Murray "Mike" Thurston

Mike Thurston started skiing at age seven or eight on the farm where he grew up. His early interest in skiing continued as an adult and in 1947 he built a rope tow area on Vernon Street in Bethel. In the mid fifties as part of a group of businessmen interested in development and bringing winter business to a town that was empty during the cold months, he had the idea that a ski area would help.

Scouting out mountains in the area along with several others, in particular Paul Kailey, they settled on Barker Mountain in Newry. At that time (1957) what is now the Sunday River Access road ended just beyond where the road to the Grand Summit Hotel turns to the left. The group hiked to the location of what is now the Barker Base lodge to determine where to build the area.

Thurston talked noted ski area designer Sel Hannah into helping with the trail layout and lift location for $50 a day to work from 6 am to late afternoon. Over the next two years Thurston led the drive to raise money, secure the land, build a base lodge, cut trails and build lifts. Sunday River Skiway was incorporated in April of 1958 and in December 1959 opened with a base lodge, a 3000 foot T-bar, a rope tow and two trails, Lower Cascades and Lower Sunday Punch. That this was accomplished in two years is remarkable.

Mike Thurston became president of the new corporation, a position he was to hold for more than ten years. Although the ski area had managers, Thurston was on hand nearly every weekend and often during the week even though he was operating a wood working plant and a family farm.

Even though the area struggled financially it grew through the sixties adding a T-bar to the top to give the area 1500 feet of vertical and another to add a beginner area. In 1970 a snowmaking system was built for the Mixing Bowl beginner area and in 1971 a top to bottom 5200 foot chair lift was added.

From its inception in 1957 to the day in 1972 the area was sold to Sherburne Corp, the parent company of Killington, Mike Thurston with his leadership, and personal commitment, both financially and with hard work, kept Sunday River moving forward in good years and bad. Without his dedication it’s unlikely there would have been a Sunday River for Les Otten to turn into one of the East’s biggest ski resorts. Thanks to him, his town of Bethel now bustles with activity all winter.

A lifetime of dedication to the sport of skiing and an equal devotion to his community and his state led to the achievements that have earned Mike Thurston a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.