Where will LBO pop up?

[snowman]

I was having a chat on the backchannels here about where LBO will pop up. I gave it 60-40 he'll pop up owning something in a year, and 80-20 he will inside of 3 years. Although he seems to be trying to snag something built out (thru his supposed attempts to buy something this summer) I think he would do well to start all over and buy something down in the dumps with land and build a new Sunday River. Thoughts?

 

[wa-loaf]

I think that would be the biggest "in your face" to ASC and his detractors if he could turn-around another resort. Not sure what place are available that would fit the bill?

 

[threecy]

My guess is his Red Sox investment did alright...there have been rumblings of him returning to the ski industry, but there are plenty of other ways to make money.

 

[snowman]

I think that would be the biggest "in your face" to ASC and his detractors if he could turn-around another resort. Not sure what place are available that would fit the bill?

I was thinking something like Magic etc. Not sure how much land they have or how much development you can do there though. It would have to be something with decent vert in the South. LBO isn't an idiot, and he's not going to go set up too far out in the woods. This is where we need someone with intricate knowledge of what's out there for him to snap up.

 

[snoseek]

big squaw?
saddleback investment?


I bet he stays in maine. lots of room for development still.

 

[wa-loaf]

Big Squaw is a good call. The guy who owns it now is letting it really run down and is just hoping to cash in if the Plum Creek development gets underway.

Saddleback I think is in good hands and heading in the right direction.

I haven't been yet, but Magic sounds like the kind of place that I wouldn't want LBO to get his hands on.

 

[bvibert]

I was thinking something like Magic etc. Not sure how much land they have or how much development you can do there though. It would have to be something with decent vert in the South. LBO isn't an idiot, and he's not going to go set up too far out in the woods. This is where we need someone with intricate knowledge of what's out there for him to snap up.

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't ever make that suggestion again. Now I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks.

That would NOT be good for Magic, IMNVHO..

 

[snowman]

big squaw?
saddleback investment?


I bet he stays in maine. lots of room for development still.

I think Big Squaw is too far out there and doesn't have enough vert. He'd also get killed by his own creation being a lot closer. I also think the owners of Saddleback are not going to sell out to anyone. Those 2 I do know something about. If the owners of Saddleback were to sell out, I could see him going in there for sure. It already feels like one of his projects already. You seem to know Maine. Hermon Mountain? :lol:

 

[bvibert]

If he wants a challenge let him buy Maple Valley.

http://www.vermont-home.com/ski.htm

 

[snoseek]

Big Squaw is a good call. The guy who owns it now is letting it really run down and is just hoping to cash in if the Plum Creek development gets underway.

Saddleback I think is in good hands and heading in the right direction.

I haven't been yet, but Magic sounds like the kind of place that I wouldn't want LBO to get his hands on.

I could see him investing heavily in saddleback. they have really big plans, and will need a lot of money. I hope this doesn't happen.

Big squaw would be cool though, i just don't know who would burn all that fuel and time to go all the way up there. would have to redefine the idea of a "destination" resort.

 

[snoseek]

I think Big Squaw is too far out there and doesn't have enough vert. He'd also get killed by his own creation being a lot closer. I also think the owners of Saddleback are not going to sell out to anyone. Those 2 I do know something about. If the owners of Saddleback were to sell out, I could see him going in there for sure. It already feels like one of his projects already. You seem to know Maine. Hermon Mountain? :lol:

big squaw was 1750 when they actually went to the top. Anyone that went here in the past back me up in saying this mountain was and could be a top contender in maine. still it's too far i think.

 

[snowman]

Big Squaw is a good call. The guy who owns it now is letting it really run down and is just hoping to cash in if the Plum Creek development gets underway.

Saddleback I think is in good hands and heading in the right direction.

I haven't been yet, but Magic sounds like the kind of place that I wouldn't want LBO to get his hands on.

I said not out in the woods Wa..lol I'd love to see something done with Squaw, as it was my first "big" destination "resort" trip when I was a kid, back around 1978. The logistics and land parcel just won't work for an LBO operation though.

Magic, I would have to guess, is a prime target though? It's deep south, with a good vert and heavily undercapitalized. They might not have the land parcel size either though. I know a lot of you will hate it, but I see it as a target.

 

[wa-loaf]

I think Big Squaw is too far out there and doesn't have enough vert. He'd also get killed by his own creation being a lot closer. I also think the owners of Saddleback are not going to sell out to anyone. Those 2 I do know something about. If the owners of Saddleback were to sell out, I could see him going in there for sure. It already feels like one of his projects already. You seem to know Maine. Hermon Mountain? :lol:

Big Squaw isn't any harder to get to than Sugarloaf, has some nice trails, and really needs some love. It's also a lot further from Sunday River than Saddleback, so I don't see that would be a problem. Mt Hermon? How about Eaton Mtn? I think if the Plum Creek development does get under way it will bring a lot more people up to the Mooshead/Greenville area and be prime time to revive Squaw.

 

[wa-loaf]

big squaw was 1750 when they actually went to the top. Anyone that went here in the past back me up in saying this mountain was and could be a top contender in maine. still it's too far i think.

I'm with ya and like I said Plum Creek could make a big difference.

 

[marcski]

I said not out in the woods Wa..lol I'd love to see something done with Squaw, as it was my first "big" destination "resort" trip when I was a kid, back around 1978. The logistics and land parcel just won't work for an LBO operation though.

Magic, I would have to guess, is a prime target though? It's deep south, with a good vert and heavily undercapitalized. They might not have the land parcel size either though. I know a lot of you will hate it, but I see it as a target.

As we all know and bemoan, Magic still has water issues...not sure he'd want to get in there...he was always into blowing big snow. Plus, he'd kill the place's awesome character. I'm with Bvibert on this one...its a very very scary thought. Especially, when the place seems (keeping fingers crossed) to be moving in the right direction.

 

[snowman]

I'm with ya and like I said Plum Creek could make a big difference.

I've skiied it several times. It's really nice, but it's not really in a destination resort class vert wise. You're not going to draw the masses there. There's only 1000 vert up top, and the bottom 750 is really flat. It's alright to have 750 of flat if you have 2000 of steep vert, but not with 1000. The huge vert at the Loaf is the only way they manage to drag people that far north. You can't come with something lamer, further north, it just won't fly.

 

[snowman]

As we all know and bemoan, Magic still has water issues...not sure he'd want to get in there...he was always into blowing big snow. Plus, he'd kill the place's awesome character. I'm with Bvibert on this one...its a very very scary thought. Especially, when the place seems (keeping fingers crossed) to be moving in the right direction.

Yup, if the place has no water, LBO isn't even going to visit it. That's the kind of intel one needs to work thru the possibilities here.

 

[snowman]

Berkshire? Where we're talking about it today? They look like they have some peaks around them you could expand onto?

 

[wa-loaf]

I've skiied it several times. It's really nice, but it's not really in a destination resort class vert wise. You're not going to draw the masses there. There's only 1000 vert up top, and the bottom 750 is really flat. It's alright to have 750 of flat if you have 2000 of steep vert, but not with 1000. The huge vert at the Loaf is the only way they manage to drag people that far north. You can't come with something lamer, further north, it just won't fly.

No it's not going to be another Sugarloaf, but there is a lot of room for improvement and it's prime for a turn-around. A little love(working lifts), a little more traffic, and a little marketing would make it a least a profitable mountain. And, well, water isn't a problem there. :grin:

 

[millerm277]

How about Ascutney? It's fairly troubled, has 1800ft of vert, and could easily get another 600ft if you were to expand to the summit (I have no idea if that would be allowed or not), and there is a ton of room around that mountain to expand. Water could be the only issue, as I don't see much nearby the area on google earth.