Sugarbush announces LP expansion - no fooling

ski_resort_observer · Apr 1, 2010

The Bush is going ahead with Phase 2 of the Lincoln Peak base area expansion. If you are familiar with the base area it will replace what we have called "the interim village" north of the hotel. Plus what some have referred to as " the stairs from hell" :lol:

Work will start maybe as early as next week. Win talks about some interesting factors that helped with the decision.

http://www.sugarbush.com/content/cm.asp?pid=25&id=1228

TheBEast · Apr 1, 2010

Looks like they're using the same program as Jay to attract foreign investors.....I like Win's approach a lot.

deadheadskier · Apr 1, 2010

wonder how far off the Mt. Ellen terrain expansion is that Win has spoken of

thetrailboss · Apr 1, 2010

Very nice.

As to why EB5, regrettably it is the only money available because of the credit markets. Plus it is a good deal.

SKIQUATTRO · Apr 1, 2010

nice see...hope they dont touch ME, i like it run down..leave the crowds over at LP.

vonski · Apr 1, 2010

EB5 Kicks ass in this economy. Glad to see that it is moving along! The stairs of Death were matted and carpeted this year. I guess they listened to last years gripes and the wood was deteriorating.

Can't wait to see the Mtn Bike amusements that they use the stairs for as was mentioned before!

thetrailboss · Apr 1, 2010

SKIQUATTRO said:
nice see...hope they dont touch ME, i like it run down..leave the crowds over at LP.

There are long term plans for terrain and facilities there as well....if they get some more $$$$, it might come sooner rather than later.

I am not a fan of the stairs of death either. I like taking the shuttle up to the area near Bravo when I can. But then again I mainly ski ME so I don't need a shuttle! It will be interesting to see how the new lodges change things. Gatehouse, I imagine, will become the new "Valley House" because you have to walk up to it. Will VH remain or is that coming down?

Overall, Sugarbush is a much better place now than when I first visited it in 1999. The service is vastly improved and the vibe is better. I do miss the days of more snowmaking under ASC, but when you have management that watches the bottom line and is looking to stay for the long haul, you have to give up some things....

thetrailboss · Apr 1, 2010

And not sure I'd consider ME "run down." Pico was run down with rusting lifts and broken snowmaking. ME actually has the newest lift (GMX was the last lift installed and that was for 2002-2003). The lodge could be expanded a wee bit by covering the area under the decks and pushing the main floor out there. Sunny D will also have to be replaced soon, but otherwise all the other lifts are relatively new and well kept.

jrmagic · Apr 1, 2010

Nice

I've taken those stairs a couple of time and it sucks azz. The last couple of times I avaided them by only heading across that way from Castlerock. I forget the name of the connector...

BushMogulMaster · Apr 1, 2010

thetrailboss said:
And not sure I'd consider ME "run down."

+1

It may be "oldschool," but it's certainly not "run down."

vonski · Apr 1, 2010

Mt. Ellen kicks ass except they need to go back to single slice pizza next year and not the whole small pie! Northridge ran very well this year too! Knock on wood!

billski · Apr 1, 2010

Sugarbush President Win Smith bids farewell

Now that was one scary April Fool's headline from Sugarbush today.

What came in today's email read:

[FONT=Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]Breaking News[/FONT]

Win Smith bids farewell to the Interim Village at Lincoln Peak and its 44 wooden steps (this is not an April Fools joke). The new "Phase 2" development will consist of a new entrance plaza as well as two new lodges. Click here for the full press release.

SRO got first dibs on the news earlier, but the headline was what got me...

billski · Apr 1, 2010

Show me the plans!

If they are breaking ground in April, someone's got them!

deadheadskier · Apr 1, 2010

SKIQUATTRO said:
nice see...hope they dont touch ME, i like it run down..leave the crowds over at LP.

hard to see it every getting as crowded as LP.

The terrain expansion I found most interesting was the lift going down into the Lower FIS basin.

thetrailboss · Apr 1, 2010

billski said:
Now that was one scary April Fool's headline from Sugarbush today.

What came in today's email read:

[FONT=Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]Breaking News[/FONT]

Win Smith bids farewell to the Interim Village at Lincoln Peak and its 44 wooden steps (this is not an April Fools joke). The new "Phase 2" development will consist of a new entrance plaza as well as two new lodges. Click here for the full press release.

SRO got first dibs on the news earlier, but the headline was what got me...

Merged.

billski · Apr 1, 2010

thetrailboss said:
Merged.

The merge obfuscated the email headline I received, which was alarming:

"Win Smith bids farewell"

WWF-VT · Apr 1, 2010

My heart skipped a beat when I got the email titled “Sugarbush President Win Smith bids farewell‏”.

On SKIMRV Win did say that updated plans will be available for viewing soon.

Good to see that smart fiscal management is allowing funding of the next phase of the Lincoln Peak development. FWIW – I never really minded the stairs, it’s a good way to stretch on the way from the parking lot.

HowieT2 · Apr 1, 2010

thetrailboss said:
And not sure I'd consider ME "run down." Pico was run down with rusting lifts and broken snowmaking. ME actually has the newest lift (GMX was the last lift installed and that was for 2002-2003). The lodge could be expanded a wee bit by covering the area under the decks and pushing the main floor out there. Sunny D will also have to be replaced soon, but otherwise all the other lifts are relatively new and well kept.

While the Northridge Express ran well this year, it has historically been "troubled" since it was moved from where ever it was before. It is certainly not young and given it's importance, I would think it would be first in line for replacement, unless they discovered what the underlying problems were and this season is a sign of future reliability.

FWIW-agree about the pizza at ME. The gatehouse is so good it is really not fair to compare.

thetrailboss · Apr 1, 2010

HowieT2 said:
While the Northridge Express ran well this year, it has historically been "troubled" since it was moved from where ever it was before. It is certainly not young and given it's importance, I would think it would be first in line for replacement, unless they discovered what the underlying problems were and this season is a sign of future reliability.

I know all about that lift and its infamous past. It is of course the former GMX built by POMA and moved by Doppelmeyr, which explains most of the problems. It is circa 1991 or 1992 technology and may be getting up there in age, but hell, it is still relatively young considering that Stowe is still using their 1986 vintage HSQ.

BushMogulMaster · Apr 1, 2010

HowieT2 said:
While the Northridge Express ran well this year, it has historically been "troubled" since it was moved from where ever it was before. It is certainly not young and given it's importance, I would think it would be first in line for replacement, unless they discovered what the underlying problems were and this season is a sign of future reliability.

FWIW-agree about the pizza at ME. The gatehouse is so good it is really not fair to compare.

As TB pointed out, it was built by POMA in 1990, and installed on the line of the current GMX. It was moved to it's current line in 1995 by Doppelmayr, presumably because they bid lower than POMA (plus, they were already working on other lifts at Sugarbush at the time).

Replacement would be a silly waste of money. It's a solid POMA detach. I think it's the first iteration of the Omega series, but I could be mistaken.

The line equipment (towers, sheaves, etc.) and chairs are in excellent shape, and certainly ought not be replaced. There are also some good components in the terminals.

Certain parts of the lift should probably be rebuilt, replacing the dated cadence chain system with an updated solid tire cadencing system, for example. The drive might be due for replacement with a new Allen Bradley unit, but the 700hp prime mover and the aux engine should be perfectly fine for plenty more years.

Sugarbush announces LP expansion - no fooling

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