Wildcat on the block: Wildcat Sold to Peaks Resorts

[deadheadskier]

I was more looking forward to the $33-$49 range Sunday liftopia deals. Heck a couple of years ago there were $28 Sundays fairly often.

As someone who likes a lot of variety and to ski several different mountains throughout the season, a frequent skier card doesn't work for me. All of the decent single day savings programs are gone.

I'm sure snowmaking and facilities will improve considerably, but I was fairly content with the product at Wildcat as it was. I'm far from a 'cheap bastard', I just have a budget for skiing. Most people do. No matter what that budget level is, if you essentially double the cost of what people are accustomed to paying, people will get upset.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

And to extend earlier conversations regarding a hotel and the such, if there where a hotel at Wildcat on a powder day, I'd rather be at Black where I don't have to deal with the hotelers.

What you mean an extra 100 to 200 people?

 

[Smellytele]

How many people are really that upset they cant ski for 9 bucks on their birthday?

Were talking about 1 day a year, if you happen to have a birthday in the four month ski season back East.

25 dollar Sundays half day tickets? How many people on this board took advantage of this deal last year. Im sure you did Deadhead, but anyone else? Outside of less crowds you're getting sloppy seconds at the end of a weekend. Ive never been blown away by late day weekend conditions at any mountain. Sure its still nice to ride, but Im not writing a blog like some would about it.

39 dollar next day tickets assumes you will be staying in a hotel, or daytripping twice. Thats really not that great a deal when you add in the cost of a hotel or another 30-50 bucks in gas.

Jesus, this is nothing but good for Wildcat. More snowmaking, combo pass with Attitash, these are all good things.

I guess unless youre a cheap bastard and are super pissed you cant ski for 9 bucks on your birthday.

How about 2 for 1 days?
How about liftopia deals?
How about ski club deals?
How about the 1 Friday every month for $9?

A lot of people who ski at Wildcat don't want to ski at Attitrash...

 

[AdironRider]

Quoted for posterity.

You should know by now I dont back down from what I say.

Ive been wrong before, but you cant really think this is bad for Wildcat do you?

Im just not that upset as I didnt think their deals were all that spectacular. I think the benefits of having Attitash and Wildcat on the same pass far outweigh the cons of losing a couple deals that never once convinced me to drive 2+ hours to get there.

I do hope they continue to do the vert challenge there. I would argue Wildcat is bar none the best place in the country to rack up pure unadulterated vert. If your a vert junkie a 100k day is not that hard at the cat. Thats a talll order even for places like Jackson, Whiteface, Snowbird.

 

[deadheadskier]

. I think the benefits of having Attitash and Wildcat on the same pass far outweigh the cons of losing a couple deals that never once convinced me to drive 2+ hours to get there.

.

and if I were someone looking for a season pass in which to spend 90% of my days at that/those mountain(s) I'd agree with you 100%. I'd be pumped if I were an Attitash pass holder.

I think the Boyne Pass and the Peaks Pass are both awesome values.

 

[billski]

I guess unless youre a cheap bastard and are super pissed you cant ski for 9 bucks on your birthday.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

 

[AdironRider]

How about 2 for 1 days?
How about liftopia deals?
How about ski club deals?
How about the 1 Friday every month for $9?

A lot of people who ski at Wildcat don't want to ski at Attitrash...

Thats what four maybe 5 fridays a season? Its still midweek. Unless your a ski bum your catchin a couple of those at best.

Liftopia tickets in the high 30's is not going to convince me to make the trek there over other places.

Im not in a ski club, and I do see their benefit, but I doubt your ski club doesnt have some sick deals to other great mountains. But, I highly doubt you joined a ski club just for the Wildcat discount.

They are still deals, and Im sure some people used them, but they arent that freaking spectacular.

I have heard little bitching from the Attitash and Mt. Snow crowds since Peak took over. I can think of little that has gone downhill. You can get all worked up and talk about vibe, or hypothetical complete about faces in overall socio-economic standing of the clientel, but the Cat is not going backwards here.

You get more snowmaking, the same sick view, a decent lift system, and the variety of the Cat, and lose 4 Fridays a year and some 2 for 1's.

I just dont see this as anything but an overall massive plus for Wildcat.

 

[AdironRider]

and if I were someone looking for a season pass in which to spend 90% of my days at that/those mountain(s) I'd agree with you 100%. I'd be pumped if I were an Attitash pass holder.

I think the Boyne Pass and the Peaks Pass are both awesome values.

Fair enough. I definitely prefer a seasons pass, especially one that gives three distinct flavors like the Peaks pass does in the Mt. Washington Valley.

But I can see how being tied to the Mt. Washington Valley would not be choice numero uno.

Id probably still get a Cannon pass.

 

[frozencorn]

The vertical challenge is still on. March.

And I'm a cheap fool because I enjoyed the little benny of a mountain that was part of the community enough to receive a birthday gift from them? Whatever. People championing the deal are missing the point. This was a place that mattered to people, and in turn, Wildcat showed appreciation with a number of deals and good will. Peak stepped in, and immediately, immediately, wiped much of that away.

And a base hotel? Please. Could you imagine the number of weekend warriors who would stay there in an attempt to beat the spring crowds across the street? It would be a nightmare.

 

[AdironRider]

A couple hundred beds isnt going to stop that place from being a madhouse on any April weekend. It already is by 8 in the first place.

If anything, I bet itd be easier to park. Another plus in my book.

 

[Smellytele]

Thats what four maybe 5 fridays a season? Its still midweek. Unless your a ski bum your catchin a couple of those at best.

Liftopia tickets in the high 30's is not going to convince me to make the trek there over other places.

Im not in a ski club, and I do see their benefit, but I doubt your ski club doesnt have some sick deals to other great mountains. But, I highly doubt you joined a ski club just for the Wildcat discount.

They are still deals, and Im sure some people used them, but they arent that freaking spectacular.

I have heard little bitching from the Attitash and Mt. Snow crowds since Peak took over. I can think of little that has gone downhill. You can get all worked up and talk about vibe, or hypothetical complete about faces in overall socio-economic standing of the clientel, but the Cat is not going backwards here.

You get more snowmaking, the same sick view, a decent lift system, and the variety of the Cat, and lose 4 Fridays a year and some 2 for 1's.

I just dont see this as anything but an overall massive plus for Wildcat.

The Attitash and Mt Snow crowds are a different set of people. I have to also say that a great snowmaking system and a better lift system has never pulled me to a place either. The other things do pull me to them and allow me to ski multiple places in a season. Terrain and deals, deals, deals are what get me to places.

 

[AdironRider]

Im sure you'll find better deals elsewhere then.

Were talking about 3 or 4 possible deal days you guys are realistically missing out on. I doubt you make it to every cheap Friday, every Liftopia deal, etc.

If that is going to change your whole stance on a mountain and you will no longer ski there, I would argue you werent that big a fan in the first place.

 

[threecy]

I'll take a proven operator over financier/entrepreneur-turned ski resort owner. The latter introduces too much risk. For every success story like Win Smith, there are plenty more failures. and that sucks for the consumer.

Les Otten had been a proven ski area operator for two decades when he took over Attitash.

 

[deadheadskier]

Someone can be a big fan of a mountain and only ski there a few times a year.......

Stowe is by far my favorite mountain in the East. Since moving away from Northern Vermont, I ski there about three times a year.

you are grossly underestimating the number of deal days that were cut. There were probably in excess of 50 days (ten per month) that you could ski Wildcat for under $40; sometimes well under that dollar figure. The amount of times an individual takes advantage of those deals is irrelevant.

 

[Smellytele]

Im sure you'll find better deals elsewhere then.

Were talking about 3 or 4 possible deal days you guys are realistically missing out on. I doubt you make it to every cheap Friday, every Liftopia deal, etc.

If that is going to change your whole stance on a mountain and you will no longer ski there, I would argue you werent that big a fan in the first place.

I ski about 25-40 times a year. I would make it to Wildcat 3-4 times a year for the past 10 years. Before that (before kids) I skied there probably 7-10 a year for the previous 10. So in 20 years I skied there 100-140 times. With a family of 5 the 3-4 times a year actually add up to more skier visits than me alone 7-10 times a year. Did I ski only on deal days? No. Will I now pay full price and ski there 3-4 times a year? No, maybe once. I would take my kids out of school to ski deal days. Did I ski at Attitash with full price ticket, snow making, and better lifts? No.

I am only one family but I am more than certain that there are many more like me that skied there.

 

[AdironRider]

Someone can be a big fan of a mountain and only ski there a few times a year.......

Stowe is by far my favorite mountain in the East. Since moving away from Northern Vermont, I ski there about three times a year.

you are grossly underestimating the number of deal days that were cut. There were probably in excess of 50 days (ten per month) that you could ski Wildcat for under $40; sometimes well under that dollar figure. The amount of times an individual takes advantage of those deals is irrelevant.

I think its completely relevant. I just think its pretty petty to get all worked up over something realistically the average ski family uses 3 times a year at absolute best. Losing a bunch of midweek ok deals and 25 dollar Sundays is not going to affect most skiers all that much. Is the cat going to lose 50% of its business on the former deal days? Doubtful. Is the product going to be substantially better, highly probable. How really could they make it worse than it is now? Its not exactly killing it. Killington sold for 85 mill. Wildcat couldnt sell for 2 mill in the same market. Thats saying something.

I think youre grossly overestimating the negative effect this will have on Wildcat.

If you were really chasing deals in the Mt. Washington Valley you were going to Black in the first place.

 

[Smellytele]

There will be no convincing you but I would say on their 2 for 1 day it will cut business by more than 50%. Would I drive up there (with the other half of the 2 for 1) on a Wednesday to pay twice as much as last year? No.
If they groom it as much as they groom Mt. No that is one way to make it worse if that is what you are saying.

 

[EPB]

I think youre grossly overestimating the negative effect this will have on Wildcat.

As much as I hate to say it, I completely agree. I don't think that Peak Management is concerned with what a bunch of hardcores have to say about not being able to ski at their resort a few times a year for well below market value. They will probably get away with it too. It doesn't take a substantial increase in full priced visits to make up for the lost revenue from cutting deals like the ones mentioned on this board.

If it does make a difference, the deals will probably be back next year. They always have the option to restore deals, or make their own going forward. By the way, Attitash was offering $39 days for "Spring" starting on March 1st that really blew its competition in the Valley out of the water (at least on a consistent basis).

 

[threecy]

If you were really chasing deals in the Mt. Washington Valley you were going to Black in the first place.

How long have you lived in the Mt. Washington Valley?

 

[deadheadskier]

I think its completely relevant. I just think its pretty petty to get all worked up over something realistically the average ski family uses 3 times a year at absolute best. Losing a bunch of midweek ok deals and 25 dollar Sundays is not going to affect most skiers all that much. Is the cat going to lose 50% of its business on the former deal days? Doubtful. Is the product going to be substantially better, highly probable. How really could they make it worse than it is now? Its not exactly killing it. Killington sold for 85 mill. Wildcat couldnt sell for 2 mill in the same market. Thats saying something.

I think youre grossly overestimating the negative effect this will have on Wildcat.

If you were really chasing deals in the Mt. Washington Valley you were going to Black in the first place.

Where the heck did I ever say these moves would have a negative effect on Wildcat as a business??? I didn't. I said, the change of deal offerings sucks for someone like me who likes to make it there 3 times a year for a reasonable price. There are other people in this thread that agree with me.

Save for Saddleback and possibly Burke, Wildcat was the best 2000 vert mountain in the east for deals. Now it is not. That's the argument and it is a fact. I really don't see the point in you arguing that people who took advantage of that situation shouldn't be upset. Wildcat used to be affordable for guys like me and Smellytele, now it's not.

As for Black, when it has decent snow, yes, it's the place to go. However, you could ski Wildcat for $5-10 more with the old deals. On a hardpack day, that's a pretty easy decision to make.