It happened fast. One minute, people were loading the Foggy Goggle for a post-run brew, and the next, the gates were locked for good. If you grew up in Central New York, Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center wasn't just a place to slide down a hill; it was the Friday night hangout, the place where you learned to pizza-wedge your way down "upper" trails, and a landmark in Fabius that felt like it would be there forever.
Then came 2021.
The news hit like a sudden whiteout. Peter Harris, the owner of nearby Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain, bought Toggenburg and immediately announced it wouldn't reopen. People were devastated. It wasn't just about losing a few trails. It was about losing a community hub that had been operating since 1953.
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The Logistics of a Sudden Shutdown
When we talk about Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center, we have to look at the business of snow. Running a ski hill in New York is basically a high-stakes gamble against the climate. You're fighting rising electricity costs for snowmaking and a labor market that's increasingly tight.
Harris’s decision was strictly business. By purchasing the competitor and closing it, he could funnel that traffic toward Song and Lab. It makes sense on a balance sheet. Honestly, though, it felt like a gut punch to the locals who lived ten minutes away.
The mountain had 21 trails. It wasn't huge—the vertical drop was about 550 feet—but it was accessible. That’s the keyword. Accessible.
What Made Toggenburg Different?
Most big resorts feel corporate. You’re just a lift ticket number. Toggenburg felt like your neighbor’s backyard if your neighbor had a massive hill and a fleet of groomers. The terrain park was actually decent for a mid-sized hill.
The "Foggy Goggle" restaurant was legendary in the region. People went there who didn't even ski. They just wanted the wings and the atmosphere.
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- The layout was simple: a main triple chair, a few doubles, and some surface lifts.
- The vertical: Roughly 550 feet.
- Location: 1135 State Route 80, Fabius, NY.
The Aftermath: Where Did the Skiers Go?
When Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center closed, thousands of season pass holders were left scrambling. The "Inter-Mountain Pass" that Harris offered allowed Toggenburg regulars to shift their loyalty to Song or Lab.
But it’s not the same.
Song Mountain is steeper, more "expert" focused in some ways. Labrador has a different vibe entirely. The loss of Toggenburg created a vacuum in the local economy of Fabius. Small towns depend on that winter foot traffic. When the skiers stopped coming, the local gas stations and small eateries felt it immediately.
The Equipment Liquidation
You might wonder what happens to a ski resort when it dies. It doesn't just sit there like a ghost town—at least not for long. In 2022, the liquidation began.
The lifts were sold. The snowcat went to the highest bidder. Even the kitchen equipment from the Foggy Goggle was auctioned off. Seeing a chairlift chair sold as a porch swing is a weirdly melancholy sight for anyone who spent their teenage years riding those same chairs in 10-degree weather.
Can It Ever Come Back?
This is the question everyone asks. "Will someone buy it and reopen it?"
The short answer: No.
The long answer: It’s incredibly unlikely. Once the infrastructure—the lifts, the underground piping for snowmaking, the pumps—is ripped out or falls into disrepair, the cost to "re-start" a ski center is astronomical. We’re talking millions of dollars before the first person even clicks into their bindings.
Plus, there are legal hurdles. When Harris bought the property, there were discussions about deed restrictions. These are legal clauses that can prevent a property from being used for its former purpose to protect the buyer's other businesses. It’s a common tactic in the ski industry to prevent competition from popping back up on the same patch of dirt.
Why Small Hills Like Toggenburg Matter
We’re seeing a trend in the ski industry toward "mega-resorts." You have the Epic Pass and the Ikon Pass. You have massive corporations buying up every independent hill they can find.
Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center represented the "feeder hill." These are the places where kids learn to ski for $40 instead of $200. Without these small, local spots, the sport becomes elitist. It becomes something you only do if you can afford a flight to Colorado or a weekend in Vermont.
Losing Toggenburg was a warning shot for other small hills in the Northeast.
The Environmental Reality
Snowmaking is the lifeblood of New York skiing. If you can't make snow, you don't have a season.
Toggenburg had a solid snowmaking system, but the winters in Central New York are getting more volatile. We see "thaw-freeze" cycles that turn trails into skating rinks. To combat that, you need massive amounts of water and even more power. For a small operation, those utility bills can be the difference between breaking even and going bankrupt.
Actionable Steps for Former Toggenburg Skiers
If you’re still feeling the loss of Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center, you have to adapt. The landscape has changed, but the snow is still there—somewhere.
Support the remaining independents.
Places like Greek Peak, Cazenovia Ski Club (if you can get in), or even Four Seasons in Fayetteville need local support. If we don't patronize the small hills, they’ll follow Toggenburg into the history books.
Check out the "Ski NY" Gold Pass.
If you're frustrated by the Song/Lab monopoly, look into the Ski NY programs. They often offer ways to spread your skiing across various mountains in the state, including Woods Valley or Oak Mountain, which still maintain that "small hill" feel.
Explore the land for other uses.
While you can’t downhill ski there with a lift anymore, the Fabius area remains beautiful. Highland Forest is right around the corner. It offers cross-country skiing and hiking that provides that same winter fix without the need for a triple chair.
Preserve the history.
If you have old photos, trail maps, or even a branded sweatshirt from the Foggy Goggle, hold onto them. Local historical societies in Onondaga County are increasingly interested in the history of recreation in the region.
The era of Toggenburg Mountain Ski Center as a commercial powerhouse is over. The lifts are gone, the lights are dark, and the trails are slowly being reclaimed by the brush. But for those who spent their Friday nights under those lights, the mountain will always be a part of the Central New York winter identity. Support your local hills now, or watch them disappear next.