In a fundraising appeal sent out Monday, supporters of a plan to buy Saddleback Maine and turn it into a co-op said they’ve raised $600,000 toward the $4 million down payment.

Peter Stein, leading the charge to form Saddleback Community Mountain Resort, also said that he doesn’t see the mountain opening to the general public this winter — but it could open on a few dates for supporters.

“We hope to operate at least some of the lifts for members, families and their guests,” Stein wrote. “Whether and how we do this will depend on how much we raise and how fast, what makes economic and operational sense, and how much snow we get.”

He said $600,000 had been raised as of Oct. 31. Fundraising levels range from $500 for a one-season youth pass to $25,000 for a lifetime adult pass.

If enough funds aren’t raised by July 31, 2017, they’ll be returned, according to the membership enrollment form.

On Oct. 27, Stein laid out plans to ultimately raise $25 million in a capital campaign to buy Saddleback, the third-largest ski resort in Maine (after Sugarloaf and Sunday River), along with land around it. 

The next meetings for the group’s effort are planned for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at Three Dollar Dewey’s in Portland and Nov. 14 in Farmington at a time and place to be determined.

kskelton@sunjournal.com