Maple Mtn?

[ctenidae]

I'd rather look at a place with a better chance of snow.

I do have a few thoughts about Maple Valley- most likely both lifts need a total overhaul, the rental fleet is entirely unusable on the ski side, and barely, if at all, usable on the snowboard side. The lodge is in good structural shape, but needs some serious remodel activity. The water pumps are old, and of indeterminate condition. There are no snowcats, and the grooming rigs are rusted in place. There's no telling what condition the water lines are in, and there are only two fan guns. The broker's site says there are pre-existig non-confomring permits on water draw, licensing, and zoning, but God only knows how those would stand up.

On the upside, there's probably a lot of community support, and the demographics of the area are pretty good.

$1.75M, probably get it to $1.5M, plus $1M in upgrades/refits. Figure 4 revenue generating months for skiing, anything else is spotty and difficult to model. Tough deal, from a cash flow perspective.

It would be pretty cool, though. OF course, if you'd bought it last summer to open this winter, you'd be talking to a bankruptcy lawyer by now.

 

[MrMagic]

there still is hope, they did turn around crotchet and did a good job of it too. whaleback thats another one, (wasnt closed that long, but still in the same vert/trail range)

the only problem with maple vally is its not really close to any major city it would have to devlope a good race program and night skiing and it might work.

now that i think about it it closed the same time as mt tom, who know maybe the vally could pull in mt toms old night locals. ???

 

[Marc]

I'd rather look at a place with a better chance of snow.

I do have a few thoughts about Maple Valley- most likely both lifts need a total overhaul, the rental fleet is entirely unusable on the ski side, and barely, if at all, usable on the snowboard side. The lodge is in good structural shape, but needs some serious remodel activity. The water pumps are old, and of indeterminate condition. There are no snowcats, and the grooming rigs are rusted in place. There's no telling what condition the water lines are in, and there are only two fan guns. The broker's site says there are pre-existig non-confomring permits on water draw, licensing, and zoning, but God only knows how those would stand up.

On the upside, there's probably a lot of community support, and the demographics of the area are pretty good.

$1.75M, probably get it to $1.5M, plus $1M in upgrades/refits. Figure 4 revenue generating months for skiing, anything else is spotty and difficult to model. Tough deal, from a cash flow perspective.

It would be pretty cool, though. OF course, if you'd bought it last summer to open this winter, you'd be talking to a bankruptcy lawyer by now.

3 guns, and an extensive pipeline for snowmaking, however, the integrity of the snowmaking pipes is also inquestion, not to mention the home made hydrants would all need replacing. Plus the inlet for the pumphouse is on the edge of the river, the top of the sump only under about a foot, and if the water dropped during a drought you'd be hard pressed to find snowmaking water.

And yeah, the 90 inches of annual snowfall is pretty rough too.

Not to mention the flats, almost uphill off the summit lift. Snowboarders especially would not be enthused.

 

[MrMagic]

lets not forget the lack of water for snowmaking. while the small river runs by the base of the mtn, i do not recall a large body of water. a river that size is hit or miss esp. with a low rainfall year.
i think for an area that size, snowmaking needs to be tops. (much like wa wa does pats peak ect.) and this year is a prime example.

 

[Marc]

lets not forget the lack of water for snowmaking. while the small river runs by the base of the mtn, i do not recall a large body of water. a river that size is hit or miss esp. with a low rainfall year.
i think for an area that size, snowmaking needs to be tops. (much like wa wa does pats peak ect.) and this year is a prime example.

Yeah, the river is decent size, though not deep at all, although the sump I think is relatively deep. That would be a major concern though, I can't see pulling more than 40,000 gph out of there for sustained periods without starting to drop the river level. There is a flood control project upstream though, so the only possibility I could see is working with the authorities on that and coordinating snowmaking operations with sluice gate operations.

 

[SkiDog]

shoot...forget buying it to reopen it...looks like a great deal just from a land perspective. I mean if you had an extra 1.5mill laying around anyway ;-) .

Heck people around here pay more than that just for a house on a postage stamp piece of land. That looks like a steal...think about the solitude of the turns you'd make in winter...

M

 

[ctenidae]

Owner won't sell if it's simply to break up the land. His kids might, but he won't.

 

[SkiDog]

Owner won't sell if it's simply to break up the land. His kids might, but he won't.

I'd personally never break it up......i want to horde all the land I possibly can...

M

 

[ctenidae]

Half the land on the back side isn't suitable for skiing, but would make a nice set of condos.

 

[tree_skier]

Owner won't sell if it's simply to break up the land. His kids might, but he won't.

He cant get permits to subdivide. He also purchased at a tax sale for $175,000, so he is looking for a small profit at 2 mill.

 

[ctenidae]

Permits wouldn't be his problem if he sold, but could be a reason for not doing it himself- he'd lose a lot of the grandfathered permits if he substantially changes the business.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

It would take a couple of years just to go thru Act 250