Alpine Haven

Montgomery Center, Franklin County, Vermont

“Alpine Haven, Montgomery Ctr. Attractive, easy to intermediate, trails pass through Austrian chalet village nestled among evergreens; advanced route descends from Jay Peak; breathtaking view. 20 km total. Elev. 1200'-2000'. Café, restaurant, lodging, change rooms. Hubert Daberer: Tel. 326-4567.” -Cross Country Ski Vermont, 1984

Location: 285 Birtch Rd, Montgomery Center, VT 05470

Directory listing: 1982-1984

Known operators: Hubert and Caroline (Wick) Daberer

Today: Alpine Haven is “out of the ski business,” but still exists as a private living community

History

Alpine Haven got its start when Hubert Daberer, Bosnian born ski instructor at Jay and then-owner of the Carinthia Inn, got his jeep stuck in the mud on Route 242 between Montgomery Center and Jay Peak. According to a personal recollection by Daberer from the Montgomery Historical Society, "Hubert got out and looked around. Ahead of him was the impressive profile of Cold Hollow Mountain. To the left were Burnt Mountain and Hazen's Notch. Behind Him, the slopes steepened back towards Little Jay. The scene was breath-taking, and the tale of an Austrian-type chalet community in northern Vermont began right then and there. Hubert decided that this was the place where he would realize the dream of his life."

In 1961 Hubert and his wife Caroline Daberer acquired the 200 acres of the then defunct Cousens farm and spent the following years developing the beginnings of Alpine Haven. In 1963 the Daberer's purchased the 120 acre Deuso Farm and Alpine Haven Inc. was established as a private corporation. As Jay Peak grew into a booming ski mountain, Alpine Haven grew into an "upscale ski accommodation facility with a lodge...and surrounding chalets."

Though Alpine Haven was only listed in cross country ski brochures between 1982 and 1984, it still exists today as a private community with 16 condominiums and over 80 chalets in the Northeast Kingdom. When I called to inquire about their Nordic trails Alpine Haven reported that they were officially "out of the ski business," however several miles of marked snowshoe, cross country, and hiking trails remain available to guests and residents only.

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To read the full story of "Alpine Haven: The Fabulous Tale of a Chalet Community in Northern Vermont, a Personal Recollection by Hubert Daberer and the Early Pioneers of Alpine Haven" from the Montgomery Historical Society's web archives, click here.

To read the "House concurrent resolution honoring Caroline and Hubert Daberer on their 90th birthdays as the founders of Alpine Haven", click here.

For current information on Alpine Haven you can access their Property Owners Association website here, or the resort website here.