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After Failed Initiative, Black Mountain (ME) Set to Close

thetrailboss

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This is the first I've read about IROC closing. What a shame. I did a century bike ride out of there a couple of years ago and my wife and I thought that this was one of the best community centers we've ever seen. What a treaure for a town like Newport to have that. z don't know that specifics on the funding situation but we did raise a good amount for the place with the multi-day bike ride. I think my wife and I spent well over $1000 in the communtity the weekend we were there, this is on top of the $500-600 we raised for the center.
Bummer the non-profit couldn't make the place work.

Like Black Mountain, it is in one of the poorest parts of the state and an area that was really in need. Unfortunately this area also does not have a lot of economic activity/growth to support it.
 

kingdom-tele

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Like Black Mountain, it is in one of the poorest parts of the state and an area that was really in need. Unfortunately this area also does not have a lot of economic activity/growth to support it.


Please don't read this as arguementative but IROC's issues would have been an issue anywhere else. the facility's loss of clientel was unrelated to the areas economic status. it was built poorly, was expensive to run, and was becoming literally a mess that would have needed another 1million to correct. the infrastructure woes and its attempt to provide an cheap resource to the community didn't mesh. People here would have paid more to use it but the snow ball was already to big. as mlctvt mentioned, there were a number of great fundraisers that raised an amazing amount, local philanthropists that floated it year after year, and a community that breathed life back into it repeatedly.
 

deadheadskier

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Yeah, admittedly I don't know the details, but it seems odd. The Libra Foundation dumped 20 million into the place and now they are ready to shut it down over $50,000 needed to sustain the place over the summer???

Say what?

A foundation has already dumped $20 million into Black Mountain and now they're closing? Am I understanding you correctly or are you referring to something else?

That seems like a huge chunk of cash for what has been developed there. I mean, there have been multiple large eastern ski resorts that have sold for less than that amount over the past decade or so. Saddleback and Wildcat come to mind.
 

Quietman

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Say what?

A foundation has already dumped $20 million into Black Mountain and now they're closing? Am I understanding you correctly or are you referring to something else?

I was also doubtful about this statement, but it is somewhat true. The Libra Foundation has given the Maine Winter Sports Center, who owns Black, Big Rock, and Quoggy Jo ski areas in addition to some other facilities a crapload of money over the years. The following figures are from Libra's site. So the money wasn't just for Black, but I'm sure that a lot was spent there when they put in the 2 new lifts and snowmaking in 2004(I think) when Libra gave them 5.6 million.

Maine Winter Sports Center 465,000 1999

Maine Winter Sports Center 3,025,000 2000

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,185,000 2001

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,030,141 2002

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,516,654 2003

Maine Winter Sports Center 5,659,865 2004

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,827,037 2005

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,576,715 2006

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,679,591 2007

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,671,637 2008

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,241,174 2009

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,938,633 2010

Maine Winter Sports Center 966,150 2011

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,485,715 2012

Maine Winter Sports Center 450,000 2013

The drop from $1,485,715 in 2012 to $450,000 in 2013 is probably a bigger reason for the potential closing than the town of Rumford's measly 50k. Certainly brings some new light to the matter!!!! Thanks for the heads up Riverskier!
 

bigbog

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So far for so many to drive...by the time I'm down there I'd be paying as much as I would at SR(without the drive of course).
Just one leather-tanning mill in Rumford/Mexico and ultra-small businesses. A community can't survive with just that. The whole state, outside of the larger towns/cities is so depressed with so little accountability, by State Gov't, with how $$$ is thrown around, as previously described...compared with NYS...where I grew up, where at least NYC is separate from the rest of the state...lol. State Gov't up here is so anti-business it's pathetic.
 
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thetrailboss

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I was also doubtful about this statement, but it is somewhat true. The Libra Foundation has given the Maine Winter Sports Center, who owns Black, Big Rock, and Quoggy Jo ski areas in addition to some other facilities a crapload of money over the years. The following figures are from Libra's site. So the money wasn't just for Black, but I'm sure that a lot was spent there when they put in the 2 new lifts and snowmaking in 2004(I think) when Libra gave them 5.6 million.

Maine Winter Sports Center 465,000 1999

Maine Winter Sports Center 3,025,000 2000

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,185,000 2001

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,030,141 2002

Maine Winter Sports Center 2,516,654 2003

Maine Winter Sports Center 5,659,865 2004

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,827,037 2005

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,576,715 2006

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,679,591 2007

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,671,637 2008

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,241,174 2009

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,938,633 2010

Maine Winter Sports Center 966,150 2011

Maine Winter Sports Center 1,485,715 2012

Maine Winter Sports Center 450,000 2013

The drop from $1,485,715 in 2012 to $450,000 in 2013 is probably a bigger reason for the potential closing than the town of Rumford's measly 50k. Certainly brings some new light to the matter!!!! Thanks for the heads up Riverskier!

Interesting. I wonder why the drop.
 

Angus

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does anyone know if this will effect (or affect) the XC operations.

So, that everyone knows...The Libra Foundation is a responsive, dynamic and well-endowed private philanthropic foundation. Since its creation by Elizabeth Noyce in 1989, the Foundation has made significant contributions to worthy causes throughout the State of Maine. Embracing the sense of proportion and fairness defined by its name, Libra, the Foundation maintains a balance and diversity of giving throughout Maine and across all populations. - source: http://librafoundation.org/mission

She was married/divorced to Robert Noyce of Fairfield Semiconductor/Intel fame.

The XC programs are very popular/active in the community and host of many national/international events...in recent years.

I don't know much about Maine Winter Sports Center but I bet large percentage of the referenced amount above was directed to XC facilities...many of which are world class and IMO an overlooked bright spot in New England winter sports.
 

deadheadskier

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Inspiring hearing a 92 year old man like Chummy whose done so many amazing things in skiing all of us could only dream of contributing to the sport; talk about the importance of a little place like Black.

We need more Chummy's in our sport.
 
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