The Burke Update: All is Quiet

[thetrailboss]

This article appeared in the Caledonian Record. For those that don't want to go to the site, here it is:

A Quiet Summer On Mountain While Plans Formed For Future

BY JEANNE MILES, Staff Writer

- EAST BURKE -- There will be no new lifts or trails going in at Burke Mountain this summer; no new construction. It's quiet.

"It's nowhere near as exciting as last year," David Gwatkin, marketing and sales director, said Friday.

About 40 new snow guns have been ordered, he said, which will improve snowmaking around the mountain.

Gwatkin said they would like to do some work on the Upper Dipper, but since this trail is above 2,500 feet, approval from the Army Corps of Engineers is needed. That approval has yet to come.

A major project that is being undertaken has to do with the operation of the ski area and not future development. The Ginn Company, owners of the mountain, are working with Stantech Consulting Services Inc., formerly Dufresne-Henry, to update the mountain's emergency action plan in the event of a chemical or oil spill.

"They are working diligently to make sure they are in compliance with state regulations," Thomas Nesbitt, an engineer with the company, said Friday. Ginn is spending about $95,000 on the project, Gwatkin said, to make sure the ski operation is safe.

Last year the ski area was buzzing with activity as a new high speed chair lift was installed and the Sherburne Base Lodge received a complete facelift. Parking lots and snowmaking were upgraded.

"The big thing this year is service," Gwatkin said.

Next year, the Fresh Tracks Program will be offered for the first time. Both chairlifts will open at 8 a.m. for early skiing. Normal hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This early hour will be free to season pass holders, Gwatkin said. Day pass holders will be charged an extra $10 to ski early.

Services to children will also be expanded to include more movies, games and extended child care hours. The mountain has formed partnerships with local businesses to provide grocery delivery service and ski-and-stay packages.

Future Plans

While Burke Mountain is a quiet place on the surface this summer, a lot is going on in the development office, located in the former Old Cutter Inn, which Ginn purchased this spring.

Preliminary development plans include a golf course, 550 housing units and a hotel. A high-speed lift is planned to replace the Willoughby Chair. New lifts and trails will include one across from the Old Cutter Inn where houses are planned, a lift to the East Bowl and a beginner lift below the Mid Burke Lodge. All these plans could change, said Tim McGuire, vice president of development.

One of the biggest changes to long-time Burke skiers will be at the Mid Burke Lodge. This area will become a village on 15 acres with a hotel, restaurant, spa and 312 condominium units.

"There may be some shops," McGuire said. "I don't see it as a big retail area, but that hasn't been determined."

About 160 single-family homes are planned for near the golf course, which will be on both sides of the Pinkham Road, about half-way between the Mountain Road and Route 114. Other areas around the proposed 150-acre golf course will be preserved for bear habitat.

None of this is going to happen quickly, McGuire said. The timeline for permits from the town and the state runs into 2008. When those are in place, Ginn will start preselling homes. Construction of single-family homes is scheduled to begin in 2010 and continue through 2020. It is possible that 50 homes a year could be built. These homes will be between 1,500 and 5,000 square feet.

Ginn, a Florida-based development company known for high-end resorts, has purchased 1,786 acres, which include the ski area and land around the mountain. About 1,050 acres will be set aside for wildlife habitat and open land.

McGuire said he hopes to have drawings of the proposed buildings ready to bring to the town this fall.

The Caledonian-Record Online News

 

[from_the_NEK]

I read this article too and I can confirm that things are very quiet at the mountain . It will be very interesting to see the plans later this year when they are released. In my humble opinion, the High speed lift to the summit is the #1 priority to making Burke a top end ski area :idea: . However, maybe it is good that they are waiting a year to put it in. Trying to install a new lift this summer could have led to a big muddy mess uke: . I still haven't been able to ride the East Bowl trail on my mtn bike due to the consistantly wet conditions :evil: :smash: .
The future is bright although slow to come...

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Preliminary development plans include a golf course, 550 housing units and a hotel

Yuck :roll: I've never skid Burke, but I've heard it's a cool place. Hope they don't turn it into a McMountain.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Yuck I've never skid Burke, but I've heard it's a cool place. Hope they don't turn it into a McMountain.

This year will likely be the last to ski the mountain in its generally "Old School" form. Once a high speed goes to the summit and the housing units are built things are going to start to change. For better or worse, it depends on who you are. For example, itlooks like East Bowl will be much more accessable if the new lift system is implimented (good for snowboarders, bad for me . So I highly recommend hitting Burke this year!
It would be interesting to see a few reviews from people who ski Burke this year and then again in three years to see what an outsiders opinion on the whole development process would be.

 

[thetrailboss]

Preliminary development plans include a golf course, 550 housing units and a hotel

Yuck :roll: I've never skid Burke, but I've heard it's a cool place. Hope they don't turn it into a McMountain.

Correct me if I am wrong, From_the_NEK, but I think that 550 is a smaller # than they had originally proposed.

My concern is that there was a lot of activity last season and almost none this season. IIRC there was a lot of momentum and talk last season about "all the work" that was going to be done during these two seasons. They were going to "increase" snowmaking and install at least one HSQ. Well, one year into it and a poor ski season later things have come to a "halt." I am concerned because it is not clear as to if:

[a] Ginn really is not sure what to do with the mountain and is trying to do it "right," or if

Ginn lost so much $$$$ last season that they are being very hesitant to lose more and are making other arrangements. This is the worst case IMHO....

I just am so surprised that the momentum has suddenly stopped. Maybe I am missing something???

 

[from_the_NEK]

Ginn lost so much $$$$ last season that they are being very hesitant to lose more and are making other arrangements. This is the worst case IMHO....

This is my biggest fear as well and I keep trying to push it to the back of my mind. Although I think it may be a combination of losing a ton of money last winter and figuring out that this is not Florida and you can't just waltz in a build a bunch of stuff overnight without a well defined plan that has been "approved" by the public.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Correct me if I am wrong, From_the_NEK, but I think that 550 is a smaller # than they had originally proposed.

I think they were originally planning 800 units. Although that may have included the new units they have advertised on their website in the Bear Path area. These sites were essentially already there (septic, foundations, permits, etc already in place). They were just waiting to have a building.

 

[thetrailboss]

This is my biggest fear as well and I keep trying to push it to the back of my mind. Although I think it may be a combination of losing a ton of money last winter and figuring out that this is not Florida and you can't just waltz in a build a bunch of stuff overnight without a well defined plan that has been "approved" by the public.

At some point though, you's ain't going to make everyone happy. Look at the windfarm issue...or the Lyndon Airport Issue...some call it progress, some swear at it, and then the parties switch sides on the issue. I think that the average Joe in Lyndon/St.Jay would welcome such development assuming that the locals are engaged in the process and are involved in the construction, management, operations, etc, etc. The average Joe doesn't want to be forced off his land by taxes or people who are pricing them out of things and he doesn't want Ginn to "import" their own help.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think they were originally planning 800 units. Although that may have included the new units they have advertised on their website in the Bear Path area. These sites were essentially already there (septic, foundations, permits, etc already in place). They were just waiting to have a building.

...and IIRC all the Bear Path units are now being built and are all sold.

 

[from_the_NEK]

..and IIRC all the Bear Path units are now being built and are all sold.

True, I guess that is the one place they are building stuff are these condos. The development isn't completely dormant.

 

[thetrailboss]

In terms of the skiing aspect, it is. Only 40 new guns and no mention of what type nor where they are going. :roll:

On the other hand, it sure beats the improvements that were done in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons! :wink:

 

[the original trailboss]

a few corrections

Rumors get rolling pretty easy so I would clarify a few things from above posts: the 800/850 unit # remains intact (550 housing units plus 300 plus hotel rooms-limited # of ski/ski out units with balance at the golf course). Ginn is NOT building the Bearpath units-a private contractor bought the development rights from Burke 2000 (same guy same deal as the recently completed Powderhorn units).

 

[thetrailboss]

Rumors get rolling pretty easy so I would clarify a few things from above posts: the 800/850 unit # remains intact (550 housing units plus 300 plus hotel rooms-limited # of ski/ski out units with balance at the golf course). Ginn is NOT building the Bearpath units-a private contractor bought the development rights from Burke 2000 (same guy same deal as the recently completed Powderhorn units).

Thanks for the corrections and accurate info, the original trailboss! :beer: Got to catch up with you again this summer. Have you seen Jay Craven's new film yet? I'm going to be in the NEK tomorrow for it.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Yes, thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure how the Bear path condos were included in the Burke Mtn. development. I assumed that Ginn had possibly bought out the other developer and decided to go ahead with completing that development...guess not. The inclusion of the hotel in the 850 units makes sense. I heard that Ginn was buying somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 electric meters.

 

[from_the_NEK]

One big improvement for season pass holders :grin: especially on powder days:

New next season and free for all season pass holders, the Willoughby Summit and Sherburne Express chairlifts will open at 8am on weekends and holidays! That's right, all Burke season pass holders will now have an extra hour to ski and ride. Day trippers can also join in on the early bird turns for only a $10 upgrade from a regular day ticket!

 

[thetrailboss]

One big improvement for season pass holders :grin: especially on powder days:

Yes, I like that as well. It is a nice gesture to the local passholders. I will be there at 8am on many days this season...

 

[AdironRider]

Wow, that is an awesome incentive to get a pass! Id love it if I had free reign with other passholders on a Whiteface pow day.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Wow, that is an awesome incentive to get a pass! Id love it if I had free reign with other passholders on a Whiteface pow day.

Next season sign up for the First Tracks program. At 8 AM you and whoever else signs up go up the Gondi with a Mt. Host and an instructor. You ski with the group for 2 runs until the lifts open at 8:30. There is no limit to the amount of times you can do it. People love it, lots of positive feedback. Only on weekends and Holiday periods.

 

[awf170]

One big improvement for season pass holders :grin: especially on powder days:

The best part is when Burke gets some snow and Jay doesn't you will be able to see Steve skinning, and suffering under the lift while you cruise over him. :razz:

 

[thetrailboss]

The best part is when Burke gets some snow and Jay doesn't you will be able to see Steve skinning, and suffering under the lift while you cruise over him. :razz:

:lol:

:lol:

No kidding!