LiftBlog Reports that Smuggs and Stowe are Exploring an Interconnect Gondola

[Edd]

Yes, agree the intention must be acquisition of Smuggs. If so, I guess they just want to dodge the pushback from Smuggs locals as long as possible but they’ve gotta be hearing it from them already. A gondola minus a merge makes little sense to me.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes, agree the intention must be acquisition of Smuggs. If so, I guess they just want to dodge the pushback from Smuggs locals as long as possible but they’ve gotta be hearing it from them already. A gondola minus a merge makes little sense to me.

"On the contrary, I am hearing lots of cries from that side of the Notch to 'denazify' and 'demilitarize' the Smuggs regime. If things get worse, I will have to launch an EPIC special military operation."

 

[ThatGuy]

Me and the stormtroopers are deploying to Smuggs for an imminent takeover. We will liberate the Notch no matter the cost

 

[skef]

Yes, agree the intention must be acquisition of Smuggs. If so, I guess they just want to dodge the pushback from Smuggs locals as long as possible but they’ve gotta be hearing it from them already. A gondola minus a merge makes little sense to me.

And how about the fact that there is zero beginner terrain on either side?

 

[Mum skier]

I guess I am the only person on this forum who is excited about this possibility. Loved the skiing on Sterling and Madonna at Smuggs, but too far to drive and can only put up with the slow lifts for a day or two. Combine with Stowe on Epic and that’s a good ski vacation in my opinion! Now I have to exit this forum until people forget I wrote this…….

 

[BenedictGomez]

In line with thread, I still fail to see how this would extend a lifeline to Smuggs. Yes, it would Garner some attention but at this point, without details on an interchangable pass, it's about as good as slipping the rope between PC and DV. Unless you have both passes, how much is it worth to a skier/rider?

For 6 years I worked at Stowe and bought a college pass (not kidding) at Smuggers Notch for like $250 - $300.

It was over-the-mountain-and-back-at-will blissfulness.

 

[BenedictGomez]

That's why I think that, despite what Smuggs says publicly, Vail is looking to make Smuggs truly EPIC. That is the only logical explanation.

100%.

Guy's now in his 80s, kids dont want to do it. Vail could create their eastern Park City, and they'd also pick up a lot of lodging, which they'd instantly upgrade & charge out the nose for. Smuggs local, family, old-school vibe will be gone forever.

And tragically it's pretty obviously going to happen.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I guess I am the only person on this forum who is excited about this possibility. Loved the skiing on Sterling and Madonna at Smuggs, but too far to drive and can only put up with the slow lifts for a day or two. Combine with Stowe on Epic and that’s a good ski vacation in my opinion! Now I have to exit this forum until people forget I wrote this…….

 

[BenedictGomez]

Me and the stormtroopers are deploying to Smuggs for an imminent takeover. We will liberate the Notch no matter the cost
View attachment 58920

This picture gets me every time. I need to save it on my laptop. It's the ultimate self-own, tone-deaf thing ever.

It screams, "VAIL - bend the knee or we will destroy you!"

 

[mbedle]

100%.

Guy's now in his 80s, kids dont want to do it. Vail could create their eastern Park City, and they'd also pick up a lot of lodging, which they'd instantly upgrade & charge out the nose for. Smuggs local, family, old-school vibe will be gone forever.

And tragically it's pretty obviously going to happen.

I don't believe they would get any lodging. It doesn't appear that Smugg's owns any lodging (I didn't go through every unit's ownership info, so they might own a couple of condos), they do appear to manage all of the rentals.

 

[BodeMiller1]

If the two ski areas are talking about a deal there would most likely be a gag order. Neither side would be able to "share" what's taking place.

 

[skef]

I don't believe they would get any lodging. It doesn't appear that Smugg's owns any lodging (I didn't go through every unit's ownership info, so they might own a couple of condos), they do appear to manage all of the rentals.

During the 2011/2012 (?) financial crisis, Smuggs was in the midst of some significant development on the North Hill (the Owls buildings and a new Tamaracks or two), and found themselves in need of a partner. Windham (I think) swooped in and took over some large fraction of the Owls, the new Tamaracks buildings (I think), and wanted more. So they bought out one of the three (slightly older) Kestrals buildings. I was lucky enough to own a 1/3 share of a unit in said Kestrals that I was keen to sell. The Windham buyout meant we lost only about a sixth of what we paid for instead of a third. Are the Windham units something Vail could acquire en masse?

 

[BenedictGomez]

Are the Windham units something Vail could acquire en masse?

This is what i was thinking. Except I thought Smuggs still owned a stake and Windham did a lot of management, but apparently not so?

 

[raisingarizona]

100%.

Guy's now in his 80s, kids dont want to do it. Vail could create their eastern Park City, and they'd also pick up a lot of lodging, which they'd instantly upgrade & charge out the nose for. Smuggs local, family, old-school vibe will be gone forever.

And tragically it's pretty obviously going to happen.

Ya but hopefully with Vail money they can finally blast all the annoying rocks off the Madonna lift line. That’s one of the worst ski runs I’ve ever been on and it destroyed my bases. It would be nice to see a winch cat groom that sucker.

 

[thetrailboss]

Ya but hopefully with Vail money they can finally blast all the annoying rocks off the Madonna lift line. That’s one of the worst ski runs I’ve ever been on and it destroyed my bases. It would be nice to see a winch cat groom that sucker.

"Oh, you just wait man! It is going to be EPIC!"

 

[BenedictGomez]

Ya but hopefully with Vail money they can finally blast all the annoying rocks off the Madonna lift line. That’s one of the worst ski runs I’ve ever been on and it destroyed my bases. It would be nice to see a winch cat groom that sucker.

 

[thetrailboss]

Ya but hopefully with Vail money they can finally blast all the annoying rocks off the Madonna lift line. That’s one of the worst ski runs I’ve ever been on and it destroyed my bases. It would be nice to see a winch cat groom that sucker.

This just in: the State of Vermont has deemed those to be protected historical landmarks as the Druids placed them there thousands of years ago. Film at 11.

 

[raisingarizona]

This just in: the State of Vermont has deemed those to be protected historical landmarks as the Druids placed them there thousands of years ago. Film at 11.

I guess I wasn’t fooling anyone

 

[thetrailboss]

Deadheadskier posted this article in the Stowe thread. Spolier alert: the Bicknell's Thrush strikes again!

Resorts withdraw connector lift proposal

After fierce opposition from the Agency of Natural Resources, the gondola-style connector lift that Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort hoped to develop has been put on indefinite pause.

www.vtcng.com

 

[Hawk]

So put a fork in that idea. All done.