Stowe, 7/13/08

[billski]

Ski Resort espionage. Well, I went over to view the brave new world at Spruce. No real surprises, but I learned a few things.
a) They have a 10-year building plan.
b) NONE of the million dollar+ cottages that have been sold had a single car or resident present. Plus, they have their own chairlift....
c) there is a multi-bay loading dock (tractor-trailer sized) underneath the Over Easy lift, mostly protected from the weather.
d) the new base lodge is really quite nice. everything is pretty much at-grade, the lift, the lodge, and over easy. Pretty convenient. Expected to be open this winter season.

I've attached some photos, they describe it all.

BUT here is the news that absolutely flabbergasted me. THEY PAVED THE ENTIRE MANSFIELD PARKING LOT!!!! I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it!


Photos

New Lodge

Hotel to the L, Lodge to the R.

Back of hotel, facing Spruce. Footings in foreground for stand-along shops. Over easy in distance, new lodge to your right. Mani in the distance.

Lift to the "cottages" and all the temporary buildings in the foreground.

The hotel front. Open for business.

I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. Mansfield parking lot. Mani is on or your right, Mani lodge is in distance. over easy transfer lift pole is in foreground.

 

[Zand]

In March I left with my ski pants covered in mud from the knees down thanks to the awful parking lot. Goodbye to that haha.

 

[deadheadskier]

Man,

Nice to see that they're doing something to accommodate us tail gaters :lol:

 

[Warp Daddy]

H'mm no more mud bogging in the spring-------------------------------but Brats on the Barbie its Beach Ball time !

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice pictures...and I'm glad the mani lot is paved..

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I'm about 30 minutes from Stowe right now, wish it was winter.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm about 30 minutes from Stowe right now, wish it was winter.

Where in VT are you?

 

[deadheadskier]

I will say that the Lodge kinda looks like a GIANT Trapp Family Lodge

 

[billski]

I will say that the Lodge kinda looks like a GIANT Trapp Family Lodge

It's the MOTHERSHIP....

 

[billski]

Stowe tips the scales again
Alpine slide
$19 stowe
$10 kmart
$11 bromley, park city
$15 Attitash, jackson hole

golf
$150 Stowe
$90 Bush

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It reminds me of The Wilderness Lodge at Disney World..Alot nicer than the Barre Comfort Inn I stay at when I'm on business in Vermont..lol

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Where in VT are you?

Burlington area, I think the hotel is in Colchester. I'm leaving in a couple of hours.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Burlington area, I think the hoter is in Colchester. I'm leaving in a couple of hours.

Hampton Inn?

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Hampton Inn?

That's where I was, now I'm in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

 

[WJenness]

That's where I was, now I'm in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

How often are you home vs. in some other city for the night?

-w

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

That's where I was, now I'm in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Wow you get around...

 

[ERJ-145CA]

How often are you home vs. in some other city for the night?

-w

I'm usually home 4 nights a week, gone for 3.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Is there a single element of the design that says "Vermont"?

:flame:

Just terrible.

And paving the lot isn't exactly environmentally friendly, either....

 

[billski]

Well, if they had painted the buildings with forest green trim I might give it a "1" on a scale of 1/low-10/high authenticity. The architecture reminds me of mid West ski resorts. Only the "old" stuff on Mani keeps the old feel. My good ski bud who is an architect designed the gondi building to resemble a VT barn, but that's about 20 years ago.

Don't we even get a fake covered bridge?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Is there a single element of the design that says "Vermont"?

:flame:

Just terrible.

And paving the lot isn't exactly environmentally friendly, either....

Vermont resorts are pretty much faux European..generally...the worst is Claybrook at Sugarbush..wow is that an eyesore..lol..it looks like something at Disney World..