Wrightwood, CA – Karl Kapuscinski, president and CEO of Mountain High Resort Associates LLC, has purchased all remaining shares in the Mountain High Resort tenant-operator firm, making him the majority owner of the company that leases the ski and snowboard resort from CNL Lifestyle Properties. Kapuscinski is entering his 15th season as the Southern California resort’s top executive.n“Karl is a visionary in the ski industry and we are happy that he will continue to lead Mountain High as owner of Mountain High Resorts Associates,” said Byron Carlock, president and CEO of CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc., a nontraded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns Mountain High Resort and 21 other ski and mountain lifestyle properties. After purchasing resorts, CNL then leases them back to the seller to continue to operate the mountain’s ski facilities.

Mountain High is Southern California’s most popular winter destination with roughly 500,000 skier visits annually. The area consists of three separate resorts — known as East, West and North. Last season was the resort’s most profitable on record and spanned 188 days, no small feat given the resort’s location in southern California. It was the longest in Mountain High’s history.

The resort already opened for winter operations last Thursday and officials report strong pre-season ticket sales. It was the first ski resort to open in Southern California for the 14th year in row.

“This is a dream come true,” says Kapuscinski. “I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past 15 years. But I’m even more excited about what we and CNL Lifestyle Properties can achieve in the future. I’ve made this commitment to Mountain High Resort Associates to ensure that Mountain High provides the best experience for skiers and snowboarders in Southern California.”