Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Vermont has new owners.
Officials with the ski resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont announced on social media yesterday that they are entering into a new ownership agreement with Bear Den Partners, which purchased Vermont’s Burke Mountain last year. The Bear Den ownership team includes the family the owns Berkshire East in western Massachusetts.
The new ownership arrangement includes a partnership with the Stritzler family. William Stritzler has owned and operated Smuggler’s Notch for the past 29 years. The Stritzler family will continue to have an ownership stake and William’s daughter Lisa will serve as an advisor on the future of the mountain.
“We were intentional about finding an operator who truly understands what makes Smuggs special,” said Stritzler. “We sought out Bear Den Partners as an equity partner because they share our belief that this resort is about families, employees, and community, not trends or shortcuts. This transition is about continuity and stewardship, and we’re confident Smuggs is in the right hands.”
Bear Den Partners is led by lifelong Vermont skier and investment professional Ken Graham, Chairman of Bear Den Partners, and ski industry veteran Jon Schaefer, who serves as CEO. In 2025, Bear Den acquired Burke Mountain in Vermont, where the Graham family have been skiers and community members for over 50 years. The Schaefer family also owns and operates Berkshire East and Catamount Mountain Resort in western Massachusetts.
“Smuggs represents everything we believe skiing and riding should be,” said Jon Schaefer, CEO of Bear Den Partners. “This is not about changing Smuggs, it’s about supporting what already works, investing thoughtfully, and protecting the experience that families have cherished for generations. It goes without saying that the terrain at Smugglers’ Notch is some of the best in the east, and the resort receives some of the most snowfall east of the Rockies.”
