AUGUSTA – The owners of Saddleback ski mountain announced their lease-purchase of a 60-slip marina on Rangeley Lake at a news conference in Gov. John Baldacci’s office Thursday.

The move is aimed at expanding interest in the resort beyond winter sports and to build relationships with homeowners in Oquossoc and Rangeley, said Warren Cook, general manager of Saddleback Maine.

“The Berry family has a strong commitment to community and working together with other businesses,” Cook said. “There’s lots of buzz about Saddleback. The marina will reinforce the connection to the town and the lake.”

The marina’s owner, Larry Koob of Oquossoc, would continue to oversee the operation, Cook said.

Baldacci said the deal would provide much-needed economic development to the state.

“I’m greatly encouraged by this; it’s a huge private investment,” Baldacci said. “These are local, private dollars with individuals putting them together. It’s not federal or state money.”

In 2007, the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission approved a 10-year development plan for the Saddleback resort.

“This is an exciting plan; over 10 years it’s a $120 million investment,” Baldacci said. “It’s important economic development, promoting tourism and highlighting Maine’s wonderful quality of place. They are reviving the region in a truly visionary manner.”

Cook said plans for a 1,000-seat expansion of the recently renovated base lodge and an 80-room condo-motel, which will begin pre-selling this fall, are under way, with construction slated to begin in summer 2010.

“We are planning to open guest service and real estate offices in the summer,” he said. “We also plan to replace our 1962 double chairlift with a quad chair in the Magalloway area, to provide additional ski-in, ski-out access.”

Full-time and seasonal staff is expected to grow by about 15 percent and to stimulate job growth throughout Franklin County, Cook said.

He said business at Saddleback, which was facing potential closure in 2003, is up more than 20 percent in terms of paid visits and season passes.

Archie Berry Jr., a former University of Maine at Farmington geology professor, bought the resort that year and resurrected the business.

“The family invested in Saddleback five years ago and brought it from the ashes,” Cook said. “We have a big mountain, but it’s all about the lakes. We want to be a true four-season area.”