Gore Mountain Interconnect

[catskills]

The Gore Mountain Interconnect plan had some interesting data. As you read the increased skier visits at various resorts that are located not to far away from each other, you have to wonder did they steal the customers away from other ski areas or did the number of folks skiing and riding just increase in this area of the Northeast?

http://www.goremountain.com/SEIS/press/Appendix_2_-_Economic_Analysis.pdf

Okemo, Vermont – the current owners of the Okemo Mountain Resort purchased the ski area in the early 1980s. At that time, the ski area was a minor player in the Vermont market. The ski area hosted approximately 90,000 skier-visits on an annual basis and had a daily capacity of approximately 2,700 skiers. The ski area held only three percent of the Vermont ski market. In the intervening years, resort ownership embarked upon a regular pattern of major capital improvements, including: enhanced snowmaking, improved trail network, new lifts, new grooming equipment, improved skier services and accommodations. The skiing public responded positively to these capital improvements. With a current daily capacity of nearly 11,400 skiers, Okemo now hosts over 600,000 skier-visits on an annual basis – a 578 percent increase over the early 1980s level. Further, the ski area holds a 14 percent market share in Vermont and is now regarded as one of the state’s market leaders.

Sugarbush, Vermont - During the four ski seasons from 1990/91 through 1993/94, skier visits at this ski area averaged just over 301,000. In 1994, new ownership promised major changes to the facility. A widely publicized $28 Million improvement program followed these changes in 1995, including a lift connection between Sugarbush’s two mountains. Skier-visits during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons averaged almost 353,000, amounting to an absolute increase of almost 52,000 skiers, and a 17+ percent increase over the period previous to the improvements.

Attitash, New Hampshire - During the four ski seasons from 1990/91 through 1993/94, skier-visits averaged just about 150,000. Following the purchase of the area in 1993, new management moved forward with expansion of the ski area - constructing trails and a major new lift in the ‘Bear Peak’ area, which debuted during the 1994/95 season. Skier-visits during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons averaged almost 190,000, amounting to an absolute increase of over 38,000 skiers, a 25+ percent increase in business activity over the period previous to the improvement

Pie Chart on page 29 indicates 43 percent of Gore's skier/rider visits come from Catskill Mountains-Hudson Valley area and points further south like NYC, NJ, PA, other Mid-Atlantic states. I would assume most southern VT ski areas like Okemo, Mt Snow, and Killington also have a higher percentage of skier visits from Hudson Valley and points south.

Interesting terminology ‘Skiers At One Time’ (SAOT) or ‘Comfortable Carrying Capacity’ (CCC).

Enjoy,

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Pie Chart on page 29 indicates 43 percent of Gore's skier/rider visits come from Catskill Mountains-Hudson Valley area and points further south like NYC, NJ, PA, other Mid-Atlantic states. I would assume most southern VT ski areas like Okemo, Mt Snow, and Killington also have a higher percentage of skier visits from Hudson Valley and points south.

And only 3% from New England! :-o

 

[drjeff]

And only 3% from New England! :-o

Easy to get a New Yorker to goto New England for turns, tougher to get a New Englander to goto New York for turns

 

[deadheadskier]

And only 3% from New England! :-o

That probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Gore is a PITA to get to from the majority of New England. They would have to improve/differentiate themselves considerably from their New England competitors to expect that figure to change.

I would imagine that whiteface has a ver similar percentage, maybe a bit higher due to the draw of Lake Placid's history and off hill activities. If it weren't for LP, I would guess Whiteface would have an even lower percentage. The reality is that the superior vert, slides etc, isn't enough to get the 'average' skier over to Whiteface. Heck even the 'non-average'. I've been skiing in New England for 25 years and have never motivated over to Gore or Whiteface. Someday I will, but it's not a high priority for me outside of skiing the Slides.

 

[catskills]

And only 3% from New England! :-o

Easy to get a New Yorker to goto New England for turns, tougher to get a New Englander to goto New York for turns

Good points. Its funny how a few lines on a map will affect where people travel. I could be wrong, most/many folks from VT, NH, MA, and CT have never been to the Adirondacks in summer or winter. This is sad because the dacks are truly one of Earth's treasures. Oh well.

 

[snoseek]

It's because you can't easily travel east-west in New England. Highways are set up to take people north-south because the population follws the coastline.

Example. Dover N.H. to Mount Snow was at least three hours because you had to take a series of windy roads. I couldn't imagine driving to New York and passing so many good ski areas. I do regret never getting to WF.

 

[St. Jerry]

Perhaps it's because the skiing is better in VT than NY? just a thought....

 

[catskills]

Perhaps it's because the skiing is better in VT than NY? just a thought....

nah

 

[deadheadskier]

It's because you can't easily travel east-west in New England. Highways are set up to take people north-south because the population follws the coastline.

.

Going East to West in northern New England is a major pain. The NIMBY's would never allow out it, but I always thought New England needed a highway going direct across from Portland to Rutland and then on to Glenns Falls. It would make getting around much easier, not to mention vastly improve the economy of Northern New England.

 

[Stache]

All you guys that know Gore and Whiteface are better than VT quit advertising it to the world. It's supposed to be a secret. Now we're gonna gets crowds and problems geesh.

 

[snoseek]

Going East to West in northern New England is a major pain. The NIMBY's would never allow out it, but I always thought New England needed a highway going direct across from Portland to Rutland and then on to Glenns Falls. It would make getting around much easier, not to mention vastly improve the economy of Northern New England.

Even southern N.H. is pretty bad. 101-sucks Rte. 4-sucks 25-sucks rte 2-sucks. 89 is o.k only getting to central vt. killington area. Once north of the mass pike east west is a pita.

 

[OppositeGeorge]

Going East to West in northern New England is a major pain. The NIMBY's would never allow out it, but I always thought New England needed a highway going direct across from Portland to Rutland and then on to Glenns Falls. It would make getting around much easier, not to mention vastly improve the economy of Northern New England.

Sounds like the never-built I-92. Was talked about in the 40s, revived in the 1970s. NIMBYism might've played a minor part but it seems that the big thing was there wouldn't have been enough economic impact to justify it.

 

[deadheadskier]

Sounds like the never-built I-92. Was talked about in the 40s, revived in the 1970s. NIMBYism might've played a minor part but it seems that the big thing was there wouldn't have been enough economic impact to justify it.

There is actually a study going on right now in Maine to do an east west that covers a bit more northern of a track from Bangor to Canada and on to Montreal. The group financing the study is a private company, I think Cianbro, who wants to privately finance it, own it and collect tolls.

Interesting concept.


I guess I just view the East West from Portland to Glenns Falls as opening up an additional corridor for trade into the country that would eliminate congestion in the southern ports.

Well, truth be told, I just look at my life in Portland the past three years and get frustrated by the fact that it takes four hours to get to northern vermont ski areas when it really isn't all that far the way the crow flies

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Wow..I read the link about I-92 and it would be mad cool but very very expensive in an area that not many people live. The western part of the proposed northern route is 74 to 17 which is how I drive from the New York Thruway to the Mad River Valley and I don't see a major highway going in there due to all the lakes and mountains..still cool.

I drove from Burlington VT to Sugarloaf Maine in college and that took like 5 hours..pretty much the same amount of time as driving from Northern New Jersey to BTV