Cranmore sold?

[threecy]

I think it would be really good business to bring back a modernized skimobile. You could use detatchable grip technology and make on & off painless. Not exactly on-budget but it would restore the icon and create a ton of off-season business.

A skimobile would cut the mountain in half again.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm not sure about the offseason business...tram rides at Cannon and Jay as well as off-season gondola rides at Killington and Stowe do not create tons of revenue.

 

[Geoff]

I'm not sure about the offseason business...tram rides at Cannon and Jay as well as off-season gondola rides at Killington and Stowe do not create tons of revenue.

Cannon, Jay, Kmart, and Stowe don't have outlet hell a few miles away.

I keep meaning to digitize the 8mm home movies of me skiing at Cranmore at age 6. Wood skis, cable bindings, lace boots, bamboo poles, a "Charlie Brown" outfit.

 

[thetrailboss]

Cannon, Jay, Kmart, and Stowe don't have outlet hell a few miles away.

True, but places such as Stratton do and again the gondola rides do not create much significant revenue. I doubt that the SkiMobile would be different. Nice idea, but folks don't seem to want to do things like that anymore.

 

[meff]

MEFF, the simplest answer is that the new fixed grip quad will be double the capacity of the existing fixed grip double in place now on the South Slope. I can't tell you how many skiers per hour exactly that is but it will be twice as much.
...

Thanks for the questions, keep 'em coming!

I was just reading the blog post about all the construction, and it indicates a detachable quad - from a crowded slopes perspective I really hope not, or there are less chairs. More than doubling capacity on that side of the mountain could lead to some busy days for patrol.

 

[deadheadskier]

True, but places such as Stratton do and again the gondola rides do not create much significant revenue. I doubt that the SkiMobile would be different. Nice idea, but folks don't seem to want to do things like that anymore.

Cranmore to the Outlets = 2 miles tops

Stratton to Manchester = 15+ miles, close to a half an hour.

I've been over in Southern VT for work a bit this summer. Manchester has been very busy, where as Stratton has been a ghost town. It really isn't tied into Manchester the way Cranmore is to North Conway.

Maybe times have changed, but the skimobile was quite a busy attraction when I was a kid. I found it cooler than riding chairlifts and gondolas as it seemed like you were driving your own car up the mountain.

Cranmore might be the closest mountain to a town center in the Northeast. They can actually capitalize on foot traffic. Pretty unique.

 

[Edd]

I was just reading the blog post about all the construction, and it indicates a detachable quad - from a crowded slopes perspective I really hope not, or there are less chairs. More than doubling capacity on that side of the mountain could lead to some busy days for patrol.

The new quad on the South slope, which will replace the existing double, will be a fixed grip quad. I'm assuming you are talking about the South slope, which is beginner terrain.

My source is my girlfriend, who works in management there year round.