We've discussed this in the past, but BenedictGomez asked this question in the Jay Challenge thread:
So in 2014 are parks no longer needed? As he put it, have they "jumped the shark?" Or do they serve a purpose for smaller hills near the cities and metro areas that need something to keep skateboarders and urban jibbers happy?
Here is my cross-post about what I've seen out here:
I've noticed out here that parks are not that big of a deal.....folks say because the "whole mountain is a park." I think that a big reason is that resorts out here (generally) do not rely quite as much on snowmaking. Using eastern standards, Snowbird's "park" is pathetic. But as I ski by on Big Emma or ride on Gadzoom I rarely see anyone use it. Most of the 'bird's regular clientele come for the "natural" terrain offerings. Alta doesn't have a park (same reason). I heard from folks at Snowbird that it was cost and liability issues. If anything, I think they make a small one to throw a bone to the few out of towners who want some kind of park.
Brighton, on the other hand, has some decent parks and night skiing and riding. Their main crowd is into the park scene.
PCMR has killer parks but they do it because they get lots of out-of-towners who want it, they host big events, and they have a lot of athletes who need the parks for training.
As to cost, it is amazing. I recall when Burke dedicated a trail and some snowmaking money to a half-pipe. When Northern Star went out of business, I talked to someone in the know who was part of the new ownership about that half pipe and asked "why not do it?" He told me that it cost the resort $50-75k annually in snowmaking, etc. and netted few users and no revenue. That said, Burke has dedicated a lot of resources to a serious park and I think it has worked well at keeping a niche crowd that would have otherwise gone elsewhere. But is it making a lot of money? Probably not. That demographic does not really have a lot of disposable income. Mommy and Daddy sometimes do though...at least enough to get their kid a season pass.
My last season in Vermont, 2010-2011, Burke and Sugarbush had pretty serious parks. Sugarbush had a whole area dedicated to it and my observation was that it was pretty well used. Burke's parks are pretty good and cater to a pretty significant crowd.
I also have seen some big parks at Sunday River, Loon, and Killington. But I can't say if the latter two still do them.
I envision this scenario where the brass of several eastern mountains are sitting around their planning tables, and some of them want to dramatically reduce park, but they're all afraid too on the belief it might hurt them. Fear of the unknown.
So in 2014 are parks no longer needed? As he put it, have they "jumped the shark?" Or do they serve a purpose for smaller hills near the cities and metro areas that need something to keep skateboarders and urban jibbers happy?
Here is my cross-post about what I've seen out here:
I've noticed out here that parks are not that big of a deal.....folks say because the "whole mountain is a park." I think that a big reason is that resorts out here (generally) do not rely quite as much on snowmaking. Using eastern standards, Snowbird's "park" is pathetic. But as I ski by on Big Emma or ride on Gadzoom I rarely see anyone use it. Most of the 'bird's regular clientele come for the "natural" terrain offerings. Alta doesn't have a park (same reason). I heard from folks at Snowbird that it was cost and liability issues. If anything, I think they make a small one to throw a bone to the few out of towners who want some kind of park.
Brighton, on the other hand, has some decent parks and night skiing and riding. Their main crowd is into the park scene.
PCMR has killer parks but they do it because they get lots of out-of-towners who want it, they host big events, and they have a lot of athletes who need the parks for training.
As to cost, it is amazing. I recall when Burke dedicated a trail and some snowmaking money to a half-pipe. When Northern Star went out of business, I talked to someone in the know who was part of the new ownership about that half pipe and asked "why not do it?" He told me that it cost the resort $50-75k annually in snowmaking, etc. and netted few users and no revenue. That said, Burke has dedicated a lot of resources to a serious park and I think it has worked well at keeping a niche crowd that would have otherwise gone elsewhere. But is it making a lot of money? Probably not. That demographic does not really have a lot of disposable income. Mommy and Daddy sometimes do though...at least enough to get their kid a season pass.
My last season in Vermont, 2010-2011, Burke and Sugarbush had pretty serious parks. Sugarbush had a whole area dedicated to it and my observation was that it was pretty well used. Burke's parks are pretty good and cater to a pretty significant crowd.
I also have seen some big parks at Sunday River, Loon, and Killington. But I can't say if the latter two still do them.