Tuxedo - There might be snow, but there'll be no runs this year at Sterling Forest Ski Center.

The pending sale of the popular ski center on Tuxedo Mountain won't be finalized in time to open for the winter season, according to those involved in the deal. It would mark the first time in the slope's 40-year history that it was closed for a season, according to its owners.

A group of Rockland County investors, known as Sterling Forest Family Fun Center, is negotiating to buy the property, according to Lee Brentnall, a real estate agent for Prudential Rand in Tuxedo.

"We would have to be in there in three weeks and start making snow," said one of the investors, Shraga Kahana. "While we would love that to happen, it's extremely unlikely we'll have a deal by then."

The ski center is being sold for an undisclosed price by Renaissance Entertainment Corp., which also owns and operates the New York Renaissance Faire adjacent to the ski hills. The Faire property is not for sale.

The slopes hit the auction block after several years of losing money, said Stan Gilbert, president of the Colorado-based company.

While unfortunate for skiers and boarders, Gilbert has said, "(Sterling Forest) will not open this year unless someone buys it."

Kahana says his fellow investors want to convert the center into a year-round recreation park. While skiing and snowboarding would remain the central winter attraction to the 210-acre park, the group is exploring possible warm-weather activities including horseback riding, water slides, a go-cart track and batting cages.

"Our aim now is to be open in spring 2006," Kahana said.