saddleback?

[SKIER4LIFE1281]

I heard that there was going to be a huge expansion project at Saddleback. So i'm just wondering if anyone knows about this. I had read something in Ski magazine about it.

 

[awf170]

I heard that there was going to be a huge expansion project at Saddleback. So i'm just wondering if anyone knows about this. I had read something in Ski magazine about it.

Nothing definite yet. There are plans to expand over the horn in time. Which would make the place massive. Also I have heard that the new owner will not put in a HSQ ever!:smile: And he plans to buy old t-bars and doubles from other ski areas that don't use them any more. Seriously this new owner sounds like the man.

Heres a map a made of what the expansion could look like(I have no idea if this is what it would be like, but IMO this would be the easiest way to get over to the horn. Also I bet something like this would take 10-20 years because it is a massive expansion, also Saddleback sees so little people that it doesn't even need an expansion.

 

[riverc0il]

i would think the priorety of the expansion would currently be to increase mountain side bed base. the lodge was a great first step, one of the nicest looking lodges in new england. but without beds, an expansion of skiable terrain is worthless. increasing lift capacity without increasing bed base would also not be too smart. i would be surprised to learn that the new owner would not consider a high speeder, as that would really put saddleback on the map and the radar. but i would be more surpised to see more t-bars installed as they are not snowboard friendly. while i don't mind the mrg mindset a successful resort considering expansion must not alienate a good portion of the market with their choice of uphill transportation devices. i would not be surprised to see more doubles once they begin to expand terrain (if they begin to expand terrin, that is). as austin mentioned, the place is so uncrowded that new terrain is hardly needed right now, especially considering how much kick butt terrain they already have.

interesting map austin. you might want to lower some of those upper ends for the lifts though. i know saddleback has had issues with the AT'ers in the past, not sure how likely it would be to have trails and lifts extend to the top of the ridge. snow making would not be a problem since they have a HUGE supply, just a matter of how much money they would invest in a proposed expansion. imo, not going to happen until they get a lot more visitors, especially those staying slope side.

 

[awf170]

"According to Saddleback’s owner Bill Berry, the Rangeley-based ski area has tremendous potential for terrain to the east of Warden’s Way, into Horn Bowl, and to the west of the Hudson’s Highway trail. The slopeside hotel plans have been tabled at this time, but Berry is eager to install a T-Bar (he has spares on hand) to access some of this prime backcountry terrain in coming seasons."
http://www.familyskitrips.com/Pages/MaineSki2005.htm

And yeah I figured I would have to lower the lifts, but I was just screwing around, probably wouldn't be that big of a deal though, probably just a 100 ft. less vertical.

Also look at this: http://www.aldha.org/sadmap1.htm looks like the wanted a trail next to muleskinner.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

AT issues notwithstanding, the mountain is a Monadnock and VERY exposed. Anything that runs to the summit would likely have windhold and coverage issues.

They have huge acreage and MASSIVE snowmaking potential. I have to concur with Riv that what they need to expand is skiers and riders. The bed base will likely be their highest priority.

I can't say enough about this place. I know it's a long haul. Turst me. Ski this place.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

They currently have 27 condos for sale.......was told sales are going so-so.

 

[riverc0il]

They currently have 27 condos for sale.......was told sales are going so-so.

I suspect threads like this that will perhaps get people to check out the area could potentially increase such sales. Though I am not surprised to hear sales are so so.

The quote above from the owner is surprising, although that article looks to have been written at the beginning of the season. I wonder if the owner's desire to keep the hotel plans scraped and install a new T-Bar are still in effect. Not that I am complaining!!! Bring on the T-Bar! But from what I know of the industry as a casual observer, this does not seem to be in the long term interest if increasing skier visits substantially is desired (again, not that I am complaining!!!).

The proposed link above to potential expansion plans was drawn in 2000, which would have been before the ownership change, so I doubt it is currently relevent. Actually, it looks like some of the proposed trails were actually cut, nothing outside of Muleskinner or linking that trail back to the base though.

 

[Greg]

Sounds like a perfect candidate for the ski area challenge!

 

[loafer89]

I have been skiing Saddleback since 1989, and the mountain and facilities are in the best shape that they have ever been since I started skiing there. I agree with Steve that any expansion would have to include some more modern lift technology than using T-bars exclusively. Austin is correct about the owner not wanting any HSQ's on the mountain, the South Branch Quad is probably a good indication of this, as it is a new quad chair that is not detachable, which is something that would benefit the beginner skier/rider. Driving along route 16 from Stratton to Rangeley, one can get a really nice view of Saddleback and see the area that they wish to expand into, which is really huge.

I heard last year that Saddleback was having soil/drainage problems with the site that they choose for the hotel? I would most likely stay there in the future if they build a true destination resort. Saddleback is remote though, even more so than Sugarloaf, and I am not sure there is a market in Western Maine for another mega resort, I think the place is big enough as it is right now. We choose to ski there, when Sugarloaf is crowded, which is not often, and also as a diversion to ski a different mountain with freindly staff and management.

On a side note, Black Mountain is another place in Maine that should be given a try, especially after the major expansion in 2004-2005.

 

[awf170]

One thing that works with Saddleback is Rangley. Rangley is a rapidly growing town and actually has some stuff to do unlike Sugarloaf's village. If Rangley keeps getting bigger, which I think it will, it will become the ski town to Saddleback. Kind of like Whiteface and Lake Placid(obviously it won't get that big for a really long time or most likely ever). If people can start to think of rangley in terms of a ski town and snowmobile town instead of just snowmobile then they will start to do good. Seriously, where else in New England do you have a combination of awsome snowmobiling, awsome skiing, and a cool little town.

 

[loafer89]

One thing that works with Saddleback is Rangley. Rangley is a rapidly growing town and actually has some stuff to do unlike Sugarloaf's village. If Rangley keeps getting bigger, which I think it will, it will become the ski town to Saddleback. Kind of like Whiteface and Lake Placid(obviously it won't get that big for a really long time or most likely ever). If people can start to think of rangley in terms of a ski town and snowmobile town instead of just snowmobile then they will start to do good. Seriously, where else in New England do you have a combination of awsome snowmobiling, awsome skiing, and a cool little town.

Rangeley rapidly growing? Where?

Actually the best snowmobiling in the area IMO is just 7 miles down the road from Sugarloaf in the sleepy town of Stratton. There are great groomed runs to Bigelow Lodge and Grand Falls. We do that every time we visit Sugarloaf. Rangeley is cool as well, I had a blast going flat out on Rangeley lake (105mph):-o

 

[bigbog]

....

.....Seriously, where else in New England do you have a combination of awsome snowmobiling, awsome skiing, and a cool little town.

Most financially well-off thinkers always tend to go for the massive-scale, ranch-style development for the specific area. One of the things that keeps some ski areas(especially some of the more remote Western & BC areas) "cool" is the absence of the cookie-cutter, suburban-sprawl type of development...and clearing of woodlands....that permiates throughout southern & central NewEngland.
There was a thread on Development in ski country.., or something like that over on Epicski ~a year ago... I'm totally convinced that these developers, in the twilight of unspoiled woodlands in this country/continent, should adopt the vertical design that Japanese, Taiwanese(sp?), Chinese developers have used...a few towers built in one specific area, as opposed to clear-cut landscapes...devoid of animal life, don't bother my taste of land/water preservation at all.

 

[riverc0il]

Rangeley seems like it would make a decent ski town. Seemed similar to Gorham when I drove through, fewer lodging and dining options though, but same small town type feel that cators to tourists. There seems to be enough lake tourism there that winter tourism would be a natural extension. If Saddleback builds it, they will come.