Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center, once a beloved family-owned destination in Fabius, New York, holds a significant place in the hearts of Central New York skiers and riders. Nestled just off NY Route 80, one mile east of the Village of Fabius, Toggenburg, affectionately known as "Togg," was renowned for its friendly atmosphere and well-maintained facilities.
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A Family-Friendly Mountain
Toggenburg was a clean and well-maintained ski area and lodge. With a vertical drop of 760 feet, the trails catered to a variety of skill levels: 25% easiest, 50% more difficult, and 25% most difficult. Two double chairs located right outside the lodge provided quick access to the slopes.
The ski school was well-run, and an active ski patrol ensured safety on the mountain. Many package options were available for families, offering ski lessons and all-day supervision for young children. Nastar provided club racing and a timed course for those seeking a competitive edge.
Ticket prices were competitive for the area, with discounts available through ski clubs or preseason pass purchases at area ski shows. The terrain park was thoughtfully designed and not overly regulated, adding to the mountain's appeal for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. This all made Togg a fun place for families.
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Amenities and Dining
Toggenburg had 21 trails, including two terrain parks, serviced by five lifts. The Foggy Goggle Restaurant and Sports Bar was acclaimed as one of Central New York’s finer eateries. The restaurant offered a diverse menu, featuring standard sports bar fare alongside unique specials like oysters, Thai shrimp creations, and free-range lamb burgers. The Chili won many awards and the buffalo blue cheeseburger with shore string onion rings was always a hit. The cafeteria has the normal choices and food is better than most others.
For those needing to stay connected, Toggenburg offered wi-fi in the cafeteria and mezzanine.
Ownership Changes and Closure
In 2015, the owners of Greek Peak purchased Toggenburg. However, in July 2021, they sold the mountain to Intermountain, the owners of Song Mountain and Labrador. Included in that sale was a covenant that dictated that Toggenburg could no longer be operated as a ski area. In addition there was a stipulation that employees of Togg couldn’t be employed by Intermountain. This decision was met with dismay by skiers and riders in Central NY. At this time Toggenburg remains closed.
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Legal Battles and Antitrust Allegations
The closure of Toggenburg led to legal action. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Intermountain, alleging it illegally created a monopoly in the Syracuse market, causing skiers to suffer higher prices and more crowded mountains and facilities due to the lack of competition. In addition, Attorney General James alleged that Intermountain’s “no-poach” provision, which prevented Toggenburg’s owners from hiring Intermountain employees, was anticompetitive and illegal.
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The lawsuit alleged that Intermountain partners Peter Harris and Richard Sykes collaborated on the anticompetitive scheme to buy Toggenburg and establish their monopoly for years, approaching Toggenburg’s owner John Meier repeatedly, inviting him to drinks at private social clubs, meals at local restaurants, and even staging a “faux buy” where they approached him through a third party.
In a ruling granting the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) motion for summary judgment, the court found both of Intermountain’s anticompetitive tactics violated New York’s antitrust law.
“Syracuse skiing families and workers long benefited from fierce competition among their local ski mountains, but this experience went downhill fast after Intermountain bought Toggenburg,” said Attorney General James. “Intermountain paid a premium price to destroy competition because its owners knew they could raise prices and profit more with a monopoly. Now Intermountain’s anticompetitive scheme is put on ice. I will always take action to protect consumers and workers from corporate monopolies who try to profit by shutting down the competition.”
The court found that Intermountain purchased and shut down Toggenburg to drive up its profits by eliminating choice for consumers. The court also found that the “no-poach” agreement lacked any valid justification, and instead was meant to suppress competition.
The court announced that further proceedings would be scheduled to decide the appropriate remedy for Intermountain’s anticompetitive conduct.
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Hope for Reopening
The sale of Toggenburg Mountain is currently actualizing, with plans for the New York ski area to eventually reopen. A deal is in the works to sell and potentially reopen the long-shuttered Toggenburg Mountain ski resort in Fabius, New York, after years of legal wrangling over its closure.
Wheeler, a Fabius resident whose great-grandfather once owned the land where Toggenburg sits, has made several previous attempts to buy the mountain. During a trial earlier this summer, he testified that he plans to reopen the resort and relocate his other businesses-such as sign manufacturing and auto repair-to the site.
Justice Antonacci has not issued a formal order for the sale but indicated he will weigh Harris’s cooperation in potential financial penalties. Judge Antonacci suggested that the faster the ski resort is sold, the more favorably the court may view Harris in its final decision, according to Syracuse.com.
Terrain and Family Experience
Tog is a great "home mountain". The terrain isn't extremely challenging, nor varied, but it works for my young family. It has built confidence and passion for my family in a sport that I love.
Here's a summary of key details about Toggenburg:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical Drop | 760 feet |
| Trails | 21 |
| Trail Difficulty | 25% easiest, 50% more difficult, 25% most difficult |
| Lifts | 5 |
| Terrain Parks | 2 |
tags: #toggenburg #ski #area