The end of American Skiing Company

Almost a year after trying to dissolve itself and having sold off all but one resort, The American Skiing Company is finally laid to rest with the sale of The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah to resort developer Talisker. While the sale faced legal challenges from the owner of much of the land the Canyons rests on as well as stiff anti-trust opposition from bidder Vail Resorts, the sale agreement has been reached and the company that both changed the landscape of ski resort ownership and at the same time angered many skiers and riders, is no more. Sunday River and Sugarloaf, both in Maine were sold last June to Boyne USA of Michigan. The American Skiing Company was founded by former Sunday River owner, Leslie B. Otten, who had quickly developed several resorts in the east and a handful out west. In 2001, ASC was the largest operator of ski resorts in the United States, but when the company went public to attempt to raise capital for rising investment costs, they were struck with less than favorable weather conditions and began a long downhill slide.