PINEDALE — After four years on the market, White Pine Ski Resort just north of Pinedale has been sold to billionaire Joe Ricketts by longtime owners Alan and Robyn Blackburn. The news was announced on Thursday, Feb. 22, with Ricketts taking ownership of the 363-acre property in April at the end of the 2024 Ski Season. 

Rumors that Ricketts buying White Pine for its liquor license began swirling around Sublette County in April 2023. From their home in New Zealand, the Blackburns confirmed that Ricketts, the owner of Jackson Fork Ranch, had expressed interest in White Pine. During that interview, the Blackburns were adamant that they would never sell White Piney to be anything other than what it is currently — a family-friendly ski and summer resort. Robyn Blackburn told the Roundup at that time that a perfect buyer would “preserve it and look after it, treasure it and keep it was the way it is, not split it up.”

White Pine Ski and Summer Resort is one of Wyoming’s oldest ski areas. It’s nestled within Forest Service land in the Wind River Mountain Range about 10 miles north of the town of Pinedale. The resort, home to the Pinedale High School Alpine and Nordic Ski teams, features two lifts, nearly 30 runs, a tubing hill and miles of Nordic trails for winter skiing and summer hiking. White Pine has been a mainstay for local Sublette County residents for years and it has been voted the No. 1 Resort in Wyoming for beginner skiers.

As previously reported by the Pinedale Roundup, the Blackburns did sell White Pine’s outfitting and guiding business to Wyoming Catholic College of Lander.

In 2022, the Blackburns reached a tentative agreement to sell the resort to the owners of Lakeside Lodge, with a successful sale dependent upon the acceptance of certain terms. That deal never came to fruition.

A press release issued by the resort on Feb. 22 states that “Ricketts has committed to investing in and improving the Sublette County Ski Resort following the tragic 2019 fire that destroyed the main lodge. Ricketts is in the process of working with the Forest Service to explore opportunities to extend future ski seasons through snowmaking.”

“Owning White Pine has been an honor for my wife and me,” said Blackburn. “This mountain offers outstanding recreational opportunities for our community. Faced with the prospect of shutting down the resort, we looked for a buyer who is capable and committed to restoring the lodge, enhancing the mountain’s amenities to their full potential, and investing in the vibrant communities of Sublette County. We are confident that Joe is deeply dedicated to this cause.”

Ricketts has assembled a Board of Advisors “to strategically guide the business, ensuring its success in both the short-term and long-term.”

The board includes Roy DeWitt as chairman, Derek Schupp as president, Dave Jensen as vice president, Brad White as secretary, Ryan Persinger as treasurer and Robin Schamber, Kari DeWitt, Adam D’Illard, Marie McGuire, Alan Blackburn, Steve Christensen, Travis McNiven and Ricketts as advisory members.

In the release, Ricketts said, “I feel good about keeping White Pine in our community and look forward to the recreational expertise the Board of Advisors and Officers will contribute. Their guidance will be instrumental in managing the mountain effectively in both the immediate future and over the long term. My hope is to add improvements that will ensure White Pine remains a cherished destination for all of Sublette to enjoy for years to come.”