Powder Ridge not opening this season

[Greg]

Brian mentioned this in another thread, but I think it deserves its own:

http://fox61.trb.com/news/hc-powder-ridge,0,1099953.story?coll=wtic-news-3

Bummer. I'm all for little feeder hills, not that I would probably ski there again. I thought the final comment in that article by Leavitt was......well....interesting:

If town officials and taxpayers want Powder Ridge preserved as a top-flight ski destination rather than a residential subdivision, now is the time to offer his family an attractive package of incentives.

"A top-flight ski destination?" That's a stretch. It almost comes across as threatening...

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I found that to be amusing as well Greg, ive driven by there a few times, sure didnt look like much, but it is or was skiing

 

[Flan]

"Powder Bump" as we used to call it, is or never will be a "top flight ski destination". Leavitt, along with others have been trying to make PR a year round operation with a water park, etc. in the off season. This past year was especially brutal for skiing at the Ridge with Mother Nature throwing nothing but curveballs. The town of Middlefield claims they want to step up and buy the place, but there never seems to be a consensus. Everyone wants Powder Ridge to remain a ski resort and not become just another housing tract. The future doesn't look too promising at this point.

For me it's a sentimental thing. Powder Ridge is where I learned to ski as a late bloomer in High School in 1979. The old 10pm - 3am ticket was popular among us night owls and assorted hooligans. PR only has about 450' vertical, but it was never about mountain statistics it was about getting out on the hill under the lights making turns. It was a fun time back then and it would be a shame if I couldn't take my own kids there this Winter. Hopefully someone will step in and keep the "Bump" alive.

 

[loafer89]

The news that Powder Ridge will not reopen this season (and probably for good) is not too suprising given the current state of disrepair of the ski area and the lengthy fight over establishing a source of summer revenue. Being located so close to the coast makes it really hard to have any sort of lengthy reliable ski season.

The mountain was in really poor shape when I skied there on January 2nd 2006, and only two trails where opened from the summit.

 

[rogue rider]

They tried to close for the season in late January (06) due to so much rain but the state's attorney general threatened a lawsuit against them if they didn't reopen. I guess they had deals with schools and pass holders that the AG wanted them to honor.

 

[2knees]

blumenthal can be a pit bull. It didnt help PR's case that we got like 20-30 inches of snow right after they made that decision.

I basically learned to ski there. I used to get dropped off on weekends when i was in later elementary and middle school. We used to build kickers and just launch ourselves all day. Ski patrol would knock em down and we'd just build em up again. Funny, because for a while they have errr had, a whole trail dedicated to hits and such. how times change. But i cant get sentimental at all. I was last there in 2000 i think. The place is so flat, that if you try to make tight short radius turns, you'll actually come to a stop.

 

[loafer89]

The skiing in January was so bad that we left and spent yet more money to ski at Mount Southington, which was a 100% improvement over the conditions at Powder Ridge. There was NO liftline control at Powder Ridge, with at least a 20-25 minute wait for the summit double chair, because the triple had NO chairs on it:evil: and skiers were forming a triples line where the singles line should have been.

I could honestly say that was the worst ski experience I ever had, save for Yagoo Valley.

Still it is sad to see any ski area go out of business.

 

[Greg]

Southington may be the biggest winner out of all this. They're probably only like 25 minutes apart...

 

[loafer89]

Southington may be the biggest winner out of all this. They're probably only like 25 minutes apart...

Mount Southington looked to be managed alot better than Powder Ridge and they seemed to take alot more care of the snow surfaces and customer experiences. Powder Ridge was hanging on by a thread when I last visited it, and that place needs some big bucks invested into it if it is to be a viable ski area in the future.

 

[stomachdoc]

I remember skiing at Powder Ridge as a college student at Wesleyan. At that point, they had night skiing and we would enjoy certain "beverages" and then bomb down the hill in the chilly night air.

Too bad for them; the weather in that area is really unpredictable and a winter-only operation is tough!

 

[Paul]

It is a shame.

I learned to ski there with my school's ski club in the early 80's. Last season, we got the season pass there because it was the first full season for my wife and 5 yr. old daughter. We would go after work and basically just get the kid comfortable on skis. I seriously don't think we came close to "breaking even" on the passes, but it is only about 25 min. from the house and was an easy way to keep the kid motivated. My fear was that if we didn't do that, we'd find excuses not to go. This year we got passes to Ski Butternut, its an hour further than PR, but its still a nice, small, family type hill that has a little something for all 3 of us.

 

[Big Game]

Last year's weather had little to do with Powder Ridge not being open. Leavitt claimed a micro-climate allowed Southington to be open, but frustrated PR from blowing snow. This is complete bullshlt. Looking at weahterstations, there is no discernatble difference (in fact, what i saw was tha PR actually had better snowmaking oppourtinies) Leavitt didn't blow snow because he was too cheap.

My understanding from court filings is that PR had the the best profit margin since Leavitts took over. Something like 500k profit on close to a mill in revenues.

Leavitt drove PR into the ground. I am glad it closed down. It was a terrible place --- anyone who had their first experience would likely never go back. Leavitt's scare tactic that he will sell to developer who will build 72 houses is that a scare tactic to get townspeople to subsidize his profits. Lukcily for the town of Middlefield, the Board of Finance saw what a joke the "open space" proposal was and refused (over the 1st selectman's insistence) to let the matter got to public vote. There are acutally very few economically feasible lots at PR.

Leavitt will be leaving soon and thank God justice will be served to a true dirtbag who just didn't give a damn about our sport. We are better off without PR as it was run by Leavitt. My guess is that it will be back in action, after a serious exorcism, for '07-'08.

 

[loafer89]

My vote is that Powder Ridge will not reopen as Mount Sounthington is too close by and is a better run, better maintained ski area. I do not think Connecticut has enough market share for 5 ski areas, let alone 3 small ones, and Powder Ridge is just too close to the coast for reliable snowmaking/skiing weather.

 

[Big Game]

Powder Ridge is just too close to the coast for reliable snowmaking/skiing weather.

Weather is essentially the same between Southington and Middlefield. If Southington can blow snow, so can ridge.

Middlefield is quicker to many population centers -- like Southeastern CT, New Haven, the Shoreline and parts of Fairfield county. People who Mt. Southington is closer to have the option of Ski Sundown. But still somehow Southington keeps people happy. Somehow before Leavitt the Ridge was in business for 30 years.

I could be wrong about this, but looking at neslap, if Powder Ridge closes and stays closed, it would be the first area with chairlifts in Connecticut to be lost. I just think there is too much money to be made with a pipe and terrain park at the Ridge to let it go.

 

[Paul]

Weather is essentially the same between Southington and Middlefield. If Southington can blow snow, so can ridge.

Middlefield is quicker to many population centers -- like Southeastern CT, New Haven, the Shoreline and parts of Fairfield county. People who Mt. Southington is closer to have the option of Ski Sundown. But still somehow Southington keeps people happy. Somehow before Leavitt the Ridge was in business for 30 years.

I could be wrong about this, but looking at neslap, if Powder Ridge closes and stays closed, it would be the first area with chairlifts in Connecticut to be lost. I just think there is too much money to be made with a pipe and terrain park at the Ridge to let it go.

And one of the chairs is a relatively new triple, that they just sunk about 10k into to repair last year.

I think this "closing" is more Leavitt playing hardball with the town than anything else. I read a few articles last night, and it looks more and more like a bluff. "I'm taking my toys and going home!!"

They may close for the year, but I have a feeling that someone, somehow will find a way to open it again.

 

[jimme]

In the Catskills is Bobcat. About 900' vert and two T-bars. I would volunteer at least one day doing whatever if it would help keep the place open. PR is too far for me. If 20 or 30 people can give one day or more that could help keep a small area alive.

 

[Big Game]

I think this "closing" is more Leavitt playing hardball with the town than anything else. I read a few articles last night, and it looks more and more like a bluff. "I'm taking my toys and going home!!"

Exactly. I just don't think the bluff is going to work. This guy has made way too much money and has put so little back in, the "open space" purchase really doesn't guarantee Powder Ridge will be saved, it's dead.

Well foreclosure sale will probably go through in April. Let me see if I can get my pennies together to bid.

 

[Grego]

Yeah, Bobcat was a huge loss. Only went there once, but it was awesome. Despite how sucky it is trying to ride a T-bar on a Board. :-o

But no snowmaking in the Catskills is the kiss of death nowadays.

 

[Greg]

Well, I officially pulled the Ridge from the CT ski area profiles:

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/resorts/?state=CT

Hope I can add it back in future seasons...

 

[bvibert]

Well, I officially pulled the Ridge from the CT ski area profiles:

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/resorts/?state=CT

Hope I can add it back in future seasons...

I hate to see any area go under. Maybe someone will buy it and save it or something...