Transcript
Welcome to the local lift.
Great to be here
today. Forget those huge destination resorts for a minute. We’re doing a deep dive into the world of small independent ski areas.
Yeah. Those places that are often, you know, the real heart of winter in their local communities.
Exactly. We pulled together a whole bunch of information looking at how these vital spots manage to well, not just hang on, but actually find ways to thrive.
We have. We’ve basically sifted through a load of of sources, industry stuff, local news, you name it all, focused on how these independent hills tackle some pretty serious financial challenges with, frankly, a lot of ingenuity.
Think of this as your shortcut to understanding what makes these local mountains tick and maybe what their future holds,
right? Because you might just see your local hill as, you know, a place for weekend turns.
But there’s usually a really fascinating story behind their resilience.
Yeah. We’re going to unpack some surprising ownership structures. some really clever fundraising and uh some smart ways they adapt to everything from tricky weather to the big resort competition.
And look, if this gets you thinking about your own local spots and maybe you want to learn more or even help out,
we’ll definitely point you towards a great resource later on and again at the end.
For sure.
Okay, just a heads up, please be aware that the following segment utilizes an AI generated overview specifically produced using Google’s deep research feature.
Right.
Okay, let’s jump in. What ex exactly is the role of these small independent ski areas and well what makes them kind of vulnerable?
Well, fundamentally they’re just crucial for local recreation and uh huge for the local economy too.
They really foster a sense of community identity, you know, pride. Often they’re the first place people ever strap on skis or a snowboard
like Cochran Ski Area. I know they have amazing youth programs.
Exactly. Like Cochran’s or think about the Western Mass backcountry alliance. They’re working to restore old lost areas specifically for affordable access. It’s about that entry point to the sport.
And if one of these places closes, it’s a big deal locally, isn’t it? I remember the concern around Snowy Range potentially closing.
Oh, definitely. That highlighted how much even outofstate visitors contribute to, you know, local motel, restaurants, shops,
but they face some real uphill battles.
They do. Limited capital is a big one. Getting money for major upgrades tough.
Uhhuh.
And they’re so sensitive to weather. Purgatory had that crunch time with low snow. Sandia Peak actually closed for multiple seasons, partly because of weather issues.
Wow. Multiple seasons.
Yeah. Then add in the fierce competition from the big guys, staffing challenges, navigating regulations, it’s a lot.
And since hardly anyone’s building new ski areas,
right, existing ones become even more precious. That’s why you see things like the Keep Homewood Public campaign communities fighting to preserve them.
Okay, so let’s dig into those financial pressures a bit more. What are the sort of common recurring hurdles?
Weather dependency and climate change have to be right near the top. Uh inconsistent snow, shorter seasons. That hits the bottom line directly hard.
Yeah. Purgatory’s crunch time, Sandy Peak closing. Those are stark examples.
Exactly. And it’s why you see places like Sheames Mountain doing specific climate resiliency projects. Yeah. They’re trying to adapt, you know, operate with less snow if needed.
Makes sense. No snow, no skiers, no money. What else keeps them on their toes? is financially
just the high costs of running the place dayto-day. Fixed costs, operating costs,
like what specifically?
Oh, insurance is huge. Energy costs, think snow making, lifts. Shames mountain, for example, relies on expensive diesel.
Then there’s basic maintenance, rising wages, liability insurance. Mount Ashlin did an analysis that really pointed out how significant those fixed costs are.
And it’s not just running costs, it’s the big ticket items, too, right? The infrastructure.
Absolutely. A lot of these places have aging infrastructure, old lifts, lodges needing work, snow making systems that are just old and inefficient.
That Whale Back Mountain example is pretty telling, needing a4 million just for a gearbox repair on their only chairlift.
Exactly. A4 million just to fix it, not replace it. And Sandy Peak, again, failing equipment was part of why they had to close initially. These aren’t small fixes.
And all this while competing against the giants,
the big resort companies with their mega passes and fancy amenities. That must be be tough.
It’s a massive challenge. Purgatory, now that’s part of Mountain Capital Partners, well, they’ve had to adopt similar strategies. Multi- resort passes, dynamic pricing just to stay in the game.
Adapting to survive and finding staff. I imagine that’s not always easy, especially more remote areas.
Definitely another hurdle. Staffing shortages, especially for skilled technical folks or even just reliable seasonal staff. Sandia Peak mentioned that specifically as a factor in their closure before MCP stepped in,
right? It’s just hard to attract and keep good people sometimes.
And lastly, you mentioned regulations. So, even if they have the money or the plan to upgrade.
Yeah. Navigating the permits and regulatory stuff can be a real maze. Complex, time consuming, expensive.
Purgator’s owner mentioned the federal regulatory environment making it hard to get loans. Mount Akan’s expansion plans face legal fights for years. It just adds another layer of difficulty.
Okay, so the challenges are clear,
significant, but here’s where it gets really interesting. Mhm.
How are some of these places actually turning things around? What are the successful strategies we’re seeing?
Well, a really big one seems to be rethinking their ownership and how they operate. The actual model matters a lot.
How so? What kind of models are working?
The nonprofit model has proven really effective for quite a few,
right?
Becoming a nonprofit opens doors to grants, taxdeductible donations, and it really tends to bring out the volunteers
because the focus shifts Right. Less purely on profit, more on community benefit.
Exactly. That shift can be transformative. Mount Ashland is a great case. The community literally rescued it. Raised over a million and a half dollars. Whilbec Mountain too, a nonprofit was formed specifically to buy it. Antelope was revived by a foundation. And then you have long-standing successes like Bridgerbull or Cochran’s heavily reliant on donations and volunteers. Bogus Basin’s been a nonprofit since the 40s.
That really shows the power of community in investment. What other models are out there?
The ski cooperative is another really interesting one.
How does that work?
Basically, ownership is spread among members, individuals, local businesses, and it’s run democratically. It shares the risk and really builds engagement.
So, the skiers essentially own the place
pretty much. Shames mountain is the classic example. My mountain co-op bought it when private owners couldn’t make it work. They depend on membership sales and a ton of volunteer hours. It’s grassroots ownership.
Fascinating. Does traditional private ownership still work? work for these smaller areas.
Oh, absolutely. But it often looks like what you might call lean and local private investment, meaning passionate local owners who focus on running things efficiently and keeping it affordable. Snowy Range under the Maddox family is a perfect example. They doubled skier visits, tripled revenue by sticking to uh commitment to simplicity and fair prices. It often works when the owners are deeply rooted in the community.
So, different models leverage different strengths. What about teaming up? partnerships.
Yeah, strategic alliances can be vital, especially for getting access to capital or expertise they just don’t have internally.
Like the Sandia Peak example.
Exactly. Partnering with a larger operator like Mountain Capital Partners gave Sandia the investment needed to fix that lift, reopen, and get plugged into MCP’s power network, giving them much wider reach. It’s about finding the right fit.
Makes sense. Okay, let’s swing back to the money side. Fundraising. How are they getting creative there?
Oh, mastering the finances. And fundraising is just essential. It’s rarely just one thing. It’s usually a mix.
So like what what’s working?
Well, grassroots fundraising directly asking the community for help is huge for urgent needs. Mount Ashland’s Save Man Ashlin campaign really tapped into local passion. Wow.
Whaleback’s lift repair campaign raised $180,000 really quickly out of their $250 goal. Antelopee boot used things like selling naming rights for lifts and shames with the co-op model. relies constantly on membership drives and events.
Really leaning on that local love. What about bigger funding sources, grants and sponsorships?
Crucial. And that nonprofit or co-op status often really helps here. It unlocks access to government grants, foundation money, corporate sponsorships. Shames again, they’ve secured major grants and sponsorships like over half a million from the Prince Rupert Port Authority. Antelope got state grants and valuable inkind help from businesses. Mount Ashland Association gets grants for sustainability work. Whaleback’s financials show significant income from grants and contributions.
So, it pays to have that community benefit structure. What about just basic financial management, keeping costs down?
Absolutely. Fundamental fiscal prudence, tight cost control, smart pricing.
Mhm.
You have to do it when margins are thin,
like purgatory, cutting costs when the snow is bad.
Yep. Or snowy range, where the whole business model is built around being lean and affordable. Shames made a tough call to cut operating days and grooming after a loss, saving like $200,000, right?
And fail back deciding to repair the gearbox for 250k instead of replacing the whole lift for maybe3 or $4 million. That’s a strategic cost control decision.
Making smart choices with limited funds, but they also do need to invest, right, for the future.
Oh, definitely. You can’t just cut your way to success forever. Strategic capital improvements, reinvesting back into the mountain. It’s vital.
Listen, snow making.
Exactly. MCP is investing big across their portfolio, including Purgatory and Sandia Peak. Bridgable success is Built on decades of steady reinvestment, antelope but directs funds to groomers, lifts, lodge work. Shames used grants for that climate resiliency stuff and a new magic carpet. Mount Ashlin has invested in parking, runs, utilities, even a new lift thanks to a big gift and solar power. You have to keep improving the experience.
Okay, so it’s not just about surviving, it’s about actively adapting, innovating. What are some cool things they’re doing on the mountain operationally?
Well, modernizing the infrastructure is key. strategic upgrades. Sandia getting chair 4 running again via MCP. That was huge for them, right?
Shames Mountain’s climate project, letting them run on shallower snow. That’s smart adaptation. Bridgerbull adding lifts open up new terrain and sustainability investments can actually reduce costs long term, too.
That makes sense. What about getting beyond just winter?
Yeah, developing year-round revenue is becoming more and more important. Diversifying.
So, summer activities.
Exactly. Antelope is aiming for year round stuff. Brew fests, summer festival. maybe biking and hiking. Whaleback runs summer camps, music events. Mount Ashlin hosts summer events, and is working on an interpretation plan. It’s about using the assets they have all year long,
maximizing the facility, and we keep coming back to it. But that community connection,
it’s fundamental volunteer engagement, community programs, they’re invaluable.
Reducing costs, but also building loyalty.
Totally. Shames relies heavily on volunteers.
Cochran’s Bridger, Mount Ashlin’s strong volunteer base. and programs like Mount Ashlin’s youth initiatives or Angelo But focusing on beginners and kids or shames having accessible programs that builds the next generation of skiers and deepens the community bond. It creates real local value.
Okay, so if you’re listening, are you thinking about your own local hill?
What are the big takeaways here? What does success look like?
I think it really boils down to a potent mix. Deep community engagement is almost always there. Choosing the right model, nonprofit, co-op, lean, local, private that The community is foundational. Diversifying revenue beyond just snow, keeping a really tight grip on finances, fiscal discipline, making smart strategic investments, not just chasing shiny objects, and of course, strong, adaptable leadership.
And for a Hill, that is struggling. What’s the path forward look like?
It usually starts with a really honest look in the mirror. Where are we really at? Then exploring those alternative models. Could a nonprofit or co-op structure work here? Developing a solid fundraising plan. and getting costs under control, prioritizing the absolute essential infrastructure repairs,
looking seriously at yearround revenue, building up that volunteer base, and being super transparent with the community about the challenges in the plan.
It sounds like a long-term effort, though. No quick fixes.
Oh, absolutely. Turnarounds take time, persistence, adaptation. You need the community to be in it for the long haul, too.
So, looking ahead, what’s the future hold? Still challenges, I assume.
Definitely ongoing challenges. Climate change is going away. Market competition is still intense,
but opportunities too.
Yeah, I think so. The trend towards localism could benefit them. Technology might offer new efficiencies or enhance the experience. Maybe more collaboration between small areas catering to niche markets like the growing interest in backcountry. And just that basic desire for accessible, community focused outdoor fun.
So, their unique character, that local feel could actually be a strength.
I really think so. Ult ely future success probably means operating more like uh social enterprises places where community benefit and financial health are equally important kind of feeding each other that seems to be the sustainable path.
It’s really clear the story of these small independent ski areas is one of well passion resilience and that incredibly deep community connection.
Yeah,
they face some serious obstacles no doubt but how they innovate and overcome them. It offers really valuable lessons doesn’t it for anyone interested in local econom is community building.
Absolutely. And if this deep dive has got you interested, maybe thinking about how you can support these kinds of places,
then we definitely encourage you to visit the local.org.
Yeah, great resource.
You’ll find information there, ways to learn more, maybe get involved, make a difference. That’s the lift.org.
Theloalift.org.
Check it out. Well, thank you for listening to the Local Lift podcast. We really hope you enjoyed this exploration into the uh the fascinating world of independent ski areas.
Yeah, it’s a great topic.
We look forward to our next deep dive with you. Please be aware that the preceding segment utilized an AI generated overview specifically produced using Google’s deep research feature.