$9.1 Million to update Belleayre's Discovery Lodge

trackbiker wrote

The same owners who also do a good job at Berkshire East, which is a great alternative to Mt. Snow on a weekend. Just south of the VT border in MA.

I grew up skiing at Berkshire East in the early-mid 70's. I remember when Roy, the new owner's father, originally came to Berkshire East, first as mountain manager and then as owner.

Our local Sears is closing up pretty soon. The Flagstaff Mall has a weird, post apocalyptic vibe to it.

What’s a mall?

It's a little sad. My father was a big Sears fan. Grew up with Kenmore appliances, which had an awesome warranty and service. I love my vacuum cleaner, which was a top five Consumer Reports pic. Craftsman tools are an American institution, almost. My father owned a machine shop, and only bought Craftsman.

Without taking the dollar amount into consideration the gondola may seem pointless to us die-hard skiers but i've never seen belleayre as busy as I did last year.  The casual holiday weekend family from Jersey sees a gondola and to them that makes it a legit resort.  These people are basic.  A new lodge will drive people there.  They like shiny things and spend a lot of money.  

I bring a lunch and pack my own beers.  I buy last year's stuff on clearance. In other words, they don't do these upgrades to please us.  This is all to target people planning their presidents day weekend trips who spend 1500 on lodging and 1000 in tickets, food and rentals.  

louie.mirags wrote

Without taking the dollar amount into consideration the gondola may seem pointless to us die-hard skiers but i've never seen belleayre as busy as I did last year.  The casual holiday weekend family from Jersey sees a gondola and to them that makes it a legit resort.  These people are basic.  A new lodge will drive people there.  They like shiny things and spend a lot of money.  

I bring a lunch and pack my own beers.  I buy last year's stuff on clearance. In other words, they don't do these upgrades to please us.  This is all to target people planning their presidents day weekend trips who spend 1500 on lodging and 1000 in tickets, food and rentals.

You nailed. I 100% agree with this, with the additional factor ( that marcski mentioned ) that it’s also to entice the developers to move ahead with their development across the road.

Brownski wrote

entice the developers to move ahead

FACT.

Harvey wrote

Brownski wrote

entice the developers to move ahead

FACT.

That is hilarious. "Entice" and "fact".
The first plans where submitted in 2003. When were the builders delaying the project?

I agree entice isn't the right word.

In the mid-00s, they were talking as if that new lodge was shovel-ready. Now it's 13 years later.

I never said entice.  I just said any benefit from NYS's investment in the Belle gondola and new lodge will accrue to the developers.

Yeah, “entice” is the wrong word. That was my mistake. I should have picked my words more carefully. I heard from a guy who’s in a position to know that the legal hurdles to the private developers moving forward are mostly resolved. So all the private development that everybody’s been talking about for years is now good to go if it gets financed. Thus the instant gondola last year and the sudden movement on the lodge now.

So when I said “entice” maybe I should have said “help” “bolster” “benefit.” Basically, I thought that a big spanking new lodge (like the gondola) would give the developers more credibility with the banks.

FYI:  I just self-moderated and deleted my post since it was basically a political comment that doesn't belong in this thread.  

Sorry I thought it was Brownski's word.

It seems the last ruling was April 12, 2018. The lawsuit was dismissed.

"HIGHMOUNT – Opponents of the $365 million Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park project have suffered a major legal blow, losing a recent court round for the second time since July, while they continue fighting.

On April 12, a four-judge panel in the Appellate Division, Third Department, of the state Supreme Court unanimously denied an appeal by the Catskill Heritage Alliance environmental group.

The Alliance sought additional environmental review of the project and to annul previously issued permits."

https://www.recordonline.com/news/20180423/court-denies-opponents-appeal-in-belleayre-resort-project

Marcski wrote

FYI:  I just self-moderated and deleted my post since it was basically a political comment that doesn't belong in this thread.

Sorry if I put words in your mouth. I didn’t mean to do that and didn’t view what you said as political or controversial

louie.mirags wrote

Without taking the dollar amount into consideration the gondola may seem pointless to us die-hard skiers but i've never seen belleayre as busy as I did last year.  The casual holiday weekend family from Jersey sees a gondola and to them that makes it a legit resort.  These people are basic.  A new lodge will drive people there.  They like shiny things and spend a lot of money.  

I bring a lunch and pack my own beers.  I buy last year's stuff on clearance. In other words, they don't do these upgrades to please us.  This is all to target people planning their presidents day weekend trips who spend 1500 on lodging and 1000 in tickets, food and rentals.

I agree. There’s real money in creating a ski area with shiny things just a few hours from the tri-state region. Just look at hunter. The only difference is that Bell has better terrain for the beginners and suburban, terminal intermediate types. I see opportunity there from a business standpoint.

Whiteface season passes purchased to date substantially - as In a lot - up.....    

Please do share numbers.  And potential drivers such as the cheaper price moved sooner this year forcing an early buy.  Or the snow last weekend and psych factor really made a push this week.    Or since not part or any mega pass people are supporting the ORDA pass.  Just example.  Very curious!  

  With the  Max passes death , I purchased Orda passes  I am sure lots of others did the same thing.  Orda pass allow day trip skiing for us on weekends I don'''t stay in Lake George.