The Bolton Vally that could have been.....

[MrMagic]

just got a bolton vally brochure from 1965 before they had opened to the public for skiing. while teh brochure does not have any real pictures the idea and the plan is out lined here are some highlights from the area that could have been a sunday river or dare i say a killington:

plans included
year round facilites _ winter
75-miles of ski trails
14 double chairs
5 seperate base areas

9- hole golf course
several small mountain villages
ski hotel and multiple resturnants
ski chalets
town house appartments
small stocked fishing ponds
summer theatre
swimming pools and
a aerial tramway
and a game and bird perserv

all taken from ski bolton vally

 

[Joshua B]

Cool. I would love to see a scan of that.

 

[ozskier]

Sunday River has the potential to be larger than Killington, just needs a few hundred thousand more skier visits to do so ;-)

I've never been to Bolton. Don't think I even want to.
What's the draw? Anyone ski there on a regular basis?

 

[thetrailboss]

Actually, BV has a lot going for it. Great set up and base. One of the few truly self-contained resorts. The thing that kills it is the lack of an interstate exit and the steep access road. It has incredible potential, especially now that it is on more stable financial footing.

Remember the hassles the previous owner faced in 2000 or so? The 'Bolt'n in Vermont' owner? He had no access to the lodge or the trademark and he was a young guy so he did not realize what was going on to him. I was surprised Peter Glenn and Company did not do a better job.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Would definitely be interested to see what that might have looked like. IMHO, they built in the wrong location. just a mile to the north, the actual Bolton Mtn. offers far more sustained vertical while Cotton Brook drainage on the backside of BV has similar elevation but a superior exposure (NE vs. NW).

 

[Joshua B]

Would definitely be interested to see what that might have looked like. IMHO, they built in the wrong location. just a mile to the north, the actual Bolton Mtn. offers far more sustained vertical while Cotton Brook drainage on the backside of BV has similar elevation but a superior exposure (NE vs. NW).

Can it be connected to the current ski area?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Bolton Valley has a great potential niche market that they have been trying to tap for years...night skiing for Burlington residents and students. Heck, you can see the lights from Burlington and it's less than 30 minutes away.

I too remember when that kid bought it...what a fiasco. I also agree with TB regarding the ownership by the Peter Glenn guy. Thought he being a savvy businessman would bring things forward for BV. To be honest didn't think his stores were all that great,

It's got good terrain, decent vertical and night skiing. What's not to like.

 

[Joshua B]

Well I didn't like taking two chairs to get to the top, but the new lift will solve that.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Bolton Valley has a great potential niche market that they have been trying to tap for years...night skiing for Burlington residents and students. Heck, you can see the lights from Burlington and it's less than 30 minutes away.

I too remember when that kid bought it...what a fiasco. I also agree with TB regarding the ownership by the Peter Glenn guy. Thought he being a savvy businessman would bring things forward for BV. To be honest didn't think his stores were all that great,

It's got good terrain, decent vertical and night skiing. What's not to like.

Aaah Mason Dwinell. Kid was in over his head from the get go. It's amazing the creative ways you can find to lose Daddy's money.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Bolton Valley has a great potential niche market that they have been trying to tap for years...night skiing for Burlington residents and students. Heck, you can see the lights from Burlington and it's less than 30 minutes away.

I too remember when that kid bought it...what a fiasco. I also agree with TB regarding the ownership by the Peter Glenn guy. Thought he being a savvy businessman would bring things forward for BV. To be honest didn't think his stores were all that great,

It's got good terrain, decent vertical and night skiing. What's not to like.

Aaah Mason Dwinell. Kid was in over his head from the get go. It's amazing the creative ways you can find to lose Daddy's money.

:lol: Don't ask me why but I felt really sorry for him. He did try really hard to make it work but when you can't use the name and the lodge is owned by a bunch of wound too tight New York lawyers your swimming against the current from the get go.

 

[thetrailboss]

Bolton Valley has a great potential niche market that they have been trying to tap for years...night skiing for Burlington residents and students. Heck, you can see the lights from Burlington and it's less than 30 minutes away.

I too remember when that kid bought it...what a fiasco. I also agree with TB regarding the ownership by the Peter Glenn guy. Thought he being a savvy businessman would bring things forward for BV. To be honest didn't think his stores were all that great,

It's got good terrain, decent vertical and night skiing. What's not to like.

Aaah Mason Dwinell. Kid was in over his head from the get go. It's amazing the creative ways you can find to lose Daddy's money.

:lol: Don't ask me why but I felt really sorry for him. He did try really hard to make it work but when you can't use the name and the lodge is owned by a bunch of wound too tight New York lawyers your swimming against the current from the get go.

Yes, Mr. Dwinell. What happened to him? There was one season that the ski area did not even open IIRC. I guess Peter Glenn and Company (Homer Fitts I think was one of the owners...) did a good job running the retail stores but not the ski area. The current outfit has been working hard...I see lots of pamphlets and info in the area, but there is no real online presence or following per se. :-?

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Bolton Valley has a great potential niche market that they have been trying to tap for years...night skiing for Burlington residents and students. Heck, you can see the lights from Burlington and it's less than 30 minutes away.

I too remember when that kid bought it...what a fiasco. I also agree with TB regarding the ownership by the Peter Glenn guy. Thought he being a savvy businessman would bring things forward for BV. To be honest didn't think his stores were all that great,

It's got good terrain, decent vertical and night skiing. What's not to like.

Aaah Mason Dwinell. Kid was in over his head from the get go. It's amazing the creative ways you can find to lose Daddy's money.

:lol: Don't ask me why but I felt really sorry for him. He did try really hard to make it work but when you can't use the name and the lodge is owned by a bunch of wound too tight New York lawyers your swimming against the current from the get go.

I did too, but he sort of brought it on himself from what I had read. He bought the area at a public auction from Lyndonville Bank, but it appears that he didn't do the necessary due diligence to check about the name, lodge, etc... Seriously, how can you expect to run a resort when those items aren't taken care of? It ws doomed from the start.