Industry News
After being on the market for four years, White Pine Ski Area in Pinedale, Wyoming, has been officially sold to billionaire Joe Ricketts, the founder and former CEO of TD Ameritrade and the owner of the Chicago Cubs. The resort’s previous owners, Alan and Robyn Blackburn, expressed a mix of emotions over the sale.
“Selling White Pine is bittersweet for us. I’ll miss being such a big part of the heart of Sublette County, but feel tremendous peace with transferring ownership to Joe because I know he shares my ultimate goal of keeping the Resort as such a strong and dependable part of the community.”
— Alan Blackburn
The Blackburns chose Ricketts because they believed in his capability and dedication to revitalizing the resort. This includes plans to restore facilities damaged by a fire in 2019 and potentially expand the ski season by investing in snowmaking, assuming he can get approval from the US Service Forest. Ricketts stated his “hope is to ensure that White Pine remains a strong part of the community and continues the tradition of serving local residents.”
White Pine has been the center of the community in Sublette County since 1940 when it first opened, offering just under 30 runs, a tubing hill, lodging, and cross country trails. The resort is not only a winter sports destination but also supports year-round recreational activities such as horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. The local community has been cautiously optimistic about the resort’s future under Ricketts’ ownership. While some residents are excited about the potential for new investments and improvements, others are wary about changes that might alter the character of the ski resort and surrounding town.
