Burke's New Owners and New Start (2025)

[urungus]

Newpylong said:
Northeast Expansion is on hold for now.

Bummer

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Have to question the ROI in a major expansion like that at a Massachusetts ski area.

How much more market share will the development grab from the larger and snowier neighbors not far north?

You could apply that logic to a lot of expansions. DV isn't a good comp b/c we all know that's more about real estate. But Sundance, Ski Cooper, Monarch and a host of others are planning or recently completed expansions despite larger, snowier neighbors nearby. I'd imagine there has to be some marketing value of being the biggest ski area in MA by far. If they can deliver reliable skiing that's 30-60 minutes closer, not to mention much cheaper, than their competition in Southern/Central VT, that seems promising to me.

 

[kbroderick]

If they can deliver reliable skiing that's 30-60 minutes closer, not to mention much cheaper, than their competition in Southern/Central VT, that seems promising to me.

IMO, a big question would be whether or not shifting climate cuts into their viable snowmaking hours too far (and whether or not they can expand simultaneous capacity enough that they can hit both new terrain and existing terrain during the windows they get).

Some of the western resorts mentioned have both a significant elevation advantage and are part of a region with growing skier visit numbers (and population), so there are a bunch of variables in play.