The Belleayre Resort - for or against?

[thinnmann]

A couple of new articles appeared yesterday about opposition to the Belleayre Resort.

Snip from Sierra Club Says 'No' to Belleayre Resort Compromise, Sees Threat to Water --->

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sierra Club announced that it will not sign on to a recent agreement to build a mega-resort on Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills, citing "serious adverse environmental effects" of the development on New York City's water. It had been predicted that the organization would join the agreement -- put together by the developer and Governor Eliot Spitzer -- because of political pressure....​

Snip from Groups Unite to Save Belleayre Mountain and Catskill Park from Inappropriate Development --->

HIGHMOUNT, N.Y., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Save the Mountain is a new coalition of groups and individuals formed to oppose the Agreement in Principle and the very large Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park. http://www.savethemountain.net/ They plan to participate fully in the SEQR process....​

As an avid Belleayre skier, I have mixed feelings about the resort. I don't like the environmental impact, and will not enjoy the crowding on and off the mountain. I don't like the closed-door dealings to seal the deal.

I like that Belleayre might get lift upgrades and gain more terrain from Highmount and elsewhere (west side? down slope?).

I believe the local economy would improve, and there will be better offerings of off-slope dining, lodging and other activities. But those things are not what I go to Belleyare for.

What do you guys think?

 

[tjf67]

I think special interest groups are clogging up the world.
Screw them all.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm against it...I like how undeveloped that area is...if there's more development..it will take longer to drive to Belleayre..but I'm for more terrain at Belleayre off the backside..I like the little town of Phoenecia..you can get casual food at the Sportsman or High Class dining at Giardellis..

 

[JimG.]

Belleayre will need to develop real estate to keep up with Hunter and Windham.

It doesn't have to be a mega resort.

The environmental special interest groups have always stood against development in the Catskills. They challenge everything, and they get alot of support from NYC when it comes to impacts on the NYC watershed.

It will be interesting to see how the state and the city compromise here. And to see who reports to whom.

 

[Brettski]

please don't disrupt the mountain

I love the way it is

More vert would be nice though

 

[dmc]

More consistant vert would be killer...

BTW - Hunter/Windham annouces a combo ticket... I bet it's in response to theis Bellayre thing...

 

[thinnmann]

Belleayre will need to develop real estate to keep up with Hunter and Windham.

That stinks because the fact that Belleayre is not like Hunter and Windham is why I ski there.

I came up with this goofy comparison:

Belleayre is the Alta of the Catskills....
Hunter is a wannabe Park City and Windham is trying to be Deer Valley LOL

 

[JimG.]

More consistant vert would be killer...

BTW - Hunter/Windham annouces a combo ticket... I bet it's in response to theis Bellayre thing...

Wow...so now Windham skiers have access to good terrain.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Wow...so now Windham skiers have access to good terrain.

AHahahahahah..Windham lies about their vert...The Main High Speed quad is reported as 1550 vert and it's 1280 according to my Avocet..

 

[dmc]

Hunter Mountain & Windham Mountain unveil Winter Card
2 visits to Hunter, 2 visits to Windham for $119

Hunter and Windham Mountains are proud to partner up for the 2007-08 season with
the Winter Card, which offers two days of skiing or riding at Hunter and two
days at Windham for $119! This Winter Card is an exclusive limited-time offer,
starting sale on November 1 and lasting only until December 24, 2007. The card
is valid through the 2007-08 season.

Hunter and Windham, which are only 8 miles apart, are offering this card to
provide our customers with an opportunity to ski cheap at both resorts. Hunter
and Windham are just over two hours from New York City, offering not one
opportunity to ski or ride, but two different mountains at a deeply discounted
price: $29.75 a day! Here at Hunter, the Winter Card offers a potential savings
of $32 a day...and a total maximum savings of $127 on lift tickets!!

Remember to get yours soon ... the Winter Card is available for a limited time
only!! For more information about the Winter Card, please contact our ticket
office, at 800-HunterMtn x2200.The Winter Card is only available for purchase
online via HunterMtn.com and Windhammountain.com, and at select trade shows in
the Tri-state area.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I never knew that Hunter and Windham were only 8 miles apart..

 

[marcski]

That stinks because the fact that Belleayre is not like Hunter and Windham is why I ski there.

I came up with this goofy comparison:

Belleayre is the Alta of the Catskills....
Hunter is a wannabe Park City and Windham is trying to be Deer Valley LOL

I think Plattekill would get the nod as the Alta of the Catskills but those comparisons are always silly.

 

[koreshot]

This is a little off topic but I figured I would take this opportunity since there are lots of belleayre die hards reading this thread.

Can anyone point me to an actual trail map of Belleayre online? (Or post it in the gallery if you have it). I don't want the one Belleayre has that is a bunch of small chunks. I want a large, readable trail map that doesn't try to be an impossible geographic puzzle.

Thank you!

 

[YardSaleDad]

Trail Maps

http://www.belleayre.com/assets/maps/Belleayre Trailmap 2007-2008 lo-res.pdf

http://www.belleayre.com/maps/assets/maps/Belleayre Trailmap 2007 hi-res.pdf


The only thing I like about the deal is that Belleayre gets Highmount. I like Belleayre because it is a state park, not a ski resort. I like the handful of mom & pop businesses near it. I like skiing in a wilderness area. There is already a healthy growing customer base. If I want more amenities Hunter & Wndham are just down the road, and if I want less Plattekill is standing by.

 

[dmc]

That stinks because the fact that Belleayre is not like Hunter and Windham is why I ski there.

Exactly... I wouldnt go to the Catskills if it were only Bellayre... I need more vert and more interesting terrain... No offense to Tonly and crew... But Bellayre bores me..

 

[Brettski]

Hey, how can you beat skiier appreciation day for $10.00

 

[adamti91]

Living in the area, I know how slow the economy is. I like the idea of some sort of tourist destination, and of course the upgrades to Belleayre that would come along with it. However, I know how bad traffic on 28 can get now, without a resort that would attract thousands. I don't want to see "urban glow" or whatever over the reservoir when I drive across, the cell tower in West Shokan messes the view up enough now, and the damn thing doesn't even give us cell service yet.

I support a Belleayre Resort in principle, but not one nearly as large as the one proposed. Simply making Belleayre/Highmount more like... say Whiteface/Gore or Windham/Hunter (just thinking about NY here) in terms of upgrades to the mountain, lodging and dining and such, without such a big development (and from ONE developer), would be just as feasible financially, and would give a big boost to the region, which I can tell you is pretty damn boring. Making the mountain better (buy Highmount, cut a few trails near the glen, a lift to get over to Cathedral Brook/Glen Skiing instead of 'The Cat'; new lodges, etc.) would attract more people and would impact the environment a whole lot less than the proposed resort.

The neighboring towns of Fleischmanns/Pine Hill/Shandaken (where Phoenicia is), and to an extent Olive and even West on 28 towards Arkville and Margaretville would all benefit from the added visitors to the area, however the infrastructure in these areas is very poor. Few areas have town water, most homes and businesses are fed by wells, and I don't believe sewer systems exist (bar a proposed one in Boiceville, 20 minutes from Belleayre, that fell through). How would these towns deal with the added demands to the economy? Hotels would need to be constructed to satisfy the lodging needs of those who do not stay at the Resort, but who want to take advantage of the improved Belleayre Mountain.

How would prices be affected? Belleayre has some of the most reasonable season pass and day lift ticket prices in the ski industry, and although the mountain would still be state owned, surely the privatization of the surrounding mountaintop and construction of new amenities would drive the price up.

Here's a map of the proposed resort: LINK, and here's a quick list of those groups for and against the resort: LINK.

 

[dmc]

Hey, how can you beat skiier appreciation day for $10.00

I'll gladly pay more for more consistant verticle

 

[Bandit2941]

Exactly... I wouldnt go to the Catskills if it were only Bellayre... I need more vert and more interesting terrain... No offense to Tonly and crew... But Bellayre bores me..

Just wait till everything gets finished. You won't be bored, I promise.

2012.........

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Belleayre doesn't bore me..they have a handfull of nice headwalls and Dot Nebal is a great high speed cruiser..