RUMFORD – When Black Mountain opens for the season on Saturday, the biggest change won’t be all that apparent.

The ski area was bought in the off season by the non-profit Maine Winter Sports Center, which plans to rejuvenate the small mountain.

“This is the first time we’ve opened under the new owner,” said longtime operations manager Jeff Knight. “It seems nice to see Black Mountain moving ahead. It’s good for the area and for the people.”

Knight was a youngster when he first skied the slopes of Black Mountain when it opened in 1960. The mountain had been owned by the Greater Rumford Community Center.

Along with the ownership change will come longer open hours, a chairlift that can carry 38 people up the novice and intermediate slopes, adult, children and racing clinics and the last year of the existing lodge. A replacement lodge is planned for next season.

Knight said prices for ski, tubing and snowboarding tickets will remain the same as last year.

This weekend the mountain will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

Slopes will be closed through Christmas, then open again on the Friday after Christmas from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday’s hours will be the same. Skiing will be allowed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. that Sunday. A complete schedule of hours is available at the mountain.

Knight said a grand opening celebrating the mountain’s new chairlift is planned for Saturday, Dec. 27.

The chairlift will carry people 200 feet or so up the 470 foot slope. This is the first time a chairlift will serve Black Mountain skiers. Plans by the new owners include finding and buying a second chairlift that will carry people up a planned lengthening of the vertical drop.

The ski area also will rent skis, boots, snowboards and other equipment.

The Maine Winter Sports Center operates several small family-oriented ski areas in the state, most in Aroostook County.

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