Brian Fairbank, chairman of the Fairbank Group, whose portfolio of ski resorts includes Cranmore Mountain, Jiminy Peak, and Bromley Mountain, was recently inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on March 5th at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H.
Fairbank served on the board of the National Ski Areas Association from 1990 to 2004, and served as board chairman from 2000 to 2002. In 2005, the association awarded Fairbank the Sherman Adams Award for an Eastern resort operator for his influence and distinguished leadership. Fairbank also served on the board of directors of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame for 15 years.
Fairbank has been recognized as a ski industry pioneer in enhancing snowmaking technology, and also for green energy and sustainability. In 2007, he drew national acclaim when Jiminy Peak installed a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine — and was recognized by the association in 2008, when Jiminy Peak received the Golden Eagle Award for sustainability.
In 2016, the Fairbank Group constructed a 2.3-megawatt solar facility, achieving the milestone of 100 percent usage of renewable energy.
Since the Fairbank Group acquisition of Cranmore in 2010, they have invested over $25 million in improvements and development into the resort, upgrading mountain infrastructure and snowmaking technologies, adding four new lifts, enhancing family ski learning programs, adding a full summer park attraction, and recently introducing a lift-serviced downhill mountain bike park. Cranmore is currently engaged in a $70 million dollar base area redevelopment plan that will morph the resort into a progressive four-season destination while introducing a second home community.
Photo: Brian Fairbank's induction into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame was delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic.