Not even referring to the general lack of snowfall that climate change is bringing about, Terkle goes into a number of financial stressors. One of his sources says that owners just don't make money on lift tickets, but that the real money is made in real estate -- building and renting condos, for example.
Now to the AT portion of the article:
"More than 20 years ago, a Massachusetts businessman bought the ski area with the intention of creating an "Aspen of the East." Donald Breen was able to build some condos and upgrade the ski operation, but not much else.
"The Appalachian Trail runs along Saddleback Mountain's 3.5-mile summit, and Breen's plan to extend ski area development across the hiking corridor caught the attention of environmental groups and the National Park Service. The battle that followed put all development on hold by 1995. The parties finally reached a settlement in 2000, but the project never recovered.
"In 2003, Breen sold the ski area and roughly 8,000 acres to Bill Berry and his family, for $7.5 million. . . . .
"With the Appalachian Trail issue settled, the Berrys hope to avoid further controversy by limiting development in sensitive places. More than half of the property will be untouched by ski trails or construction.
"Saddleback is in the unorganized territories, so development is controlled by Maine's Land Use Regulation Commission. The family won approval three years ago for some primary projects, including the lodge, condos, new lifts and better snowmaking. That work alone cost $25 million."
Just don't try to include a windmill!
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