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Maple Valley to Reopen?
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Forums : NELSAP Discussion : NELSAP Discussion
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Maple Valley to Reopen?
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rocket21Profile | Galleries Rank: 
Member Since: Posts: 8404 Location:  |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 12:57 PM GMT Maple Valley to Reopen? Certainly a standing headline for the last decade or so. Nonetheless... http://www.reformer.com/ci_18227386?source=most_viewed __________ NewEnglandSkiHistory.com |
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tom white Profile | Galleries Rank:
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Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 1:05 PM GMT Maple Valley owner seeks new four-season resort By CHRIS GAROFOLO / Reformer Staff Posted: 06/08/2011 03:00:00 AM EDT Maple Valley Ski Resort in Dummerston. (Zachary P. Stephens/Reformer) Wednesday June 8, 2011 DUMMERSTON -- One of southern Vermont's lost ski areas could reopen its trails soon, according to a zoning application from the resort's owner. The Maple Valley Ski Area has remained closed for a decade, but property owner Nicholas Mercede, through the Stamford, Conn.company MVS Associates, LLC, recently applied for a conditional use permit to resume operations as a four-season recreation area. Within the application, Mercede called for an ambitious proposal to have the mountain utilized throughout the year. In addition to skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and other winter activities, Mercede developed a blueprint that includes mountain biking, hang gliding and hiking in the spring and foliage viewing and seasonal, such as Halloween, events in the autumn. For the summer, a soapbox race course, paintball games and a circus are listed in the application, as are special events such as corporate challenge and training programs, charity events and therapeutic adventure outings. Other potential financial opportunities include Maple Valley syrup or spring water, a bicycle/outdoor equipment repair shop and rental activities encompassing everything from antique car shows and wedding symposiums to outdoor concerts and festivals. Attempts by the Reformer to contact Mercede for comment were unsuccessful. Located off Route 30 in West Dummerston just six miles north of Brattleboro, the -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ski area was last open in 2001. For most of its time in operation, the mountain operated with two double chairs and a t-bar, with a wire handle tow installed later for snow tubing. There are 19 trails, the longest of which is 5,280 feet, across the property's 384.7 acres. The summit of Sugar Mountain is listed as 1,312 feet. Mercede's plans call for no changes to the existing structures. Dummerston Zoning Administrator Charlotte Annis said the application was directed to the town's Development Review Board, which will hold a public hearing on June 21. The meeting will begin at the property for a site inspection at 6:15 p.m., and reconvene in the town office at 7 p.m. "If it only took one [public] meeting, which is highly unlikely, the Development Review Board would have 45 days to render its decision. And then from that period, there is a 30-day appeal period at the end of the 45," Annis said. "At the minimum, it would take 75 days to get this up and running, but I'm assuming it would take more than one meeting." The DRB can set conditions prior to approving the permit, and will take into consideration public comments during its June 21 forum. "Anyone in the town is welcome to come to the meeting. It's open and, if they can't attend, they can write a letter to the Development Review Board or they can send an e-mail to drb@dummerston.org. I'm sure they're looking for input," Annis said. MVS Associates has already received authorization from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to discharge treated domestic sewage from its existing subsurface disposal system. The state permit becomes effective on July 1 and expires in June 2016. In the event that the facility reopens, Maple Valley will need a registered engineer to complete a thorough inspection, evaluation and report on the sewage collection, treatment and disposal. The initial inspection is required within two months of operations resuming and once a year thereafter in April. Jen Butson, director of Public Affairs with Ski Vermont, said the news of Maple Valley's reopening is exciting for the region. "We don't necessarily forecast that it would make a giant bump in the skier visits, but any ski area opening in the state of Vermont is certainly welcome in that it's going to have more of a local scene," she said. "Maple Valley is not a higher-elevation location, but it would be welcome for families and welcome for people who are going to be learning, and that of course is a benefit to the state as a whole." While Vermont's ski industry has expanded into a multi-million dollar business, many of the smaller mountains that serviced locals have shut down. Now, Maple Valley could become the next "hidden gem" to make a comeback. Jeremy K. Davis, author of the book "Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont," has found a recent trend over the past decade -- the smaller ski areas that usually are less crowded and not as overwhelming as the bigger areas are returning to the marketplace because properties like Maple Valley offer a classic resort for families "There was enough variety to make things interesting and a good amount of trails. It was kind of your perfect family-size mountain," he said. "In terms of Vermont ski areas and New England ski areas, it would be somewhere in the lower, middle size of them. It was a good lower, medium-sized family mountain, pretty affordable and some night skiing and snow making." Dummerston Selectboard Vice-Chairman Lewis White agrees. Like many in town, White learned to ski on Maple Valley and has fond memories growing up on the mountain. "My older boys went skiing there for winter activities through the school and they always ran it so local residents could ski cheaper, and they made it affordable for people to ski and learn how to ski," White said. "I think it would be a great thing for the town." Maple Valley was founded in 1963 by Terry Tyler, a local entrepreneur and businessman who enjoyed skiing. He teamed up with the Pirovane brothers of North Haven Construction in Connecticut to design and build the ski area. The Pirovane family took over operations until the 1980s when Maple Valley changed hands several times, leading to a public auction by the town for back taxes. Mercede won the auction in February 1997. Three years later, a Massachusetts man filed a lawsuit alleging the ski area was responsible for a severe head injury he sustained in January 2000. The suit was dismissed in 2006 with prejudice for an undisclosed settlement. Around the same time, Mercede put the property on the market, listing it at $1.75 million, on Granger's Real Estate website. The mountain's trails all end at the same location at the bottom, preventing any skiers from getting lost. The lodge offers a rustic feel and remains well maintained to this day. Previously, the resort's base lodge opened in the summer as a restaurant and gift shop to sell Vermont products, such as cheese, honey and syrup. |
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lotsoskiing Profile | Galleries Rank:
Member Since: Posts: 875 Location: |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 1:56 PM GMT Fingers crossed...from all reports this will take a lot of work and $$. if they open, I will make a trip there to support the effort...unless it dumps and I go to Magic  . |
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Bill29 Profile | Galleries Rank:
Member Since: Posts: 2414 Location: |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 4:04 PM GMT Hang gliding? Landings on Route 30 or in the West River, especially during high water, ought to be pretty exciting. Low altitude plus limited terrain doesn't seem to be hang glider friendly. But I'm not a hang glider pilot, so I may very well be wrong. What do you think? |
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mapnut Profile | Galleries Rank:
Member Since: Posts: 5062 Location: |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 8:39 PM GMT I think limited space is a big problem all around at Maple Valley, particularly parking. It's not the first place I would think of in southern Vermont to hold any sort of large public event. I remain skeptical. The article seems to be about the owner (for quite a while now) taking steps to make it easier to sell the place if he ever finds someone who can think of a reason to buy it. (I'll refrain from posting a link to a related topic this time.) |
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newman Profile | Galleries Rank:
Member Since: Posts: 2124 Location: |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 8:42 PM GMT 1312 summit? Hidden Valley and Mountain Creek NJ have higher summit el. I hope they dont decide to go all HKD if they do try this. What did this guy do all this time since he owned it? YURTS, what about the yurts?!!!!!!!! |
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photogf128 Profile | Galleries Rank:
Member Since: Posts: 2605 Location:  |
Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 9:29 PM GMTEdited: Jun 08, 2011 - 9:30 PM GMT Quote: 1312 summit? Hidden Valley and Mountain Creek NJ have higher summit el. I hope they dont decide to go all HKD if they do try this. What did this guy do all this time since he owned it? YURTS, what about the yurts?!!!!!!!! http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=topic17429&start=5 __________ facebook.com/profile.php?id=1454198707#!/pages/American-Photoart-Gallery/90884206988 |
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