Big Burke announcement

[from_the_NEK]

I answered the email. Let's see what happens

This part of the email... "What parts of the Bear Den should be included in a new bar?" makes me a bit worried :sad:. Answer = the whole damn thing!

Cool things about the Bear Den in no particular order:
1. It has views of both the trails on the mountain AND Willoughby Gap.
2. The general construction of the building (exposed beams, worn wood plank floor, etc)
3. The real fireplace that burns real wood.
4. The ground level outdoor seating area on the mountain side.
5. The history in that oozes from the building.
a. Old Season passes of locals tacked to the beams dating back decades.
b. The collection of historical mtn artifacts up in the rafters and hanging from the walls.
6. The old rugged as hell furniture.
7. The location (easy in/easy out)

 

[kingdom-tele]

Good luck man. I certainly hope they are serious and not just placating to us.

Still trying to figure out how someone makes 100 million of anything unpretencious, unassuming, and accessible to everyone. But, I'm not super bright so hopefully the powers to be have it figured out.

you would be a good addition to the panel.

 

[from_the_NEK]

The more I think about using the Burklyn manor as a influence of design, the more I like it. The huge Doric columns may be a bit much But it is bold an unique. Design elements could be pulled from the barn too.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Oh, and next year's passes just went on sale (good for the rest of this year too).
$599 Burke only
$699 Judge pass (Burke-Jay combo)

 

[riverc0il]

Coming soon to Burke:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152295170566531&set=o.19659899440&type=1&ref=nf

 

[thetrailboss]

$100 million dollars at Burke is overwhelming.

Les Otten bought Sugarbush in 1995 for a few million and then spent $28 million in one season there on the upgrades that included Slide Brook Express, and most of the HSQ infrastructure that is there now. Almost four times that amount for a resort with one peak and less acreage? Wow.

 

[thetrailboss]

Coming soon to Burke:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152295170566531&set=o.19659899440&type=1&ref=nf

After the way my week has gone, a massage would feel pretty damn good.

 

[thetrailboss]

Oh, and next year's passes just went on sale (good for the rest of this year too).
$599 Burke only
$699 Judge pass (Burke-Jay combo)

Good price.

 

[LasersInTheTaiga]

I answered the email. Let's see what happens

This part of the email... "What parts of the Bear Den should be included in a new bar?" makes me a bit worried :sad:. Answer = the whole damn thing!

Cool things about the Bear Den in no particular order:
1. It has views of both the trails on the mountain AND Willoughby Gap.
2. The general construction of the building (exposed beams, worn wood plank floor, etc)
3. The real fireplace that burns real wood.
4. The ground level outdoor seating area on the mountain side.
5. The history in that oozes from the building.
a. Old Season passes of locals tacked to the beams dating back decades.
b. The collection of historical mtn artifacts up in the rafters and hanging from the walls.
6. The old rugged as hell furniture.
7. The location (easy in/easy out)

8. The bloody mary recipe.

I know it's the nature of things to change, but still, that question is pretty sad.

 

[kingdom-tele]

I would recommend to everyone to be apart of the last days of the bear den. there are sure to be some serious blow out nights coming up.

it is a good price TB for full access to 2 mountains

with regard to the money, spend it if you got it right, maybe they heat the parking lots so people won't have to shovel, plow or get their loafers wet walking to the magic carpet

 

[from_the_NEK]

I think the current Mid-Lodge and the Bear Den will be around through next year. The new hotel-lodge isn't slated to be done until 2014. However, I agree that we should party more :beer: .

 

[from_the_NEK]

Looking forward, I wonder if something like this can be worked out for the Bear Den?

Keep it where it is, attach it with an elevated hallway to whatever new lodge is built to replace the old Mid-Burke (The lodge I have here is 130'x70'). The orange area is the fenced-in outside seating.
This configuration would likely result in the loss of the wood fireplace in the Bear Den due to the chimney being on the side facing the lodge. I think smoke would have a hard time clearing the area.

In this picture you can also see I included a parking deck over the lot that is at the bottom of the steps. It just covers the upper one of the two lots over there. This would be similar to the parking deck that was built at the Tramside lot at Jay. One of the concerns about all of the planned buildings at Mid-Burke is the lack of parking. I figure the deck, as I have it drawn here, would expand parking by about 150 spaces on the top and 20-30 spaces on the lower level (depending on layout). I think this would be a good option over cutting out satelite parking which would require shuttles.

 

[from_the_NEK]

New flyover video of the soon to be built hotel\lodge\conference center.

I built an actual model for Google Earth using Sketch-Up. If I submitted it correctly, the 3D model should be visible in Google Earth.

 

[oldtimer]

BRAVO- that is a fine piece of work.

 

[the original trailboss]

That is just amazing - you do great work!

 

[the original trailboss]

As I started this thread some time ago maybe now is a good time to weigh in here again..... It is going to be a major challenge (I'm trying to be nice here) to do what the new owners have in mind and retain the "character" and "personality" that makes Burke so special in the ski world. Yes, its a throwback (isn't much of the NEK persona?) and yes, it needs some changes and, certainly, I would be the first to agree that there is a long-standing need for on-mountain beds, BUT Burke's biggest asset in the marketplace is what it isn't. Nearly 20 years ago I skied at Jackson Hole and the busiest place on the mountain was a crusty old, and small, Bear Den-ish bar next to the fancy stuff. Skiers can find uber amenities, too many lifts and too much glitz at lots of place (and don't forget all those McDonaldisd, high volume ones!) at lots of places but you can't find many Burke Mountains anymore. Large crowds and liftlines do not lend themselves to personal touches like Burke has (uber resorts with lots of servant-class help notwithstanding) so the challenge is huge! I think the table of 12 is slightly exclusive (but I also submitted my (real) name) but possibly this forum is a good place to have a real discussion about how to accomplish what they are proposing to do...............................

 

[riverc0il]

I'd say retaining the character and personality of the old Burke is not only a major challenge but down right impossible. It is already a different place. I was there two weeks ago and realized something while riding the lift... people aren't chatting it up on the lift. Used to be you might as well get comfortable and strike up a conversation. Now it is just another high speeder. A classic lodge and bar will be destroyed for something we've already seen at Jay (that already looked like it was a standard design from a big resort company).

Much like Jay, the selling point is that the trails and the skiing is the same (excepting more people on the hill at one time).

One thing they can't really change is while they will get more guests, they'll never have mega resort numbers. It is always going to be a less busy resort. But I don't think the character of the mountain will be retained at all. It is already changing. It already feels quite different. Ginn didn't change much with the Sherburne Express and lower lodge development. I feel that (aside from some trail widening), nothing much really changed with Ginn. But with what is proposed for Burke, I can't imagine it ever feeling like an old school sleeping ski area with "different than the big resorts" charm.

 

[steamboat1]

MRG is pretty much the same as when I first skied there in the 60's. Something to be said for that.

I have to deal with the mega resorts but it's always nice to be able to go back to my roots.

Hope it never changes.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I'm not sure that my model will be approved for inclusion in Google Earth's 3D buildings due to a couple of selection criteria I violated.
Rule 1: Must be a real and permanant structure.
Rule 5: Must be a single discrete structure.
Rule violation #1 is kind of a given since construction has not yet started.
Rule violation #5 may get me since I also put the bottom terminal of the Mid-Burke Express in there.

If anyone has Google Earth and wants the model. It is available for download here:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=5ebd68854f6b6fafabbd4f2282d3f160&prevstart=24

 

[SkiRaceParent]

I am a relative Burke newbie, but have spent a lot of time at the mountain the last two seasons. I also am a bit nervous about the changes, however, I do sense that the people who are making this happen do care a lot. They are from the NEK and are (I hope) going to do the 'right thing'. For instance, in speaking with Rachel earlier this week she says she's looking forward to the changes. I guess it can only be a good thing for her to be positive. I think we should embrace change and be excited about it. If you want old school still then a lot of those places are closing and will be gone forever. I for one am happy Burke has been 'selected'. The alternative would be much worse.