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Volunteers Wanted to Reopen The Old Ski Valley

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bsvresort
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Location:Naples, NY

Posted: Aug 05, 2012 - 12:41 PM GMT

Hello All Of You Diehards...
We are working away at the old "Ski Valley" in Naples, N.Y. trying to get 1/2 the resort open for tubing, zip lining, snowboarding and skiing for this winter. We are not sure how many locals and other people willing to come out for the weekend. We have two R.V's and a few tents people have been using to stay over on weekends and some week days. We are not sure how many locals and or people that would travel a bit who use this site, but we are looking for hip skiiers that want to contribute to a new/old resort.

We, the owners, are in are mid 40's and have dropped off the corporate grid to chase a dream. We are hoping to open this year. Our application to "reestablish ski operations" is being submitted in a week for a S. Bristol, NY town board meeting in early September.
We are willing to work out passes, ect.. inexchange for help around the resort. Let any veterans know that we are looking to hire them first for thier service, but also people that are hip, healthy and green.

Tasks we are doing to make this a great resort again are :

clearing runs, sawing falling trees, widening trails i.e removing growth, widening logging trails to make them into new runs, trenching and fixing water lines, remoldeling the bar and lodge, painting everything, making new mountain biking trails, building new snow board rails, and positioning them and picking the spots where they are to go. clearing trees and branches away from new zip line paths, and landschaping. There really is a little bit of everything. We hope we find a positive response from the hip, devoted skiers on this site. We also hope that campers and hikers, and all the outdoorsy people take a look. We are going to be opening camping and R.v spots for rearound use. It will be nice to be able be to stay for a very reasonable price a day, a week, an entire season, what ever that may be... We look forward to your review and responses... Pictures are to follow of progress, which started last October. The week of the 21st of August we have a copper colored tin roof going on.. roofers and labor to haul off 70 sq. of ashphalt roofing will helpful

We provide drink, food, a place to sleep, if desired will log your hours. Depending on tasks, length of help will determine whether we can exchange a season pass, tickets to any of our featured rides ect.

We are working most week days and every other weekend. Sometimes every weekend. Depends on how many committed people are available.

Contact:
Carl Welte, (561) 427-9189
Bristol Ski Valley Resort (Formerly known as "Ski Valley Private Ski Club"

6586 County rd. 33
Naples, NY 14512

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bsvresort
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Location:Naples, NY

Posted: Aug 05, 2012 - 1:20 PM GMT

testing to see if this post went through...

newman
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Location:The mighty SKI WARD Shrewsbury MA

Posted: Aug 05, 2012 - 1:38 PM GMT

Edited: Aug 05, 2012 - 2:34 PM GMT

You guys may want to start with a basic website with contact info. Ask someone camping in one of your tents if they can help.

bubblecuffer
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Posted: Aug 06, 2012 - 12:52 PM GMT

Sounds like a great, grass roots, effort.

I wish someone in central/eastern MA would do something similar with one of our buried treasures. Unfortunately, NY is just too far for me.

The previous suggestion about setting up a web site sounds like a good idea. That, I could help with.

jaytrem
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Posted: Aug 06, 2012 - 2:49 PM GMT

Wow, that's cool. I'm no where near there, so can't help out, but thanks for opening the place.

prophet30
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Posted: Aug 08, 2012 - 8:10 PM GMT

If your serious about building mountain bike trails I have builders. Lift access bikers demand more than singletrack trails! Let me know what your plans are maybe we can help

the hackster
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Posted: Oct 02, 2012 - 4:18 AM GMT

It's great to hear that there is a concentrated effort to open ski valley. This resort has a great location well within distance of some good demographics. I do have to say that it would be in the best interest of the owners ( and us skiers) if there was a solid business plan put forth for the resort. Listening to this discussion for the last year, it is apparent that the owners are indeed truly. "off the grid" ( my apologies to Warren Miller), and while I commend their rough and wildcat approach, I do think that they need to get serious with capital and operating expenses.

A grass roots approach to opening a resort and hoping we will come is very risky. Your revenue stream depends on state of the art facilities, entertainment, advertising, market branding, and offering a fabulous reliable product. Believe me I have skied many areas years ago that started and operated on a shoe string budget ( shacks for lodges, burgers cooked on coeman stoves, tailgate picnics, rope tows with VW engines, grooming by hand, etc), most of these are listed in the " lost ski areas directory. Professional help and capital is what is needed here to bring sustainability and long term sucsess.

I looked into ski valley two years ago when Carl and his two friends bought the place with the intent of helping provide capital and ski management expertise, however it was apparent from what I read that his group wants to stay " off the grid" and maintain the wildcat experience. I'm not confident that this business plan is sustainable in the long run. I truly wish the Owners luck in establishing ski valley as a great ski destination , as we all would another ski area to cut some turns on. The customers are out there, the hill just needs capital and a serious marketing plan and professional management. I think we've all seen good resorts and what makes them click, it's not a grass roots approach.

realitycheck
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Posted: Oct 21, 2012 - 9:40 PM GMT

Ski Valley had it's day and, maybe, will again in the future...but not by it's current owners. Carl Welte posts how well the trails are being cleared and how well the ropes course is coming along but, and this is a big but...

He doesn't know what he's doing, he hasn't got permits, he hasn't got the permission from the town board to open anything; not a ski mountain, a snow tube park or even a restaurant, he doesn't have the money (family money that is almost gone!), and he hasn't had a successful business venture ever! The previous seller offered to tear down the lodge as part of the sale...that's the kind of condition it's in. Anyone driving by the place can see.

He spent a large portion of his funds on new snowguns, old snow cats, and a boxed snow tubing park (most of which is rusting in the parking lot)...without any infrastructure! Then he rebuilt the main deck (took almost 2 years), built a nice bar inside (cost a small fortune), and wooed everyone on a FB site called Yodeler for former skiers at Ski Valley (with pictures of horses and goats and semi-cleared trails).
Why is he always looking for volunteers and claiming grassroot? He's running out of money fast and he wants free labor. Most of the locals know it's a pipedream but they let him rant. He's the laughing stock of the area.

Sorry if this is bursting anyones bubble but the realitycheck is what it is. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and have a restaurant open this year. But I doubt it. Past results suggest future performance.

pile
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Location:Swain NY

Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 12:06 AM GMT

Edited: Oct 22, 2012 - 12:13 AM GMT

Quote:

Ski Valley had it's day and, maybe, will again in the future...but not by it's current owners. Carl Welte posts how well the trails are being cleared and how well the ropes course is coming along but, and this is a big but...

He doesn't know what he's doing, he hasn't got permits, he hasn't got the permission from the town board to open anything; not a ski mountain, a snow tube park or even a restaurant, he doesn't have the money (family money that is almost gone!), and he hasn't had a successful business venture ever! The previous seller offered to tear down the lodge as part of the sale...that's the kind of condition it's in. Anyone driving by the place can see.

He spent a large portion of his funds on new snowguns, old snow cats, and a boxed snow tubing park (most of which is rusting in the parking lot)...without any infrastructure! Then he rebuilt the main deck (took almost 2 years), built a nice bar inside (cost a small fortune), and wooed everyone on a FB site called Yodeler for former skiers at Ski Valley (with pictures of horses and goats and semi-cleared trails).
Why is he always looking for volunteers and claiming grassroot? He's running out of money fast and he wants free labor. Most of the locals know it's a pipedream but they let him rant. He's the laughing stock of the area.

Sorry if this is bursting anyones bubble but the realitycheck is what it is. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and have a restaurant open this year. But I doubt it. Past results suggest future performance.

Time to chill man. Your new here, remain positive.

I put up with this attitude all the time. Maybe everyone who poke's behind someone's back should be more neighborly.
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I Made It !!

lotsoskiing
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 10:21 AM GMT

Whoa, I thought this had morphed into a Magic/TaxpayersForCannon thread...I had my helmet on and was waiting for fireworks.

Nothing 3' of snow the week before Christmas wouldn't cure...

joshua segal
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 11:21 AM GMT

+1 for pile's posting. For me, it is the kind of posting that he contributed above that makes Snow Journal a cut above the other skiing forums. We've had others postings (and posters) over the years from people who have had optimistic (perhaps, overly optimistic) plans for Snow Valley, VT; Maple Valley, VT etc. I don't doubt the sincerity of any of these people. They are all up against a (pun intended), mountain of problems.

Frankly, I hoped they all succeeded.

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Joshua Segal

lotsoskiing
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:02 PM GMT

I would imagine the name might cause problems with Bristol Mt? Seems like they might feel SV is poaching their trademark?

Ditto on the 'hope they make it' comments. Always like to see small places come back to life.

joshua segal
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:10 PM GMT

I'm sure the trademark issue, is the least of their worries. Speaking of trademark issues, I am still amazed that Berksire East (aka, the BEast) ceded that name so readily and easily to Killington. Does anyone know if Killington bought that from Berkshire East?

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Joshua Segal

rocket21
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:23 PM GMT

Quote:

Does anyone know if Killington bought that from Berkshire East?

No

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NewEnglandSkiHistory.com

joshua segal
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:34 PM GMT

I asked:

Quote:

Does anyone know if Killington bought that from Berkshire East?

rocket21 replied laconically:

Quote:

So, jeremy: Do you know why B(erkshire )East made no attempt to substantiate their claim on the name? It seemed a more natural moniker for Berkshire East than Killington.

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Joshua Segal

pile
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:56 PM GMT

Edited: Oct 22, 2012 - 1:56 PM GMT

May I recommend a few profile names for “reality check” or anyone else that may create another profile to spew there poison.

“Wafflehouse_clingon”

“Review board_Slaughters”

“I’ve replaced my ski pole for a Whine Glass”

There's happy days to come for skiing in this region but we have to remember the spirit of the sport. From my understanding this man was unable to enjoy the sport growing up, so now he has a chance to give "all" people an affortable choice.
God Bless Him!

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rickbolger
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Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 2:07 PM GMT

Edited: Oct 22, 2012 - 2:09 PM GMT

Quote:

I asked: Does anyone know if Killington bought that from Berkshire East?
rocket21 replied laconically:No
So, jeremy: Do you know why B(erkshire )East made no attempt to substantiate their claim on the name? It seemed a more natural moniker for Berkshire East than Killington.

Claim on beast of the east? A K-Mart nickname from the 70s? No reason to pay for it, nothing Berkshire East can claim: linky

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