Receiver Announces that Burke has a Stalking Horse Bid and Deal will Close by End of 2024

[thetrailboss]

That was Jon on the podcast. I listen to the Storm Religiously and am friendly with Stuart online. So that podcast was recorded on 12/6/23; a couple weeks later many members of Berkshire management went up to Burke to check the operation out.

It dawned on me why this might be. Jon has in-laws in the NEK and obviously has experience in the business. So it’s possible that they went up to advise the bidders on operations issues.

 

[B-Eastski]

How do you figure if i may ask?

They should worry about what they have before branching out onto more properties. They're getting sloppy.

They own the Best skiing in Mass and is run very well (Berkshire East). They have turned around Catamount. They helped turn around Bousquet and facilitate getting them a new/used lift from Hermitage. On the Board of hermitage. Own Big Red Cat Tours in BC. They do seemed spread out, but nothing seems too sloppy to me. Seems like whatever the Schaefers touch turns out great. Oh did I mention they have probably top three bike park on the east coast???

 

[thetrailboss]

They own the Best skiing in Mass and is run very well (Berkshire East). They have turned around Catamount. They helped turn around Bousquet and facilitate getting them a new/used lift from Hermitage. On the Board of hermitage. Own Big Red Cat Tours in BC. They do seemed spread out, but nothing seems too sloppy to me. Seems like whatever the Schaefers touch turns out great. Oh did I mention they have probably top three bike park on the east coast???

I think that Newpy is commenting on the issues that they had at Catamount a few years back with snowmaking.

 

[B-Eastski]

I think that Newpy is commenting on the issues that they had at Catamount a few years back with snowmaking.

I think that Newpy is commenting on the issues that they had at Catamount a few years back with snowmaking.

Was that 18-19 when they first owned the place. I’d argue they are the best thing to happen to Catamount.

 

[Newpylong]

They shoot from the hip and their capital projects are often half baked or even ill conceived.

At Catamount they destroyed any semblance of personality by clear cutting the MA/NY border area and putting those boulevards in. Don't get me going on the half ass snowmaking work they did there.

Same for Bousquet - they advised them to clear cut the front of that place to put the triple in and fan guns, and that's what they did.

The alternative is these ski areas are closed yes, but outside of the capital infusion I remain unimpressed.

 

[thetrailboss]

They shoot from the hip and their capital projects are often half baked or even ill conceived.

At Catamount they destroyed any semblance of personality by clear cutting the MA/NY border area and putting those boulevards in. Don't get me going on the half ass snowmaking work they did there.

Same for Bousquet - they advised them to clear cut the front of that place to put the triple in and fan guns, and that's what they did.

The alternative is these ski areas are closed yes, but outside of the capital infusion I remain unimpressed.

Thanks. I had forgotten about the clear cutting issues.

 

[skimagic]

I completely agree on catamount, the place looks like a strip mine. Although Butternut is not avery exciting place, at least they kept the natural character over the years. We'll see how the new lift install install goes over there.I Kind of like the old lifeline going high up through the ravine.

 

[B-Eastski]

I completely agree on catamount, the place looks like a strip mine. Although Butternut is not avery exciting place, at least they kept the natural character over the years. We'll see how the new lift install install goes over there.I Kind of like the old lifeline going high up through the ravine.

You all probably know more than me with regards to Catamount. I do not drive south to ski and Berkshire East is the only place worth skiing in Mass. I do know without Jon Catamount probably is closed right now. Without Jon’s connections, Bousquet does not get a lift for free, and then when one of the towers was installed out of line he got the right people in winter to get it fix in a couple weeks. Before you rip the family remember what positives they have made on those two ski areas. They would be a positive for Burke if they did get involved!

 

[icecoast1]

They shoot from the hip and their capital projects are often half baked or even ill conceived.

At Catamount they destroyed any semblance of personality by clear cutting the MA/NY border area and putting those boulevards in. Don't get me going on the half ass snowmaking work they did there.

Same for Bousquet - they advised them to clear cut the front of that place to put the triple in and fan guns, and that's what they did.

The alternative is these ski areas are closed yes, but outside of the capital infusion I remain unimpressed.

They cut some cool trails with all of that at catamount so some good came out of it. The main face wide expanse of nothing is definitely a travesty though. It looks like there's now snowmaking equipment going up the middle of that ma/ny boulevard so they can be seperate trails again

 

[Zand]

They shoot from the hip and their capital projects are often half baked or even ill conceived.

Speaking of shooting, sounds like St J has turned into the wild west the last couple days.

 

[BodeMiller1]

Speaking of shooting, sounds like St J has turned into the wild west the last couple days.

The cop was shot in New Hampshire, St J is a dope show. Dragnet Meow

 

[BodeMiller1]

Cop is at Dartmouth Hitchcock in New Hampshire where they will pull out all the stops. Best Hospital in the world.
We all remember Briggs from Concord, NH gunned down in an alley in Manchester. At any rate, best wishes for a full recovery.

 

[Zap71]

Skiing Burke through the last 3 or 4 ownership groups and was always frustrated when you could not ski the entire left/dipper side of the mountain because it was shut down for racing. Could there be a restrictive covernent in the lease from the state that gives the academy this right. Might be a stumbling block for potential bidders ? Have nothing against the academy but if I was a bidder that may be problem if it is so.

 

[thetrailboss]

Skiing Burke through the last 3 or 4 ownership groups and was always frustrated when you could not ski the entire left/dipper side of the mountain because it was shut down for racing. Could there be a restrictive covernent in the lease from the state that gives the academy this right. Might be a stumbling block for potential bidders ? Have nothing against the academy but if I was a bidder that may be problem if it is so.

Good luck restricting BMA. They have formal agreements that benefit them. And honestly, they are a necessary evil. It was BMA and its benefactors who have kept Burke off NELSAP since at least 1993.

 

[Zap71]

Good luck restricting BMA. They have formal agreements that benefit them. And honestly, they are a necessary evil. It was BMA and its benefactors who have kept Burke off NELSAP since at least 1993.

Hope it does not go NELSAP, a great undervalued mountain esp in a decent snow year

 

[snoseek]

Burke Mountain's Fight for Survival Under Distant Control

Burke Mountain has a magnetic quality. It attracts swarms of outdoor adventure enthusiasts – skiers, bikers, hikers, campers, hang gliders – with its steep slopes and panoramic views. It’s what

www.northstarmonthly.com

 

[urungus]

Burke Mountain's Fight for Survival Under Distant Control

Burke Mountain has a magnetic quality. It attracts swarms of outdoor adventure enthusiasts – skiers, bikers, hikers, campers, hang gliders – with its steep slopes and panoramic views. It’s what

www.northstarmonthly.com

“Among those looking to buy the resort are some who want to turn Burke into a private ski club for the wealthy. Vermont has two, Spruce Peak at Stowe and the Hermitage Club on Haystack Mountain in Wilmington”

Since when is Spruce Peak private ?!?

 

[AdironRider]

In some ways I agree with that article, it really just needs to be sold and going on 8+ years of receivership does not add any value to Burke.

That said, I think a lot of the people quoted are kind of delusional in the underlying business case for Burke. It does not sustain itself and honestly, probably never will. BMA keeps it afloat, and has a pretty strong easement to ensure their operations come first. That is a pretty big hurdle to overcome in terms of sale. Who is going to come in an invest a minimum of 30 million between purchase and upgrades, with all that risk and inherent operational challenges that come with BMA and the easement?

Burke offers no realistic value in terms of getting people to come compared to Jay. They are further from Montreal and for US based population areas, to close to Jay which is a better place to visit and gets 4x the snow, and has significantly better terrain. Its location is is achilles heel and outside of ski racing, has basically nothing going for it.

 

[drjeff]

In some ways I agree with that article, it really just needs to be sold and going on 8+ years of receivership does not add any value to Burke.

That said, I think a lot of the people quoted are kind of delusional in the underlying business case for Burke. It does not sustain itself and honestly, probably never will. BMA keeps it afloat, and has a pretty strong easement to ensure their operations come first. That is a pretty big hurdle to overcome in terms of sale. Who is going to come in an invest a minimum of 30 million between purchase and upgrades, with all that risk and inherent operational challenges that come with BMA and the easement?

Burke offers no realistic value in terms of getting people to come compared to Jay. They are further from Montreal and for US based population areas, to close to Jay which is a better place to visit and gets 4x the snow, and has significantly better terrain. Its location is is achilles heel and outside of ski racing, has basically nothing going for it.

Burke does have the secondary market of the Kingdom Trails mtn biking network going for it, which does draw on a year round basis. I hope that Burke finds owners that can amke it work, as rarely have I ever heard anyone who makes their 1st trip there say that they're not coming back as it definitely is a gem of a mountain!

 

[AdironRider]

The problem is MTB really doesn't drive a ton of money to the mountain itself. The town of East Burke, sure, but the mountain itself, debatable.