The Belleayre Resort - for or against?

[JimG.]

Real estate pays for terrain these days...

Yes sir!

Ski season is here.

 

[dmc]

Yes sir!

Ski season is here.

It's a beautiful day here in the Catskills... Dragging out my gear just in case Belleayre opens.. Fingers crossed....

Hunter shows no signs of making snow except it looks like the hoses are out.. No lights - on the mountain... a sure fire way to know somethings up...

 

[Brettski]

Well it's $15.00 but anyway I have mixed feelings about it, I like the mellow atmosphere at Belleayre unfortunately the development will probably kill that. I'll just have to wait and see. However I am excited about the additon of the Highmount terrain. Also if it helps the region's economy I would consider that a plus.

OK, the winter festival week is $10/day

 

[JimG.]

thanks... Our town struggles with everything going on...

It's important to get the message out that Hunter has changed for the better. and a lot of the negative experience has swung to the family vibe - but the terrain stays the same..

The mountain and the town are changing and trying to prepare for a good future...

I know HPD gets the situation.

In truth, what is good for any Catskills ski resort is good for all...there is an amazing diversity of terrain/ vibe in the area for all to enjoy.

I don't question older members cringe whenever a newer poster steps into the "Rambo" trap. But many are used to it and alot have come to Hunter or ski there regularly and know what it offers. I never defend my choice to ski there because I know it's the best home hill for me...but I do defend the mountain because they are trying very hard to reverse an old perception that is no longer reality. The demographic has changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. They are making a difference and should not be dismissed. Nor should Belleayre or other Catskill resorts with a plan.

I like Belleayre fine. I admit it gets a bit more natural snow than Hunter and that's nice. The top of the hill is fine down the the bottom of the headwall. But there is alot of runout there. More intermediate terrain than Hunter. I don't hear much about their ski school.

I doubt it will be as big as the current plan shows...the old strategy of asking for more to get what you want might be in play.

 

[Brettski]

Please don't ski at any mountain in the catskills

You won't like it at all

Go somewhere else

 

[thinnmann]

I don't hear much about their ski school.

Bellleayre's per diem ski school used to be a nightmare. At least it was for getting kids into "kidscamp". It sucked up an hour of ski time in the morning dealing with three different lines in a cramped room in Discovery Lodge Bussloads-of-beginners Hell. Why they could not get the reservation/drop-off thing right, I will never know. They seem to be making some changes, because you can now reserve online. Thankfully my kids have been out of there for a number of seasons now....

The Alpine Development and Race Program for kids are super, though! Highly recommended, if you are a regular at Belleayre. It is inexpensive, goes almost all winter long, and the kids develop great relationships with the group and instructors. O yea, they get to be great skiers, too!

I never took any adult lessons there, so I don't know how those go.

 

[thinnmann]

Please don't ski at any mountain in the catskills

You won't like it at all

Go somewhere else

LOL

 

[JimG.]

It's a beautiful day here in the Catskills... Dragging out my gear just in case Belleayre opens.. Fingers crossed....

Hunter shows no signs of making snow except it looks like the hoses are out.. No lights - on the mountain... a sure fire way to know somethings up...

Keep me posted on Belleayre's progress. I can be there in about 1 1/2 hours when the time comes.

Close to a new job...ahead of schedule. Ready to ski.

 

[YardSaleDad]

I think everybody is for the economic stimulation the planned resort would bring the area surrounding Belleayre, and for the improvements to Belleayre's terrain, lodges, and lifts.

Mega projects generally benefit a select few locals and harm most others. There are smarter ways to improve the local economy.

 

[adamti91]

Mega projects generally benefit a select few locals and harm most others. There are smarter ways to improve the local economy.

I know, I am myself against the resort in it's present form. Did you read the rest of my post?

 

[YardSaleDad]

I know, I am myself against the resort in it's present form. Did you read the rest of my post?

I did. Did you read mine? It's not the number of units, but rather the monolithic economic model proposed. I don't think one man should hold all the purse strings. It's his land, but it is in a protected area, and he knew that when he bought it. Much healthier for the area to develop an economic zone with multiple employers around a common framework, that allows for competition, and regulation, without overwhelming the area.

 

[adamti91]

I know, it's way too big. The latest revision, which did shrink the actual size of the development to 629 units of various sizes, golf course, spas, and two hotels, actually made the expansion into Ulster County much larger. As it stands, there are two "segments" to the proposed resort. The "Wildacres Resort", with 389 units, and the Highmount Spa, which is assumed to have the remaining 240 units. The latter part has yet to unveil a master plan to the public, and has not been reviewed by the various political and environmental groups involved. However, it can be ascertained that this second segment will be given the go ahead, as it is all part of the master 'Belleayre Resort'.

 

[adamti91]

An update...

The Sierra Club is the latest group to speak out against the resort, joining other local groups as part of Save The Mountain. The Sierra Club's October 30th announcements states that pollution from the proposed Belleayre Resort would force New York City to spend $20-30 billion on water filtration (over half of the state's total debt). According to a report, the new plan will actually cause more harm to the Pepacton Reservoir watershed than the previous one

The local branch of Trout Unlimited, who opposes the resort, is creating growing tension within the organization, as the main group itself supports the resort in its current plan.

The plan in it's current state is still 85% as large as the original plan. Governer Spitzer is offering Belleayre (the ski center) $42 million of taxpayer money to add 9 miles of trails and improve facilities.

 

[JimG.]

The plan in it's current state is still 85% as large as the original plan. Governer Spitzer is offering Belleayre (the ski center) $42 million of taxpayer money to add 9 miles of trails and improve facilities.

Must be nice...and they don't even have to turn a profit. In fact, I think they lost money the past 3 years.

Someone said before that Belleayre's parade was getting rained on...fairly ironic.

You skiers who are regulars at state run hills have a nice deal...even non-skiers pay to improve your hills.

Like I said...must be nice.

 

[Bandit2941]

Must be nice...and they don't even have to turn a profit. In fact, I think they lost money the past 3 years.

Someone said before that Belleayre's parade was getting rained on...fairly ironic.

You skiers who are regulars at state run hills have a nice deal...even non-skiers pay to improve your hills.

Like I said...must be nice.

Wow. Lost money the past 3 years?

Skiers pay to subsidize non-skiers taxes. At least Belleayre skiers anyway.....

I didn't think moderators were in the business of spreading misinformation and rumors ??

 

[catskills]

Wow. Lost money the past 3 years?

Skiers pay to subsidize non-skiers taxes. At least Belleayre skiers anyway.....

I didn't think moderators were in the business of spreading misinformation and rumors ??

Obviously over 60 years ago the voters of NY State thought that a state owned and operated Belleayre Ski Area was a good idea. Belleayre was voted into the NY State Constitution in the 1940s and had the first chair lift in NY state. The people voted on it and this is what they got. NY State tax payers are even nice enought to share it with our friends from NJ and other states. Belleayre was carved out of NY State's forever wild land which is also in the NY State Constitution. The NY State Forever Wild Land, parks and beaches is a huge amount of real estate owned and maintained by the NY State Tax Payers.

Look if you live in NY State and don't want your taxes going to pay for State Ski areas, beaches, and state camp grounds, then write your state politicians. Have them propose a change to the NY State Constitution to either sell Belleayre or bulldoze flatten Belleayre (your choice) and then all the registered voters of NY state can vote on the proposed change to the NY State Constitution in November. You got to love democracy. If you don't like something than change it.

 

[thinnmann]

Skiing in NY causes me to spend tons of the money I earn in NJ on tolls, gas, food, lodging, lift tickets, miscellaneous retail purchases. Multiply that thousands of times for other skiers, or millions since the inception of the legislation. That must help offset the state's investment somewhat.

 

[skidbump]

Must be nice...and they don't even have to turn a profit. In fact, I think they lost money the past 3 years.

Someone said before that Belleayre's parade was getting rained on...fairly ironic.

You skiers who are regulars at state run hills have a nice deal...even non-skiers pay to improve your hills.

Like I said...must be nice.

So much hate

 

[JimG.]

So much hate

No..,pot stirring again. Belleayre is fine. Ski there some every year pretty much.

I really expected a far greater outcry. Although catskills got into it. Sorry Greg, I didn't earn my keep on this one.

Many privately owned areas are worried. And it appears they have good cause to be.

 

[catskills]

Sorry I just realized no politics here. :smash: My mistake. I think I need to ski. BAD. :smash: