Balsams Grand Resort teams up with ski industry legend Les Otten

[drjeff]

For the Balsams to thrive, it needs to be a world class resort that happens to have skiing, rather than a destination ski resort with a world class hotel. To be honest, I think the thing that makes the most financial sense would be a casino. It keeps getting shot down, and now they're not even looking to put one in the North Country anymore, but I think a high end casino would easily support all the other operations of the resort.

Agree! It's already got a LEGIT golf course with some incredible views, which can, and has drive business during non ski months. What it really needs, even though it goes against the model of what it was, was some technology upgrades to reflect modern needs/demands. As much as it may be a statement of the modern family and it's communication abilities, you've got to have hotel rooms with TV's in them, and wifi is a must. I think in one sense you need to see what/how Omni Resorts has re-made the Mount Washington Hotel. It still has the grandeur of it's past, but with enough modern ammenities (or maybe even in this day and age necesseties) to attract business conventions as well as "modern" iPad addicted families who once there find out that it's actually quite easy and enjoyable to turn off the electronic devices for a bit and enjoy the incredible White Mountains! And please don't take my last statement as one where I equate the skiing at Brettonwoods with the skiing at the Balsams. Golf course wise they are pretty darn close in caliber, but skiing wise, BW is in a far greater league that it's neighbor to the North!

 

[steamboat1]

The Balsams first opened in 1860 & the hotel expanded to it's present size in 1918. Skiing didn't become a part of the Balsams resort until 1966.

 

[VTKilarney]

I'd hazard to guess that the rise of the automobile was a huge factor in the resort's troubles. For as remote as the resort is, there is a train line to Colebrook that must have brought lots of guests back in the day.

 

[AdironRider]

I also think that Jackson Hole is just a little bit better of a mountain. Just a little... It's also got a pretentious village, which is not quite the same as Colebrook. Trust me on that one.

The mountain only drives about 10% of total valley visitors believe it or not, obviously that's primarily in the winter. Jackson was always an outpost for the wealthy, for a myriad of different reasons, skiing only being a small slice. Most rich folk aren't crushing first trams and hiking Cody Peak. While obviously not on par with Jhole terrain wise, its the whole package. The primary reason JHole is a rich guy place isn't the resort, its a low tax liability state. People park money here, their business associates travel here for meetings (Bernanke and all his boys come out to Jackson every summer - something they used to all do in Northern New Hampshire - Bretton Woods conference anyone?), word gets out. You guys are looking at this as just revolving around the ski area, when in reality that's just an amenity, no more so than phones next to shitters and a decent concierge. Rich guys do like exclusivity, something Northern New Hampshire has much in common with Wyoming.

 

[from_the_NEK]

30 miles away in Milan, NH there is an airport with a 5000' runway capable of landing small business jets.

 

[steamboat1]

I read that they are hoping for a reduction in the setbacks for a wind turbine farm up there from 1300 feet to 500 feet. I live near a wind farm, and I have no visual objections to them, in fact, I smile when I see them turning and producing "free" power. There are two areas of concern however. First is when those turbines start turning on those cold mornings and throw off some ice chunks, it ain't gonna be pretty. Second is the reality abut the noise they produce. Downwind, they make quite a noise, similar to any household fan, only much louder and penetrating. Basically, it sounds like a train passing by over the hill a short distance away. Only, the train never goes by, it just stays there all day.

Bolton Valley has a wind turbine located pretty close to one of their lifts.

 

[from_the_NEK]

So does Burke (exact same model as Bolton). However both of those are small/medium size turbines that are only 150' tall. The ones one the ridge line above the Balsams are 3-4 times that size and can throw larger chucks of ice further.

 

[WWF-VT]

For the Balsams to thrive, it needs to be a world class resort that happens to have skiing, rather than a destination ski resort with a world class hotel. To be honest, I think the thing that makes the most financial sense would be a casino. It keeps getting shot down, and now they're not even looking to put one in the North Country anymore, but I think a high end casino would easily support all the other operations of the resort.

Casinos thrive on busloads of retirees pumping their money into slot machines. It's ridiculous to think that a "destination casino" in the middle of nowhere NH is going to put the Balsams into the black.

 

[drjeff]

Casinos thrive on busloads of retirees pumping their money into slot machines. It's ridiculous to think that a "destination casino" in the middle of nowhere NH is going to put the Balsams into the black.

There was a study done not too long ago that found that within the past year, over 2/3rds of the residents of NH had driven South to either Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun at least on one occasion.(as someone who lives along the Interstate 395 corridor in Eastern CT, based on the number of NH and MA license plates I see traveling on the "casino-expressway" daily, and especially on weekends, I really don't doubt that data!) I think that there is some demand for a casino in NH for sure. Would those same people want to drive North to a casino at the Balsams if it was developed??? That's the multi, mutli million dollar question.....

No if NH or MA just don't want any large scale casino development, the general fund in my home state of CT i'm quite sure will gladly keep taking a cut off the slot revenue that is augmented by non CT residents, that the casino's pay to CT every month!

 

[deadheadskier]

I've heard that 2/3rds stat thrown around myself. I must hang with a different kind of NH resident. I honestly don't know a single friend or family member that's been to the CT casinos recently if ever at all.

I do know plenty who have gone to Vegas however.

 

[Smellytele]

I've heard that 2/3rds stat thrown around myself. I must hang with a different kind of NH resident. I honestly don't know a single friend or family member that's been to the CT casinos recently if ever at all.

I do know plenty who have gone to Vegas however.

I am also in the 1/3rd. Also none of my friends or family have gone either. Only 2 or 3 have even gone to Vegas.

 

[AdironRider]

I've heard that 2/3rds stat thrown around myself. I must hang with a different kind of NH resident. I honestly don't know a single friend or family member that's been to the CT casinos recently if ever at all.

I do know plenty who have gone to Vegas however.

And 76% of statistics are made up on the spot. There's no way that many individual people from NH do that, but I do suspect the people that do go, go religiously.

Kind of like when a ski resort claims 100k skier visits, but that wasnt 100k individual people. More like a select group of people going multiple times.

 

[DoublePlanker]

CT casinos are in serious trouble. Foxwoods is really hurting now. Its way overbuilt. Once developed (if developed), Mass casinos will steal those MA and NH customers. A Mass casino will be closer to majority of NH residents living in southern NH than a casino at the Balsams.

I know a north country casino has been proposed to help with jobs. It may be viable and a good idea at a new Balsams. But I would think they want to cater to the high end and be a destination resort instead of a slot parlor for locals.

 

[from_the_NEK]

CT casinos are in serious trouble. Foxwoods is really hurting now. Its way overbuilt. Once developed (if developed), Mass casinos will steal those MA and NH customers. A Mass casino will be closer to majority of NH residents living in southern NH than a casino at the Balsams.

I know a north country casino has been proposed to help with jobs. It may be viable and a good idea at a new Balsams. But I would think they want to cater to the high end and be a destination resort instead of a slot parlor for locals.

I envision a casino ala James Bond movies. Something the very well to do would go to without having to hang around the regular casino riffraff.

 

[VTKilarney]

A small casino may attract Quebecers. Just filling up on gas and buying alcohol and cigarettes would be enticement.

 

[deadheadskier]

Isn't all this casino talk putting the cart before the horse? The vote was close, but a legalized gambling bill was just shot down. The second one this year if I do recall.

 

[AdironRider]

I'm with deadhead on this one, casinos are pretty much a last ditch effort, and even then, I suspect they will only be allowed in a few select areas, usually shitty ones. I would see Berlin or Seabrook down south getting a Casino before anything comes close to the notch.

 

[VTKilarney]

The truth is that NH is too late to the game for casinos to be anything substantial. New Hampshire casinos will be like those sad little casinos you see at some resorts in the tropics.

 

[dlague]

I'm with deadhead on this one, casinos are pretty much a last ditch effort, and even then, I suspect they will only be allowed in a few select areas, usually shitty ones. I would see Berlin or Seabrook down south getting a Casino before anything comes close to the notch.

Or the run down Rockingham Park in Salem, NH. There has been talk about that for years and it is next to one of the largest Malls in NH


i typed with my i thumbs using AlpineZone

 

[steamboat1]

How's this place just outside Lancaster?

http://www.mountainviewgrand.com/directions.htm

Not to far from Balsams & other northern NH. ski areas.

Stayed in Lancaster a few times but never at this place.

This is where we stayed.

http://www.cabotinnandsuites.com/