Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports announces the grand opening of the Taff Adaptive Yurt, a new year-round program space at Bolton Valley Resort that expands access to adaptive sports and recreation for athletes with disabilities, veterans, families, and volunteers. We are so excited to have more room to move at our northern program location.
The yurt is Vermont Adaptive’s fourth adaptive sports facility in Vermont. The organization built its first building in 2013 at Pico Mountain and its second, three-story facility at Sugarbush Resort’s Mt. Ellen in 2021. In 2025, Vermont Adaptive purchased more than 125 acres of land complete with farmhouse, outbuildings and a trail system and conserved the property with the Vermont Land Trust.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed Vermont Adaptive participants, community members, donors and representatives from SCHIP Upscale Resale (Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg Interfaith Projects), whose generous gift made the project possible.
Named in memory of Douglas C. Taff, chairman emeritus of SCHIP, the new yurt honors his longstanding commitment to inclusion, access and community. Taff was a member of SCHIP since 2004, and in 2018 he became the Board Chair and Finance Chair.
“Doug was effectively CEO, CFO, tech guru, handyman, and everybody’s rock,” said Jessica Meller, SCHIP board member and friend. “Both brilliant in business and extremely kind, Doug was the center of SCHIP, he had a hand in all aspects of our operations.”
Taff chose Vermont Adaptive for a grant award in his name, in part because his son had been a part of Vermont Adaptive programs since 2009. “Doug saw the life-changing benefits Vermont Adaptive programs offered his son, and the joy and connection Vermont Adaptive offered to the families and community,” said Meller.
The 27-foot yurt sits adjacent to Vermont Adaptive’s previous existing space in Bolton Valley’s base lodge and includes a large deck with railings, an accessible ramp and improved participant drop-off access. Its location also provides convenient access to the base lodge, including restrooms, the cafeteria and other amenities.
“This space represents so much more than a new building,” said Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive. “The Taff Adaptive Yurt creates additional opportunities for connection, recreation and year-round programming while honoring Doug’s legacy and the values he championed throughout his life. And thank you to Bolton Valley for supporting our new endeavors.”
This additional space will support participant check-in, indoor equipment fitting, volunteer coordination, and year-round programming. The donor plaque inside the yurt recognizes Taff’s contributions and notes that the space was created in gratitude for his visionary leadership, compassion and service.
“He was the kindest, most generous, loving man I could have had at 70 years old,” said Louise P. Larocque, Taff’s partner for the last 16 years. “There was nothing he would not do or could not do for everyone around him. He was very skilled at figuring out all the issues of the SCHIP store and getting it back on a positive, lucrative track. I witnessed him spending hundreds of hours at the computer reviewing the finances and determining how he could improve their bottom line. The results spoke for themselves: they had more funds to help local charities. I don’t know anyone who did not love, respect and admire Doug.”
The new yurt expands Vermont Adaptive’s growing year-round presence at Bolton Valley, one of the organization’s primary program locations. The facility was officially opened during a day of adaptive mountain biking programming for Veterans, highlighting the organization’s commitment to providing recreational opportunities throughout every season.
For more information about Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, visit vermontadaptive.org
For more information about SCHIP, visit The SCHIP Foundation website.