Elizabeth Love Stratton was born March 12, k1928, and began skiing Mad River Glen while attending Vassar College. It was on one fateful ski trip in 1954 that she met Truxton Pratt, a New York banker. At the time Betsy worked as assistant treasurer of the Ford Foundation. Betsy and Truxton soon married and had four children Polly, Amanda, Liz, and Truxton. They all learned to ski at Mad River Glen and the family had a ski home in Fayston.
In 1972 Truxton and Betsy along with Brad Swett and a few other investors purchased Mad River Glen from Roland Palmedo. Truxton died in 1975. Betsy Pratt, with four young children, bought out Brad Swett’s interest and with the backing of the other investors became the majority owner of Mad River Glen. Believing in Mad River Glen so passionately Betsy dug deep into the family’s resources to keep the business going through the toughest of winters, even mortgaging their home.
Betsy Pratt had been called a maverick by some and that’s probably true, but she had far more depth than that. She was a lone female owner amidst an uber-male-dominated industry. She successfully guided the mountain for over two decades and then had the vision and drive to chart a new path for Mad River Glen’s future. It was Betsy who came up with the concept of selling the mountain to Mad River’s loyal skiers. Nearly 30 years later we look back and see with 20/20 hindsight how much of a visionary she truly was.
Betsy considered herself a steward of the mountain and dedicated herself to maintaining Roland’s vision. She always saw Mad River as a place that offered a challenging, outdoor adventure in a pristine, natural setting. A place with an ethos that developed organically, and a firm foundation based on the idea that love for the sport outweighed financial considerations. She was always concerned about keeping Mad River in its natural state as much as possible.
During her time as owner, Betsy was responsible for the decisions that make Mad River Glen the icon that it is today. Some of the most notable contributions were the additions of a snowmaking system, the “Ski It If You Can” bumper sticker, and being one of the first areas in the country to allow snowboarding until being infamously banned.
In December 1995, the Co-op bought Mad River Glen from Betsy Pratt.
In the wake of Betsy’s passing a lot of stories have come to be shared, some of which may be founded in truth while others are simply folklore. Legends live forever, these tales keep her legacy alive and why Betsy’s spirit will always be here with the skiers at Mad River Glen.
Betsy Pratt passed away peacefully on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the age of 95, she was surrounded by loved ones. Betsy spent her final days live streaming the Single Chair webcam, watching skiers enjoy the snow fall. We owe Betsy a great deal of gratitude for protecting and preserving our paradise.
Thank you, Betsy.
Mad River Glen Community
