Burke's New Owners and New Start (2025)

[Edd]

so what can Burke do to "market" itself better to be sustainable.

As someone who has never skied there, and before joining this forum even knew it existed, sell me on why I would want to ski there.

Doesn’t get enough credit for the glades (there’s a lot). The blue cruisers there have a steep pitch, comparable to Sugarbush (someone correct me if wrong, I’m not an expert on either mountain) and there’s a few narrow, windy groomers that are refreshingly not-boring. Just skis like very playful hill. If there’s snow, it’s about as fun as it gets for me because I’ve never seen it crowded. The Indy has gotta move the needle this year for that but I don’t mind.

 

[snoseek]

I don't see it becoming too overcrowded. Obviously they need to get more people on the hill but there's plenty of room for that. It's location should keep things somewhat in check. It really is a gem.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes. That said, Schaffer and Day are two big players in the ski area industry. Hopefully egos do not collide on best paths forward. That would be my only concern.

Hopefully not. My read is that Day is going to be, wait for it, the 'Day to Day' operations manager while Schaefer watches from afar. Terrible pun I know.

This is the first time, probably in my lifetime, that I see an actual management team with experience and knowledge in place. Normally it is a good operations guy but not much else. The last ten years has been really tough with the local GM not really being a ski guy.

 

[thetrailboss]

so what can Burke do to "market" itself better to be sustainable.

As someone who has never skied there, and before joining this forum even knew it existed, sell me on why I would want to ski there.

As said, it needs to increase snowmaking and get more traffic.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I looked and its about equal distance to Burke as it is Stowe for me. But Its in the middle of nowhere with no other skiing "relatively" close by besides Jay.

I know I'm not their target customer, so hopefully they market metro Boston and NH hard as its much easier to get to from those places.

 

[thetrailboss]

I looked and its about equal distance to Burke as it is Stowe for me. But Its in the middle of nowhere with no other skiing "relatively" close by besides Jay.

I know I'm not their target customer, so hopefully they market metro Boston and NH hard as its much easier to get to from those places.

Well, Cannon is less than 1 hour away. Same with Bretton Woods.

And sometimes being in the middle of nowhere is a good thing.

 

[Edd]

As far as marketing, I mean the internet knows me and posts ads in my face for all kinds of shit I want, including ski areas far and wide. Not once has a Burke ad popped up on YouTube, Instagram, and all manner of intrusive pop-up heavy websites.

 

[thetrailboss]

As far as marketing, I mean the internet knows me and posts ads in my face for all kinds of shit I want, including ski areas far and wide. Not once has a Burke ad popped up on YouTube, Instagram, and all manner of intrusive pop-up heavy websites.

Interestingly enough the last few years Burke has focused a lot on this outlet, which I don't know is widely known or seen:

Home - Seamans Media, Inc.

INSPIRING INFORMATIVE INSIGHTFUL Seamans Media is the leader in specialized sports content Seamans Media is the premier source for news and analysis about amateur athletics in the Northeast, featuring a multimedia portfolio of five brands across baseball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and...

www.seamansmedia.com

The last two years or so this company has produced, essentially, a half-hour "infomercial" on the mountain that I presume aired on cable networks in the Northeast. Here it is. I say it is worth the watch:

 

[thebigo]

I looked and its about equal distance to Burke as it is Stowe for me. But Its in the middle of nowhere with no other skiing "relatively" close by besides Jay.

think about it form the boston ski family perspective with indy pass: cannon/WV/Burke and Jay makes for a good vacation week. Start at Jay and work your way south.

 

[switchfox]

Burke shared a photo on Facebook about rebuilding the motor for Mid-burke express https://www.facebook.com/stories/100322268810011/UzpfSVNDOjEwMTc0MzQ5MjY4MDQzMjg=/?view_single=1

 

[thetrailboss]

Burke shared a photo on Facebook about rebuilding the motor for Mid-burke express https://www.facebook.com/stories/100322268810011/UzpfSVNDOjEwMTc0MzQ5MjY4MDQzMjg=/?view_single=1

As crazy as it sounds, that lift is now 14 years old.

 

[skixc2]

I looked and its about equal distance to Burke as it is Stowe for me. But Its in the middle of nowhere with no other skiing "relatively" close by besides Jay.

I know I'm not their target customer, so hopefully they market metro Boston and NH hard as its much easier to get to from those places.

Don't forget Lyndon Outing Club (Lyndon, VT), Northeast Slopes (Corinth, VT), Mount Prospect (Lancaster, NH), and Mt. Eustis (Littleton, NH)
On a more serious note, in addition to Cannon and Bretton Woods as already listed, Mt. Orford (Orford, QC) and Owl's Head (Potton, QC) are also in the vicinity of 1hr away.

 

[thetrailboss]

Don't forget Lyndon Outing Club (Lyndon, VT), Northeast Slopes (Corinth, VT), Mount Prospect (Lancaster, NH), and Mt. Eustis (Littleton, NH)
On a more serious note, in addition to Cannon and Bretton Woods as already listed, Mt. Orford (Orford, QC) and Owl's Head (Potton, QC) are also in the vicinity of 1hr away.

When there is snow, a visit to my other home hill, the Lyndon Outing Club, is a good idea to see what skiing was like.