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Bolton Valley Sold: Back to the Future

Jully

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Interesting. Don't know much about how he was as an owner previously. I take it you aren't convinced that this will end well?

I thought redstone was doing a solid job from what i knew.
 

thetrailboss

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Interesting. Don't know much about how he was as an owner previously. I take it you aren't convinced that this will end well?

I thought redstone was doing a solid job from what i knew.

I just am not sure. They were $4 mill in the hole IIRC. I wonder where they got the money.


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BenedictGomez

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Bolton Valley is a lot better mountain than most people think or know, the problem seems to revolve around actually getting people there to realize the fact that it's a lot better mountain than they think or know.

I haven't skied there in years either, but I'd like to. The problem is all the people I ski with dont want to go there, rinse/repeat. So it seems to me that marketing is a big part of their problem.
 

thetrailboss

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Bolton Valley is a lot better mountain than most people think or know, the problem seems to revolve around actually getting people there to realize the fact that it's a lot better mountain than they think or know.

I haven't skied there in years either, but I'd like to. The problem is all the people I ski with dont want to go there, rinse/repeat. So it seems to me that marketing is a big part of their problem.

Yep. The interstate exit would be a huge boon to the area. It hurts them a lot even though the drive is not THAT bad. The other issue though is the steep access road. I haven't driven it since 2010 or so, but I understand that it is getting rough.

And VTD has done a more in-depth article that just came out: https://vtdigger.org/2017/04/17/bol...il&utm_term=0_dc3c5486db-63994ad086-405558657

Some interesting information--apparently they are going to maintain the local market focus. That is good but also vulnerable considering the Epic Pass. I also found the comments about Lindsay's lobbying group and their position on family leave to be very uncomfortable to say the least:

Main Street Alliance has been advocating this Legislative session for a paid family leave bill. Lindsay DesLauriers said the owners of Bolton Valley supported the idea but would not be offering that benefit at this time.

Looks like now that she is involved in a very tough business she is reconsidering her position on this issue. Very good of VTD to ask the question and it looks like they caught her off guard. The transition from non-profit to private for profit business can be tricky.
 
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thetrailboss

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I also think that Redstone needs to be praised for keeping the place going for the past 12-13 years or so while keeping it at break-even or slightly in the black. They have been the most stable ownership for the area since Ralph went under.
 

bdfreetuna

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So she still supports family leave she just wants everyone else to pay for it.

Always tough reconciling socialism with actually running a business.

In any case I hope they are very successful running Bolton Valley.
 

benski

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So she still supports family leave she just wants everyone else to pay for it.

Always tough reconciling socialism with actually running a business.

Some greedy people realize that if the government would limit there greed society is better off despite not wanting to make that sacrifice on there own. This is much more applicable to protecting commonly held resources such as fishing stocks, water or air but it could also apply to family leave.
 

bdfreetuna

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Some greedy people realize that if the government would limit there greed society is better off despite not wanting to make that sacrifice on there own. This is much more applicable to protecting commonly held resources such as fishing stocks, water or air but it could also apply to family leave.

I'm not opposed to family leave. But this reminds me of the Ted Cruz vs Bernie Sanders debate where Bernie ended up telling a business owner in the audience that she shouldn't be running a business if she couldn't afford to pay health insurance for the employees (in a small business).

I am opposed to burdening small and struggling businesses with one-size-fits-all regulations. I'm also opposed on principle to eternally expanding the taxpayer burden to accommodate advances in expectations of entitlement. At some point taxation becomes extortion. It is not even an ethical argument that the citizens of a state should all pitch in for other folks family leave time because the employers would or could not do it voluntarily.

In a competitive job market, family leave becomes an attractive benefit. So it's better for government's role to be taking whatever measures increase economic prosperity rather than trying to solve issues of entitlement through imperfect and coercive means, which in turn would work against economic prosperity and exacerbate the underlying issue.
 

thetrailboss

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I just thought it was interesting that VTD did their homework before the interview and asked her that question directly...probably in between hearing from her how great everything is going to be now that they are back in town.

Call me skeptical. Just hate to see another place go NELSAP.
 

Jcb890

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Smelly, that quote is perfect for our society today:
“The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”


I'll just leave the quote Smelly posted because I thought it was apropos.
 
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dlague

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This conversation needs to stop ASAP or this thread will get shut down. Lets agree to disagree and move on! I would like to blow up the last post but it is neither productive or appropriate for this site. BTW I totally disagree with paid paternity leave and I will leave it at that!
 

SkiFanE

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This conversation needs to stop ASAP or this thread will get shut down. Lets agree to disagree and move on! I would like to blow up the last post but it is neither productive or appropriate for this site. BTW I totally disagree with paid paternity leave and I will leave it at that!
I deleted for you. The post I quoted is neither productive or appropriate, but the standing vibe around here, so it can stay.
 

Jcb890

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Sorry for going off on a rant, that's my bad. In the future though, I don't mind if people have a rebuttal against my opinion(s). I have edited my post to remove the ranting.
 

dlague

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I deleted for you. The post I quoted is neither productive or appropriate, but the standing vibe around here, so it can stay.

I get it! These threads can become easily hijacked, especially when politics are involved. Facebook is terrible for that reason.

Anyhow, it will be interesting to see where they take BV and whether or not they can stay afloat.
 

bdfreetuna

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dlague acting all level-minded, with another month or more of skiing to enjoy in Colorado.

For those of us on the East coast, we're faced with the prospect of finding something other than skiing to do for the next half year. We can be easily triggered! And my TRIGGER is socialism!

:smash:
 

deadheadskier

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Everyone has their triggers. Mine is those who try and govern from the pulpit.

I'd rather focus on the ski operation plans of BVs new owners than their political stances.

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