andyzee
New member
Guess I'm in bitch mode tonight.
Breeze
No, I would say astute mode.
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Guess I'm in bitch mode tonight.
Breeze
I've said it on K-Zone, but Killington is special because of the draw it's image created....that image was focusing on skiing and riding. SKI was in the ski/snowboard business. Not in real estate. For those that have read Lorentz's book, she discusses the innovations that Pres Smith and others made in the ski business, and details how they focused on the skiing aspect. There is little or no talk about real estate. Yeah they built some condos, but Pres Smith never built the village. In 2007 it is still not there. Did that make them less of a ski area? Not at all.
What we have going here with SP Lands, and with ASC, was primarily a real estate business with real estate people trying to run a ski area. Now that works in some places, but real estate people know how to build and market real estate. They don't know or really care as much about skiing and riding. That is an amenity. Period. Same thing is happening with Burke...the focus is on the real estate. By now Burke was supposed to have more snowmaking, more HSQ's, etc. But the company is pouring their $$$ into real estate planning.
Killington has always been about the skiing and riding. SKI poured their resources into it. They made it work. The ski industry is tough, but people are making money in it....look at Peak Resorts. They are only now getting into the real estate portion...before it was only skiing and riding.
A November-April season works if you are treating skiing as only an amenity that you are offering. When it is not your central business, then it does not matter. The only thing is that they don't realize that for Killington skiing has been the central attraction. Take it away and you don't really have much else.....
I like this post.
You know, alot of people don't like Hunter because of a perceived and real lack of amenities. And even though Hunter is doing some real estate development, I doubt there will ever be villages or McMansions there.
Because Hunter still emphasizes snowmaking and skiing over the other business models.
I think there are alot of people here who would like skiing at Hunter if they came open minded and gave it a chance.
MRG and Hunter are good examples.
I like this post.
You know, alot of people don't like Hunter because of a perceived and real lack of amenities. And even though Hunter is doing some real estate development, I doubt there will ever be villages or McMansions there.
Because Hunter still emphasizes snowmaking and skiing over the other business models.
I think there are alot of people here who would like skiing at Hunter if they came open minded and gave it a chance.
Am I mistaken or is someone seriously leaning towards the Triple Major now?![]()
JimG, I like Thetrailboss' post too. I think he was right on.
I can't see how people complain about the amenities at Hunter. I always thought they had a great lodge and nearby Tannersville has some nice resturants and bars.
You gotta to love The Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Cafe!
Well, truthfully, the lodge is dated and has the ambience of an airplane hangar. But the food is good...
Agreed! I think the Hunter cafe food is far better than most places. The bacon cheeseburger and fries always satisfy.
Well, truthfully, the lodge is dated and has the ambience of an airplane hangar. But the food is good, there is a Sushi bar, and there's always a strong apres ski contingent. And there are a few decent eateries (Last Chance is one) if you know where to go.
But Hunter will never be mistaken for a resort destination...and I hope it stays that way. It is what it is...a daytrip mountain for the NYC masses.
Exactly. Hunter is commuter mountian and the people who run it are smart enough to know that!
They never try to make Hunter into something it is not, which is what seems to be happening at Killington.
Closing in mid-April is not The Beast of the East and NOT what Killington is about.
They never try to make Hunter into something it is not, which is what seems to be happening at Killington.
Closing in mid-April is not The Beast of the East and NOT what Killington is about.
There are an awful lot of skiers who go to VT ski areas who don't care about any of that though. I'm not going to mention specific areas but the clientele who visits those places doesn't care about the raw skiing end of the equation.
You and I go to a ski area to ski. These folks go to a mountain resort to rest and relax and maybe take a few runs, in between a gourmet lunch and cocktails at 2:30pm in the business center/lounge.
That's the business POWDR/SP wants.
Sugarbush and Wildcat should be able to pick up the skier visits and Since these are much better ski areas in terms of terrain
I dont think Sugarbush OR Wildcat can touch Killington in terms of diversity of terrain...
PLUS i know for one I wouldnt be driving 7+hrs to get to Wildcat for May (or whatever late season) turns....just not worth it.
M