmouth Skiway: College-owned community ski area in Lyme, NH focused on affordable access, learning programs, and Upper Valley residents — directly overlaps Whaleback's mission, geography (Lyme is in the Upper Valley catchment), and partner-pass offering.
- Bolton Valley Resort: Independent, family-oriented ski resort in Bolton, VT with learning programs, night skiing, backcountry access, and event hosting — fellow Uphill New England partner offering a similar mix of affordable community skiing and multi-segment programming.
- Magic Mountain: Independent ski area in Londonderry, VT known for a community/indie ethos, terrain parks, and event programming — listed as a Whaleback partner mountain for reciprocal discounts and serves a comparable Southern VT regional audience.
- Bromley Mountain: Family-owned independent ski resort in Peru, VT with learning programs, night skiing, and summer adventure activities — Uphill New England partner and structurally similar to Whaleback in being a multi-season, family-oriented independent mountain.
- Tenney Mountain: Small independent ski area in Plymouth, NH with lift operations, night skiing, learning programs, and event hosting — also part of the Uphill New England 12-resort network alongside Whaleback and structurally very similar in scale and target market.
- Pats Peak: Independent, family-friendly ski area in Henniker, NH with day tickets, learning programs, night skiing, and terrain parks — Whaleback is a reciprocal partner-mountain pass holder, making it the most direct peer in scale, geography, and target customer.
- Ragged Mountain Resort: Independent ski area in Danbury, NH operating lift-served terrain, learning programs, and tubing — directly listed as a Whaleback partner mountain for reciprocal discounts, serving a similar southern NH day-trip market.
Others
Market position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Whaleback Mountain social profiles
Digital presenceWhaleback Mountain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Whaleback Mountain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Whaleback Mountain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Whaleback Mountain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Whaleback Mountain
What does Whaleback Mountain do?
Whaleback Mountain operates a nonprofit ski and snowboard area offering lift-served alpine skiing and snowboarding, youth and adult lessons, equipment rentals and tuning, night skiing, a summer day camp, and event hosting. The mountain is operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) and focuses on accessible, affordable, and inclusive winter recreation for families, beginners, and the Upper Valley community in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Is Whaleback Mountain a public or private company?
Whaleback Mountain is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Whaleback Mountain founded?
Whaleback Mountain was founded in 1968. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Whaleback Mountain based?
Whaleback Mountain is headquartered in Enfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Whaleback Mountain make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Lift Tickets are the primary driver. The others are season Passes, equipment Rentals, ski and Snowboard Lessons, summer Camp Programs, food and Beverage, event Hosting and donations and Community Support.
Who are Whaleback Mountain's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Saddleback Maine, Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Dartmouth Skiway, Bolton Valley Resort, Magic Mountain, Bromley Mountain, Tenney Mountain, Pats Peak and Ragged Mountain Resort. Waterville Valley Resort is listed as an others.
Does Whaleback Mountain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Whaleback Mountain.
What industry is Whaleback Mountain in?
Whaleback Mountain's product category is Ski Resort Operations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAJAB, Ski Areas & Lift Operations (Independent Mountains), with a secondary code of THAAAJAD, Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing). Its NAICS code is 71392 and its SIC code is 7000.