Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area

06/12/2026

Bill was a good friend to Enchanted Forest.

William “Bill” Kemsley, a longtime Taos resident, founder of Backpacker magazine and nationally recognized trail advocate, died peacefully at his home in Taos, according to his wife, Joy Jensen. He

05/30/2026

Health Forces Sale

Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area

Sale Overview
• Asking Price: $250,000 (Seller motivated; offers considered)
Total Asset Value (FMV 2024): $383,943
• Status: Turnkey sale, includes all real and personal property, brand, goodwill, and digital assets.

Location
• Situated 3.5 miles from Red River, NM, at the top of scenic Bobcat Pass in the Carson National Forest.
• Permit Area: ~560 acres under U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Special Use Permit
Private Land/Buildings: ½ acre base area (parking, lodge, support buildings, yurts)
Adjacent 11-acre parcel available separately (not included in sale), ideal for expansion
Improvements & Assets
• Trails: 33+ km groomed Nordic ski trails; 18 km snowshoe trails; 5 km dog-friendly trails

Structures:
• 850 sq. ft. base lodge (office, rentals, retail).
• Four ski-in/ski-out overnight yurts (wood stoves, bunks, furnishings).
• Warming yurt (rented as an overnight yurt in summer, but ideal for retreat, yoga classes, etc.) and outbuildings.
• 40-car parking lot.

Equipment:
• Snowmobiles (all but one owned outright), grooming equipment, rental fleet (150+ skis, 30+ snowshoes,
fat bikes), maintenance tools

Digital Assets:
• EnchantedForestXC.com, EFXC.com, EnchantedForest.ski, reservation software, customer database,
marketing goodwill.
Trademarks/Name:
• “Enchanted Forest” and associated web assets included.
Operations
• Winter Season: Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, yurts, retail & rentals.
• Summer/Fall Uses: Hiking, mountain biking, trail running, wildlife viewing, weddings, events, stargazing.

Staffing: Typically 5–8 seasonal winter employees, part-time summer staff.
Ownership Structure: Organized as a New Mexico LLC.
Forest Service Special Use Permit
• Authorization ID: QUE52. Term: Expires 12/31/2053.
Area Covered:
• 560 acres (Carson National Forest).
Fee Structure:
• Currently a percentage of gross revenue (1.5% quarterly).
Transferability:
• Permit is not transferable; a new buyer must apply for a new permit. The USFS issues new permits
following a vetting process (financial & technical capacity).
Uses Authorized:
Human-powered recreation (skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking, yurts, disc golf, etc.).
Growth & Development Potential
• Master Development Plan (2015) outlines expansion opportunities:
• New base lodge or retreat center.
• Expanded overnight accommodations (yurts, cabins).
• Summer adventure uses (zipline, canopy tours).
• Parking, entrance, and infrastructure upgrades.

Adjacent 11-acre parcel presents opportunity for private lodge construction, septic, and well.

Key Considerations for Buyers
• Permit Renewal & Compliance: USFS requires annual operations plans and inspections; permit compliance
history is strong.
Financials: Income, expenses, revenues, and historical visitation data available only upon ex*****on of NDA.
• Nonprofit Potential: Sellers note that converting to a nonprofit ownership structure is possible.
Health & Transition: Sale is motivated by owner health and the need to pass operations to the next generation
Contact [email protected] or DM
• Location: 29 Sangre de Cristo Dr., Red River, NM 87558

03/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who once again generously donated for "Just Desserts" last weekend!

As always, in an informal "Bake-off" we let participants "vote" with their dollars for their favorite dessert (or desserts). Votes raised $115 dollars for Red River Valley Charter School.

Winners are:
Restaurants
1st: Franks Eats & Sweets Heavenly Delights — Mini Cream Puffs
2nd: Sundance Mexican Restaurant — John Hoag's Wild Blueberry Pie
3rd (tie): VINE — Sopapilla Cheesecake
4th: Red River Brewing Company — Black Forest Cherry, Chocolate & Peanut Butter Brownies
Honorable Mentions: Texas Reds Steakhouse — Key Lime Pie; Rosie's Smokehouse — Strawberry Shortcake; Old Tymers — Apple Pie; Candy Crate — Assorted Fudge
Individuals:
1st: Maureen West — Lemon Muffins
2nd: Sally Blair — Flourless Brownies
3rd: Joe Phillips — Chocolate Chip, Walnut Raisin Pie

Thanks to Tori Curry from Bearly Awake for donating a Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake; and Marcia Wood and Pat Shirejian, both of whom made yummy chocolate cakes

I made White-Chocolate, Ube Mousse Cakes (purple!, Tony Howard's Yummy Chocolate, Peanut Drops and Raspberry Bars.

I know we had other donations (thank you!) but (I admit) this year's event was a little less... organized than in years when we had snow.

Geoff was unable to come as he was sick. I (Ellen) enjoyed seeing new and old friends, including Bob Blair, who has helped pull this event together for (I want to say) 39 years. (Neither of of can remember the first year Bob started ski patrolling at EFXC.)

Dominic Serna and Dave Mieras gave everyone who wanted one a ride out to the Midway Yurt for more desserts and camaraderie.

Thanks to Debbie Frizzell for helping to serve at the Midway Yurt and thanks to everyone who donated and everyone who came!

03/04/2026

02/24/2026

We'll be hosting "Just Desserts" this weekend! This year’s event will be especially meaningful. We plan to use our 39th annual “Just Desserts” to celebrate Enchanted Forest’s 40th anniversary — and to say goodbye to owners Geoff Goins and Ellen Miller Goins, who are in the process of turning management over to Dominic Serna, with help from Dave Mieras.

Many of you know in addition to recovering from bladder cancer Geoff has myasthenia gravis (MG), so we'll see if he is up to traveling up for the event. I (Ellen) will be there!

We invite local restaurants, businesses, organizations and individuals to participate in our informal “bake off” by donating a dessert.

As in past years, we will place donation jars at each dessert table so participants can “vote” with cash or coin for their favorites. All proceeds from the bake-off will benefit the Red River Valley Charter School.

If you would like to contribute a dessert and be part of this sweet tradition, please contact us. We would love to include you.

02/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DNeppoFvf/

Love is in the air!

02/14/2026

Commentary during the women's 4 x 7.5km relay:
"They've got a really sticky substance on their skis...."
Pop quiz. who can name that sticky substance?

01/09/2026

UPDATE: Please don't try to ski at this point, until we get more snow (preferrably 10 inches or more)!
Unfortunately we only recieved about 6” on top of what was mostly bare ground. There may be some good skiing on your own skis you don’t mind hurting them i.e. “Rock Skis”, but we are not open for the general public.

It's snowing today, 01/09/2026, and we are hoping for that magic number of 10+ inches. If we get enough snow we will be able to open trails and get this season underway. More information coming in the morning after the storm is done.

Picture of downtown Red River today.

12/06/2025