Wildcat on the block: Wildcat Sold to Peaks Resorts

[Edd]

I wonder if this is the longest Wildcat thread ever.

 

[drjeff]

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

One could easily argue that Les Otten was much more of a real estate developer than a ski area operator when his company acquired Attitash

 

[drjeff]

I wonder if this is the longest Wildcat thread ever.

I think that happened about 15 pages ago

 

[drjeff]

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.

Peak has been VERY forthcoming with how the groom Mount Snow. They've given trails 3 classification which determine their grooming status.

They designated certain trails (generally very popular beginner and intermediate crusiers covered by fanguns as "premium" trails which means that they see action from the groomers every night). The designated other trails (less popular intermediate cruisers and a good chunk of the expert terrain) as "classic" which means that they might see a groomer once or twice a week. And then they have "natural" trails, which barring a mega-thaw-freeze with little hope of mother nature getting rid of the icy post freeze gleen anytime soon, never see a groomer.

Pretty straightforward and honest from a snowreporting standpoint. They also actually DECREASED their trailcount at Mount Snow by calling a trail a trail, not upper trail, middle trail, lower trail to inflate the count.

 

[eatskisleep]

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...

Exactly, I have no interest in skiing at Attitash. I just don't get a good vibe while skiing there; not to say I hate the mountain (I love biking there in the summer), but as far as skiing goes, it seems to attract a "younger" crowd and more park rats and people willing to cut you off/ski out of control. Thus is just my generalization from skiing at Attitash several times in the past couple years (friend has season's pass there and occasionally he can convince me to come/get discounts etc).

About the hotel; like I said before, if they ever got permission it would just be the first step. That is the main reason I am against it. Next would be townhouses next to the Polecat trail etc... One things leads to another. Even the average hotel is say 100 rooms (on the small side for a hotel) you need to assume at least two people per room. 200 people (at least), more on holiday periods when people bring families of four or five. I am all for hotels and my family always used to stay in them in North Conway, but I say keep them south of the WMNF for a reason.

Next thing I am concerned with is the amount of grooming. I'm all for grooming on boilerplate days, but it seems like Peaks likes grooming a bit more that I do.

Additonally someone mentioned ski for $9 on your birthday. It was free for your birthday, just thought I should note that.

You could link up the $39 dollar next day with a $25 half price Sunday ($32/day), this was valid holidays too so there were lots of deals to be had, even by people who can only ski Vacation weeks.

I know they sold tickets for as low as $25 (maybe less) on lifttopia too.

If anyone knows about this part please chime in: I asked before if anything knew if there would be deals for college students, I have yet to see a response so as of now I am going to assume students pay full price? Like I said, I'll stick to skinning or head to Black on a powder day. :beer:

Hey for all I know, next season they may bring back the deals, they may bring back a better student season pass, and they may not be grooming much. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[eatskisleep]

Pretty straightforward and honest from a snowreporting standpoint. They also actually DECREASED their trailcount at Mount Snow by calling a trail a trail, not upper trail, middle trail, lower trail to inflate the count.

This seems like a good situation to me. :smile:

 

[AdironRider]

If that hotel averages 70% occupancy Id be shocked. Thats a pretty solid season average for any ski hotel.

You can doom and gloom all you want, I say check it out this season and see what you think.

 

[drjeff]

You can doom and gloom all you want, I say check it out this season and see what you think.

If not this year, make it next season when they've had a full off season to make some enhancements to Wildcat. I'd bet that aside from a bunch of fan guns lining SOME trails that most folks wouldn't notice much difference than before.

Bottomline as I've heard multiple Peak admins say many times, they're a SKI company, and they feel that the key to being a successful ski company is the ability to provide their customers with the best possible snow surface on any given day

 

[eatskisleep]

If that hotel averages 70% occupancy Id be shocked. Thats a pretty solid season average for any ski hotel.

You can doom and gloom all you want, I say check it out this season and see what you think.

No doubt I'll be there. Just not sure how much I'll be able to ($$)

 

[Smellytele]

If that hotel averages 70% occupancy Id be shocked. Thats a pretty solid season average for any ski hotel.

You can doom and gloom all you want, I say check it out this season and see what you think.

AdironRider, Do you work for Peak by chance?

 

[AdironRider]

Nope. Just a NH guy.

 

[Smellytele]

Nope. Just a NH guy.

I am as well. Frugal Yankee

 

[Newpylong]

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.

Unfair statement about "Mt. No". Given the relative "tameness" of their terrain, they leave plenty not touched by the cat.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

First of all, It's Peaks Resort dag nabit, not Peak. If you google Peak Resorts who might end up on ASC's archived website. :lol:

I think the big loser in all this will be Attitash, hmmmmm a diferent kind of peak in the name, never noticed that before. Anyways, for many intermediate/advanced skiers/riders if they now have a choice to hit Widlcat or Attitash on the same pass, they will go to Wildcat. It's a no-brainer, assuming there is decent skiing at Wildcat.

Attitash will never be a major player in the New England market but IMHO Wildcat has the potential, slight as it might be, to be just that. I think Peaks has done an awesome job first with Crotched and then Mt Snow. I think Attitash was just part of deal, it was Mt Snow Peaks wanted. Your talking about a 500,000 skier visit resort. Not saying Wildcat will ever have 500,000 skier visits. JH averages about 170,000 skier visits a year, based on last 10 years and I'm sure all will agree it's a major player. I think Wildcat has some of that mystique that drives many people to a JH or Telluride. Attitash has fan guns.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

First of all, It's Peaks Resort dag nabit, not Peak. If you google Peak Resorts who might end up on ASC's archived website. :lol:

I think the big loser in all this will be Attitash, hmmmmm a diferent kind of peak in the name, never noticed that before. Anyways, for many intermediate/advanced skiers/riders if they now have a choice to hit Widlcat or Attitash on the same pass, they will go to Wildcat. It's a no-brainer, assuming there is decent skiing at Wildcat.

Attitash will never be a major player in the New England market but IMHO Wildcat has the potential, slight as it might be, to be just that. I think Peaks has done an awesome job first with Crotched and then Mt Snow. I think Attitash was just part of deal, it was Mt Snow Peaks wanted. Your talking about a 500,000 skier visit resort. Not saying Wildcat will ever have 500,000 skier visits. JH averages about 170,000 skier visits a year, based on last 10 years and I'm sure all will agree it's a major player. I think Wildcat has some of that mystique that drives many people to a JH or Telluride. Attitash has fan guns.

JH/Telluride are resorts with all the bells and whistles, Wildcat will never have any bells or whistles, minus a lift, lodge or snowmaking upgrades.

 

[riverc0il]

Wow, how did I forget about Black!

Black Mountain is fun, but isn't nearly big enough to satisfy those who would have otherwise spent the day at Wildcat.

I have chosen Black over Wildcat before. Sometimes, Black is more satisfying than Wildcat.

 

[eatskisleep]

I second that... especially the day after a powder day...

 

[riverc0il]

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.

Are you serious? Hello Joe Dodge Lodge and Hermit Lake. And how much of a time advantage would someone staying at the Wildcat Hotel ( ) have compared to folks staying just up the road in Gorham? What you are really saying is that if Wildcat built a hotel, the folks in Gorham would have to wake up 15 minutes earlier.

:smash:

Besides, no one skis East Side any more. That is SO 2009.

 

[riverc0il]

All this whining about deals at Wildcat makes me want to argue somemore about installing a new double chair. :lol:



Credit where credit is due: threecy called this one out (or was he calling out Waterville) when he suggested that the Mittersill expansion would soon be old news!

 

[deadheadskier]

I thought he was referring to the sale of Waterville with those comments.

Maybe he was referring to both.

Actually it might make sense for Peaks to invest in an Upper Mountain Double for Wildcat. That could stretch their portfolio's season and compete with Boyne for the longest season on one pass.