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Thread starter soposkier
soposkier
Not looking good at saddleback. Hopefully they can pull it off. http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/loc...-without-funding-for-new-chairlifts/30408427/
Pretty crazy stuff. They have been successful in increasing skier visits to the mountain it would seem, so hopefully they can get the funding.
I'd be worried about trying to install a new lift starting in August for a december start as well.
Puck it
Franconia, NH
The double load station is up for sale alone.
xwhaler
Seacoast NH
They have the load station as well as the entire lift up for sale on 2 different listings. Sounds like the owners didn't want to put more $ into an aging lift and are now saying they won;t open unless they can raise enough $ to buy a new lift.
Have to believe something will get done---they have invested too much into the place over the last 10-15 yrs to just close it now.
http://www.resortboneyard.com/i/doppelmayrctec-sprint/53876
http://www.resortboneyard.com/i/2004-doppelmayr-ctec--sprint/52778
I read that the entire lift recently went on sale for $350,000 in July.
I believe this includes the towers, chairs, and haul rope.
"19 towers, Mueller lattice style towers with Mueller 60mm sheaves."
This is different than the $200,000 advertisement for the drive terminal.
steamboat1
Brooklyn,NY/Pittsford,VT.
If they say the lift is at the end of it's useful life, which they did, how do they expect to sell it? Perhaps they should have replaced the lift before spending for a new base lodge & two other new lifts that weren't absolutely necessary. Hindsight is always 20/20. I'd really hate to see the place close. Having skied there several times myself it really is a great mountain. It's just to far away from anything.
Newpylong
Upper Valley, NH
steamboat1 said:
There gets to be a point where one place decides something is not worth investing in anymore. It is at it's useful life for them. For someone else, that drive and return bull wheel would be perfect, the rest for spare parts. The haul rope if still good is worth something, so are the sheaves.
Close?
SIKSKIER
Bedford and Franconia NH
This smells of a leverage move.Why would one say their lift is at the end of its usefull life and then put it up for sale.Do I want to buy that?So we will have to close?If its good enough for resale your telling me it wont be good enough to run this winter so we'll have to close?I'm not buying this.Has the lift been condemned?Then maybe but this is whacked.
catsup948
Shelburne Falls, MA
What would they do if they don't get a lift in time? Make people ride the little double to the tbar? That would not be ideal for some.
catsup948 said:
What would they do if they don't get a lift in time?
According to them close.
Watatic Skier
SIKSKIER said:
This is kind of what I assumed too but one of the park guys there who is on Newschoolers brought up that without the Rangely lift there is a good chance they wouldn't see enough of a return to cover operating costs.
I think they should have replaced the double instead of Kennebago but as someone else mentioned hindsight is 20/20
As has already been mentioned it's at the end of its useful life for the mountain. The capacity of that lift just can't support the amount of skiers who need to ride it in order for the mountain to make it financially anymore with the debt probably accumulated from the other improvements.
Definitely agree it was weird to have done the base lodge and other quads first. The Kennabago quad was to eliminate a T-bar and give access of some of the best terrain to boarders, but still, tons of terrain of the Double was pretty untouched always because of the lift's line and ride time.
From how I've read it, the Berry Family isn't looking to raise $3,000,000 from locals and skiers, they're looking probably too provide some leverage against whoever they've applied for a loan from.
The mountain was going nowhere with that lift, regardless of how good a condition it was in. They probably have some debt payments coming up in a few years and can't pay it off with the current revenue they're pulling in because of that lift.
I think it's good that they're going to refund pass holders and venders for the money they've already spent on the upcoming season
marcski
Westchester County, NY and a Mountain near you!
This announcement could also be somewhat of a ploy to get the govt' to put some pressure to get a loan secured before the end of the summer to ensure that Saddleback opens for the season to provide the seasonal jobs for the area.
Idiots.
Here is the press release from Saddleback....it does seem like a leverage play against the banks but also a call to the public to have them help suggest means of financing.
It would be a real shame if the mountain closed for even 1 season. When snow is good (and due to location it usually is) it's a very special place for all ability levels.
http://www.saddlebackmaine.com/docs/Press-Release-7-20-15.pdf
mbedle
Barto, Pennsylvania
The only way this makes any sense to me is they must have been running in the red during the last couple of seasons. Just figures out it was for sale. Not a good time for them to be closing for the winter when its on the market.
thetrailboss
NEK by Birth; Alta/Snowbird by Choice
Looks like I'm late to the party on this one....just saw this on SKI Magazine:
http://www.skinet.com/ski/article/saddleback-needs-3m-or-resort-wont-open?dom=fb&pub=ski
Looks like they are looking for an excuse to dump the place. Seems odd to say "the lift works, but we need a new one, so if we don't get the money now, we won't open." Huh?!
DoublePlanker
So this place can't make it and can't find funding. But plans for a massive resort at the Balsams can find tons of $$$.
deadheadskier
Southeast NH
DoublePlanker said:
That's my take on it too. Saddleback is a far superior mountain than the Balsams, same snow and a more compelling 4 season destination with the lake at the base.
Balsams is arguably a better location with its proximity to Canadian cities and more interstate/easier travel from US cities, but still a long ways away.
I'm wondering if Saddleback is looking for State Government backed funds to support the loan for the new chair and preserve jobs. Don't see LePage going for it.
deadheadskier said:
It's obvious that there is some kind of posturing going on here. I imagine that the bank(s)/investors who financed much of the earlier work have balked at giving them $3 million more. So the resort is now saying, "give us the money or lose everything", in order to force the situation. It's not really fair to the loyal skiers and riders.
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