haystack

[arik]

has anyone been to Haystack since it reopened last weekend

If so, how was it, what was open?

 

[TheBEast]

Haystack reopened?? What rock have I been living under?

 

[drjeff]

If its skiing as good today as Mount Snow is, it doesn't suck! ;-)

 

[vcunning]

Haystack re-opened under the same private model (with a new funding source through The Hermitage) But last Saturday, they invited the public to come and had a big kickoff . . . . fireworks and all.

 

[Glenn]

I haven't been there, but we did see a groomer way up top as we drove to Mt Snow this AM.

 

[arik]

Wilmington and Dover residents are also welcome to ski there on a day pass for a reasonable price.

 

[gmcunni]

 

[bzrperfspec77]

Interesting... Nothing that I can probably afford, but interesting to say the least.

 

[riverc0il]

Looks like the new owners have their act together and are getting it done. It is hard to sell a ski mountain when its not open. But when you bring in the latest fan guns and say you have a high speed quad coming in next year, that certainly says that you are open for business and ready to sell shares. With a High Speed Quad, I imagine they'll relocate at least one triple lower down to the beginner terrain for townhome access. Witches would stay put. That leaves one extra triple. Does it stay for back up access or does it get sold off? Or would they have two triples servicing the lower mountain?

 

[Glenn]

Hearsay alert!

My wife and I rode up the lift with another couple on Friday. They had gone to the opening and according to them, they weren't impressed. Allegedly, they weren't letting people into a certain lodge with ski boots for fear of carpet damage. They were trucking in sani-cans for people to use. The conditions were, meh and the lifts were slow. They took two runs and left.

Again, I wasn't there, I can say. This is just what they told us as we rode up the lift. Take it for what it's worth.

For the record, I hope it works out. Even as a private club, it's better to see the lifts spinning vs rusting.

 

[amf]

Hearsay alert!
... Allegedly, they weren't letting people into a certain lodge with ski boots for fear of carpet damage. They were trucking in sani-cans for people to use. The conditions were, meh and the lifts were slow.

Conditions were about the same as they were everywhere else (meh). It actually skied surprisingly well, given the ice storm the day before, but I think they took extra effort to get it groomed. They did get some carpet protector laid down in the one lodge. It was interesting to see the old place - its where my daughters learned to ski back when Mt Snow owned it. Overheard some disgruntled folks complaining about no breaks at the new "club" for the original landowners. My guess is WMI is looking for a place to lose some money!

 

[Angus]

Haystack officials announced they’re aggressively pursuing the same EB-5 visa program that has pumped more than $250 million in foreign investment into northern Vermont’s Jay Peak. The federal “immigrant investment program,” administered by the State of Vermont, was created in the early 1990s to stimulate the economy through foreign investment.

Foreign nationals who invest a minimum of $500,000 receive permanent residency (a “green card”), along with their spouse and children. The investment must create or preserve at least 10 jobs, and investors can live and work anywhere in the United States.

http://www.haystackclub.com/news

 

[Glenn]

Conditions were about the same as they were everywhere else (meh). It actually skied surprisingly well, given the ice storm the day before, but I think they took extra effort to get it groomed. They did get some carpet protector laid down in the one lodge. It was interesting to see the old place - its where my daughters learned to ski back when Mt Snow owned it. Overheard some disgruntled folks complaining about no breaks at the new "club" for the original landowners. My guess is WMI is looking for a place to lose some money!

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you chimed in since you were there. Me posting hearsay is always a bit risky.

 

[gmcunni]

Foreign nationals who invest a minimum of $500,000 receive permanent residency (a “green card”), along with their spouse and children.

so now you can buy a green card?

 

[legalskier]

Take that NELSAP!

http://www.nelsap.org/vt/haystack.html

 

[Angus]

so now you can buy a green card?

previously discussed here but I know of at least two - Jay Peak and Saddleback - that are taking advantage of this program. I believe there are others, yes there are.....here is a snap shot of how it works...

http://www.newhampshireregionalcent...=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=41&Itemid=82

 

[drjeff]

Take that NELSAP!

http://www.nelsap.org/vt/haystack.html

Well if you want to keep some NELSAP love, that lower trail pod isn't being resurected in "Haystack model 3.0" There is however a newly cut flattish ski home trail from the upper mountain base area over to the Hermitage Inn nearby. This year atleast they're using a snowcat with a people carrying pod on it to transport folks to/from the Hermitage. Next year from what I understand that trail will have snowmaking for ski back purposes, and the cat to transport property owning Club members up to the lifts, including the Chondola that is supposed to go in this summer

 

[riverc0il]

Well if you want to keep some NELSAP love, that lower trail pod isn't being resurected in "Haystack model 3.0" There is however a newly cut flattish ski home trail from the upper mountain base area over to the Hermitage Inn nearby. This year atleast they're using a snowcat with a people carrying pod on it to transport folks to/from the Hermitage. Next year from what I understand that trail will have snowmaking for ski back purposes, and the cat to transport property owning Club members up to the lifts, including the Chondola that is supposed to go in this summer

The video stated that all units going in are ski in ski out. If they are not using a lower mountain lift, that would mean all units are being constructed at base lodge elevation or higher which doesn't make sense to me. Something isn't right here... a snowcat is not ski in ski out.

 

[drjeff]

The video stated that all units going in are ski in ski out. If they are not using a lower mountain lift, that would mean all units are being constructed at base lodge elevation or higher which doesn't make sense to me. Something isn't right here... a snowcat is not ski in ski out.

All units to be built are by the upper mountain, you can't really appreciate how much land clearing and earth mooving the previous owners did from basically the site of the former base lodge South for a good 1/4 mile or so, unless you see it. There are also a few existing smaller "bungalows" that have already been built down by the Hermitage Inn which is about 1/2 mile NORTH of where the former base lodge was. The ski home trail and atleast for now the cat will be used for access to/from these existing properties to the slopes for owners of the bungalows and guests staying at the Hermitage Inn. Someday I suppose they might put in a transfer lift, but that would seem to be down their master plan list right now

 

[farlep99]

so now you can buy a green card?

You've always been able to buy a green card even before EB-5. EB-5 just has a lower dollar threshold.

If a wealthy foreigner wants to bring his millions here the gov't won't stand in his way. It used to always be a minimum of $1million. EB5 allows $500k for "targeted employment areas," i.e. where they need jobs