News Roundup: California Dreaming

Peter Landsman
  • The Town of Jackson, Wyoming inches closer to approving the Snow King Gondola five years after it was first proposed.
  • Aspen Skiing Company eliminates nearly 50 positions citing the “ever shifting Covid landscape.”
  • The Miami Dolphins won’t operate their SkyView stadium gondola this NFL season.
  • In New Zealand, ski resorts say they are not the mask police.
  • Alps resorts prepare to reopen this month.
  • The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board grants a variance for a new Telemix on Aspen Mountain.
  • Ikon Pass holders will need a reservation to visit certain resorts this season while other mountains will not require reservations and more are still deciding.
  • Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram will be open this winter but guests may be allowed to boot pack to the summit as an alternative.
  • A second indoor ski resort for the United States moves ahead near DC.
  • Aspen Snowmass and other creditors will appeal a judge’s decision to keep Liftopia out of bankruptcy.
  • Some Canadians aren’t happy with Vail’s pandemic-era customer service.
  • Magic Mountain, Idaho is threatened by a wildfire.
  • A study finds the proposed Oakland Athletics gondola would carry a million riders a year and generate $685 million in economic activity.
  • This summer’s construction projects are just the beginning for the new Saddleback Mountain.
  • A planned urban gondola in Los Angeles get a fresh name and website as it prepares for environmental review.
  • Leitner Ropeways will build New Zealand’s first eight passenger chairlift.
  • The Utah Department of Transportation continues to refine alternatives for Little Cottonwood Canyon and will release a report this fall.
  • Great Bear solicits bids for a new chairlift.

10 thoughts on “News Roundup: California Dreaming”

  1. Mike Turley September 18, 2020 / 8:01 am

    I’m confused as to how KSL was able to spend lots of millions of dollars in the past several years acquiring resorts when six months of mini recession forces them to eliminate 50 people’s jobs ?

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    • SummitSkier September 18, 2020 / 8:29 am

      Only 9 people were actually fired. The rest were vacant positions or early retirements. Also KSL and Aspen Ski Co. are 2 completely different and independent companies.

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      • Mike Turley September 18, 2020 / 9:18 am

        You should contact the Denver Post apparently their facts are wrong ?
        Two different companies that can share lots of money ?
        Certainly they have enough resources to keep 9 jobs ?

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        • skitheeast September 18, 2020 / 2:46 pm

          Alterra is majority-owned by KSL but the Crown Family has a large share as well. The Crown Family also owns Ski Co. The exact legal structures are not public, but they are separate with obvious connections.

          As for the jobs: Ski Co, like every resort operator, will be spending more on procedures and safety for fewer visitors. Rising costs and shrinking revenue is not a great business model, so I am not surprised. Plus, I am sure there are positions that are simply no longer needed this year due to the weird operating environment.

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  2. Myles Svec September 18, 2020 / 10:56 am

    Great news for Mt Hutt with that eight pack chair. Would improve traffic flow a decent amount from a 7 minute ride to a 2 minute ride. Also if anyone’s wondering it’s replacing the quad chairlift to the right of summit six.

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  3. Somebody September 19, 2020 / 12:27 pm

    I don’t know why they keep building indoor ski areas 3-5 hours away from outdoor ski areas…

    You’d think they’d put one in South Florida or Texas so they’d actually get traffic year round. But what do I know…

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    • skitheeast September 19, 2020 / 12:54 pm

      The one in NJ has done really well (pre-COVID). Although there are ski areas close-ish to the region, the conditions are really only reliable for 3 months (at most) of the year. Most people who are looking to learn (the target demographic) are not willing to commit a full day or weekend to drive 3+ hours each direction. I do agree that South Florida and Texas (Metroplex, Greater Houson) are good markets, and they are building one near Miami.

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    • Mr Incredible September 19, 2020 / 1:42 pm

      Or install one in a market where there is potential demand for year round skiing. Seattle has a big skiing customer base with a large contingent of competitive skiers. They can schlep down to Mt Hood but a local alternative would still get a lot of business. Plus I live here and I’d like to ski in the summer

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      • Myles Svec September 19, 2020 / 4:52 pm

        Maybe something that caters to southern Cal skiers would work I mean they have Mt Baldy but everything else is far away.

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  4. sullivanq September 19, 2020 / 7:07 pm

    Man, I would really love to know where Arctaris(Saddleback) is pulling all this money out of. They’ve had to cover to bill of purchasing the ski area from the previous owners, removal of two lifts, purchase and installation of a new detachable, and now they want to put in a new lodge and solar field? They can only hope they will attract some newcomers, but they aren’t going to attract the out-of-staters since if someone is going to drive up that far into maine, they would go to Sugarloaf or Sunday River. On a sidenote, does anyone know if the purchase of the area came with the acreage of undeveloped land around it?

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