MALONE – Titus Mountain ski area, the ski spot nearest to St. Lawrence County skiers, is being sold to a local family.

The Augustine family, which has owned and operated Titus Mountain since the 1979-80 ski season, is selling to a family of local owners who have built and operated a number of successful North Country businesses, the Monette family.

The Monettes are owners and operators of Adirondack Energy, Malone Transport, and Mountain Mart convenience stores.

Paul Augustine of Minnesota, who rose from his Midwestern farming roots to become a developer and owner of three ski areas and a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Ski Areas Association for his contributions to the ski industry, passed away on Jan. 1. His surviving family members, who are in management at the flagship area Augustine first developed in Minnesota, Afton Alps, have sought new owners who could continue to grow Titus as a family-oriented ski area. They said they were concerned that any new owners continue to provide work opportunities to North Country residents, and recreational opportunities for people in northern New York and southern Ontario and Quebec.

With a mix of terrain ranging from beginning to advanced-level slopes and affordable pricing, Titus Mountain has operated for the past 30-plus years under the ownership of the Augustine family.

Among the improvements made to Titus Mountain during past three decades were the addition of seven chairlifts and a sizable expansion of skiable acres, which has included developing terrain on the upper part of Titus Mountain.

A chalet was also added, and bridges and tunnels were built to allow users to go back and forth from the lower section of the area to the upper section without having to travel by car. Park areas and a snow tubing area have also been added under Augustine’s ownership.

Titus Mountain also added a sand-and-gravel business, providing more year-round employment for local residents.

The Augustine family and the management team at Titus Mountain are confident that the Monette family's efforts will allow them to provide even greater recreational and employment opportunities for the Malone area and surrounding communities, according to a prepared statement from Titus Mountain management.