Big Burke announcement

[thetrailboss]

That includes education funding which is administered by the state. The $40 million hit will only impact non-educational funding. And there is a large budget gap this year and next even before this hit.

Don't get me started. The news last week was that the state of Vermont was thrilled that Keurig is going to be sold. It means millions in tax revenue for them. Forget the fact that many people will probably lose their jobs. That's small stuff apparently.


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[thetrailboss]

Sorry folks- $30 to $40 million of taxable revenue perhaps? (as opposed to tax revenue) I am not sure of the meals and rooms tax rate nor the rate on the lift tickets, but for very simple math, assume 10% (it is lower than that) Were it 10%, the resorts, hotels and restaurants would have to lost $400 million gross revenue in the month of December.

And I'm not sure why they commented about lost tax revenue. That seems like a big red herring it to me. Who cares if the State loses tax revenue? That has nothing to do with the situation at Burke Mountain.


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[doublediamond]

I think they're trying to deflect blame for they're crappy snowmaking system, basically saying along the lines "See ... the whole state is f****ed, it's not just us!"

 

[VTKilarney]

I had a chance to touch base with my friend who was at the meeting. He says that, while Ary's performance was overall not that bad, he did very poorly when speaking about the Willoughby chair. The question was whether or not it would be available as a backup since they had problems with the Mid-Burke last year. Ary said that it would not because it is a "safety issue". He gave a rambling, not coherent response to explain why it was a safety issue. My friend says that it made no sense at all.

Overall, however, my friend says that the answers given at the meeting seemed to be straighter than in the past. The one major exception being that they blamed the weather 100% for the lack of snowmaking this year.

One other tidbit that he mentioned. Ary said that they used to blow snow on the training hill first for BMA's needs. Ary said that BMA is working with the resort so there can be a balance between BMA's needs and the guests' needs. Ary said that this is why, for the first time, they blew snow on the upper mountain first.

I'm not sure how collaborative a decision that really was, but take it for what it's worth.

And one other point that he had forgotten to tell me. Ary said that they are planning on building a second snowmaking pond.

As for the hotel opening, here is one interesting comment. Somebody asked when the ice skating rink would be open. Ary said that he was not sure that it would open this year. He said that it would depend on whether or not there were guests at the hotel to use it. That certainly suggests to me that the hotel may not be opening by January 15th. My guess is mid-February. But who knows. It certainly looks well on its way to completion.

 

[deadheadskier]

Anyone ask Stenger why Ary was there and when they plan on hiring an experienced GM?

In all seriousness though wasn't Ary supposed to be out?

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

For all intents and practical purposes, I guess we all should pretend that when the MBx went in, that the Willoughby was removed, and what we see on the mountain is a figment of our imaginations.

I don't get why the Poma is closed to the public though. Did they not inspect it?

 

[VTKilarney]

For all intents and practical purposes, I guess we all should pretend that when the MBx went in, that the Willoughby was removed, and what we see on the mountain is a figment of our imaginations.

I don't get why the Poma is closed to the public though. Did they not inspect it?

My guess is that the poma is maintained by BMA, or that they at least pay for the maintenance. It's also a very old lift that has had its share of problems recently.

If the Willoughby chair won't be used by Q Burke, it would be nice to see it installed at Ascutney.


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[dlague]

That includes education funding which is administered by the state. The $40 million hit will only impact non-educational funding. And there is a large budget gap this year and next even before this hit.

And the losses are not done yet! I bet there will be a significant drop in skier visits for this season equalling more revenue losses.


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[thetrailboss]

My guess is that the poma is maintained by BMA, or that they at least pay for the maintenance. It's also a very old lift that has had its share of problems recently.

If the Willoughby chair won't be used by Q Burke, it would be nice to see it installed at Ascutney.


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The Poma is BMA's now and works fine.


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[MEtoVTSkier]

The Poma is BMA's now and works fine.

Yeah, I had thought that it had received a bunch of new custom made parts in the past few years to bring it back up into good condition again. Didn't know that BMA had sole ownership of it though. So much history tying it to Burke Mountain.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yeah, I had thought that it had received a bunch of new custom made parts in the past few years to bring it back up into good condition again. Didn't know that BMA had sole ownership of it though. So much history tying it to Burke Mountain.

My understanding is that BMA now maintains and pays for it. Might be wrong though. FTN/TOTB can you confirm?


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[MEtoVTSkier]

And they need to remove Willoughby and the Poma from lists and maps, if they are never going to be open to the Public. They won't have 6 lifts, only 4.


It's kind of like if after Killington put all this time and work into the Snowdon Triple, and then closed it off to the Public.

 

[VTKilarney]

Since the Willoughby lift is redundant it would make sense to remove it from the trail map. Having it on the map makes the trails appear to be more crowded than they actually are.

 

[Smellytele]

Since the Willoughby lift is redundant it would make sense to remove it from the trail map. Having it on the map makes the trails appear to be more crowded than they actually are.

I have been there when the detachable went down and they had to use it. That was the only time I have seen it running since they put in the detachable

 

[thetrailboss]

I have been there when the detachable went down and they had to use it. That was the only time I have seen it running since they put in the detachable

It costs nearly nothing to keep it as a backup. Q doesn't want to pay the additional $$$ for insurance I bet.


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[River19]

So it appears that based on the passholder meeting that they somewhat admit they need more water holding capacity given that they are not only dredging the existing pond so it can hold more, but also trying to develop a second holding pond. So while they won't admit any of the water problems are of their own creation, they sort of admit they could have hedged against the risk of water supply shortage with some simple foresight to at least have dredged the existing pond this summer.

70 guns huh? Wasn't Burke running about 70 guns a few years ago when even then they were considered under gunned? Granted some of these 70 will be more efficient in theory.....

Do people get the sense the hotel is opening later than Mid January?

 

[VTKilarney]

If they get to a maximum of 70 guns, they will go from a snowmaking that is absolutely horrible to a snowmaking system that is poor.

 

[River19]

If they get to a maximum of 70 guns, they will go from a snowmaking that is absolutely horrible to a snowmaking system that is poor.

And wasn't it poor before they made it horrible?

So years ago they were punching you in the face, then Q started kicking you in the nuts and now everyone is supposed to be happy to be punched in the face again and not kicked in the nuts? Got it.

Excited.

 

[thetrailboss]

And wasn't it poor before they made it horrible?

So years ago they were punching you in the face, then Q started kicking you in the nuts and now everyone is supposed to be happy to be punched in the face again and not kicked in the nuts? Got it.

Excited.

The Ginn/LA era had decent snowmaking. They're now back to pre-2000 if not 1994 levels. Ridiculous.


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[River19]

The Ginn/LA era had decent snowmaking. They're now back to pre-2000 if not 1994 levels. Ridiculous.


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So you are saying it is like complaining about bad pay rates only to have them cut your rate and then your old rate looks better.........

At the end of the day, if they can make snow to keep up with other mountains, then we all shut up, if they fall behind due to lack of ability, capacity etc. then the poop in on them