Sale rumors...

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, Johnny Law said:

I think it's fair to conclude that it has at least sold, the chatter has been consistent and now reputable persons are saying so.  Blue patrolers said weeks ago that elk patrolers had a new boss and you can see the appeal.

When BC was made BC it was years before people really had any idea who bought it other than southern investors from the hotel industry. Elk makes sense because it's prime for a hotel with like 90% capture.

There isn't really dick around there and you could do numbers. The real question is do they go high speed ? 

It's logical obviously but it also could really change what makes elk elk. 

i just cant believe with internet sleuths like @Benm that there isnt record of a property transfer, however, i did a little work and couldnt find anything.  Keeping the buyers a secret i feel is a major undertaking.  You know enough of the right people know, and all it takes is one little slip.  

 

Maybe KSL should get with the buyers since they are trying to unload Blue.  

[enjoralas]

15 minutes ago, JFskiDan said:

i just cant believe with internet sleuths like @Benm that there isnt record of a property transfer, however, i did a little work and couldnt find anything.

Maybe the owners held onto the land but sold the business? Would seem like a terrible deal for the buyers, but you never know. That would explain not being able to find a land transfer record. Doesn't help keep the secret tho.

[Benm]

35 minutes ago, JFskiDan said:

i just cant believe with internet sleuths like @Benm that there isnt record of a property transfer, however, i did a little work and couldnt find anything.

i don't think updating that stuff is high priority for a place like susquehanna county.

[RidgeRacer]

5 hours ago, Icecoast said:

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/179267-Mid-Atlantic-Rollcall/page37

According to this thread the sale went through and it was an out of state group from DC (possibly the BC owners?)

Kinda boring if true. Was hoping for one of the big dogs to buy it. 

[Benm]

9 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

Kinda boring if true. Was hoping for one of the big dogs to buy it. 

Wake me when it doesn't take an hour to get to the summit. 

[abe]

If they did a combined Bear Creek/Elk season pass that would be a no brainer for me down in Lancaster.  Especially with Indy Pass add-on since BC is now Indy. A good local place and one of the best ski areas in the mid Atlantic both under the same owners.

I dont mind the lifts at Elk, they keep the snow nice and vibes classic.  A detach would in my mind overwhelm Elk in skier volume as well as aesthetically, not to mention increased maintenance and as a result ticket prices.  Although I will caveat that Shawnee puts out a very competitive quality snow surface as well and they have a high speed quad (one that actually runs design speed even) plus another quad and two doubles all going up the same face and still somehow make the grooming consistently nice.

 

Have a comp day from work tomorrow due to an upcoming trip and planning on Elking it up.

Edited February 13 by abe

[EdBacon]

Bear Creek is already on Indy Pass so it would make sense for Elk to be added to the Indy Pass list. That would be nice. 

As for a hotel/high speed development... I've mixed feelings. I don't want them to change the character of the place. 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

5 hours ago, abe said:

If they did a combined Bear Creek/Elk season pass that would be a no brainer for me down in Lancaster.  Especially with Indy Pass add-on since BC is now Indy. A good local place and one of the best ski areas in the mid Atlantic both under the same owners.

I dont mind the lifts at Elk, they keep the snow nice and vibes classic.  A detach would in my mind overwhelm Elk in skier volume as well as aesthetically, not to mention increased maintenance and as a result ticket prices.  Although I will caveat that Shawnee puts out a very competitive quality snow surface as well and they have a high speed quad (one that actually runs design speed even) plus another quad and two doubles all going up the same face and still somehow make the grooming consistently nice.

 

Have a comp day from work tomorrow due to an upcoming trip and planning on Elking it up.

What about Blue?  Is bear creek the closest place to Lancaster?  I feel like you get into Liberty and Roundtop territory out there and whitetail. 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

3 hours ago, EdBacon said:

Bear Creek is already on Indy Pass so it would make sense for Elk to be added to the Indy Pass list. That would be nice. 

As for a hotel/high speed development... I've mixed feelings. I don't want them to change the character of the place. 

Does elk walk or need more business in the form of deeply discounted tickets(Indy pass). I don’t see the Indy pass places getting much more than $30 a visit 

[JFskiDan]

15 hours ago, enjoralas said:

Maybe the owners held onto the land but sold the business? Would seem like a terrible deal for the buyers, but you never know. That would explain not being able to find a land transfer record. Doesn't help keep the secret tho.

i didnt consider this.  its a likely scenario for sure.  

[indiggio]

14 hours ago, RidgeRacer said:

Kinda boring if true. Was hoping for one of the big dogs to buy it. 

Would be a great buy by Indy like Black Mountain NH.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/05/metro/entabeni-systems-indy-pass-black-mountain-ski-area-nh-co-op-model/

Check out...

 

Edited February 13 by indiggio

[abe]

I could see elk not wanting the extra business from indy or indy not even wanting them on the pass since montage Shawnee and Greek peak surround it closely

[abe]

7 hours ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Does elk walk or need more business in the form of deeply discounted tickets(Indy pass). I don’t see the Indy pass places getting much more than $30 a visit 

 

[abe]

7 hours ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

What about Blue?  Is bear creek the closest place to Lancaster?  I feel like you get into Liberty and Roundtop territory out there and whitetail. 

I do like Roundtop a lot for how close it is, much better terrain than BC - the both of them as well as Spring Mountain are about equidistant.  I don't like that the evil empire now owns Roundtop instead of sno time.  Used to have an advantage card there.   I was there one evening this season with my cousin dad and sister. 

Already did a day a Blue Mountain though pretty easy to get there too.  Probably go to Blue still more than anywhere else.

Need to go to Whitetail sometime.   Liberty is kind of small.  I would be at Blue Knob every time if they would ever get their lower mountain snowmaking in action again

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, abe said:

I could see elk not wanting the extra business from indy or indy not even wanting them on the pass since montage Shawnee and Greek peak surround it closely

So, i could see Mr. Moore keeping things status quo, but i would think any new owner buying a run down ski joint (and yes, i'm gonna say it, but there is nothing new about Elk, and anyone purchasing it should see it needs many lift upgrades) would welcome any type of additional skier visits.  

I would bet that Indy has really helped out Magic, which i mean, look at that place.  Wanna talk about a shoe string budget?  But they totally embrace the Indy pass.  Buying a pre existing ski joint these days seems to me like a huge gamble, unless you have some type of huge corporation behind you with deep pockets.  If i was buying Elk i would do what i could to get Blue Mountain crowds there every day.  

[abe]

If I were buying Elk the only lift I would completely replace would be the north face double or quad with a carpet loader quad at a higher line speed.  The dual towers are already spaced for two quads and the trails on that side could eat a little more skier traffic.  That quad seems to be just about the slowest of the lifts and the most problematic as well and a carpet loader I think would get the line up to a satisfying speed without being obnoxious with regards to maintenance/footprint/traffic etc.

The way the twin main face doubles are set up it would be difficult to replace them without totally ruining the trails, base areas and overall layout.  That side does not need additional lift capacity and those twin lifts are too iconic or dare I say cute in my personal opinion to rip out.  The mid mountain lift I dont think gets enough traffic to warrant replacement.  Halls are good lifts and Borvig is still supported by Partek.  If anything get them in to overhaul the drives etc.  Those two have a steep enough profile compared to the north face quad line that I dont think its painful to get to the top.

The other thing that needs some minor attention I think is the basement of lodge and bathrooms.   At least fresh paint and new ceiling tiles or something.

And add a glade lol.

 

 

 

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was at Elk once 30 years ago and doesn’t seem like anything has changed.  I just don’t see driving four times as far as Blue to spend n double as much time riding lifts and half as much time skiing why I’m lukewarm about montage but might go in two weeks. 

[RidgeRacer]

2 hours ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

I was at Elk once 30 years ago and doesn’t seem like anything has changed.  I just don’t see driving four times as far as Blue to spend n double as much time riding lifts and half as much time skiing why I’m lukewarm about montage but might go in two weeks. 

You should come. At the very least it’s a change of pace from blue.

side note. I’d consider an Indy pass if Elk were on it. 

Edited Thursday at 10:24 PM by RidgeRacer

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

12 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

You should come. At the very least it’s a change of pace from blue.

side note. I’d consider an Indy pass if Elk were on it. 

I thought about montage that Monday..if I can get a lot of stuff done next week..it’s tough for me to take the whole day off 

[PSUFrankenstein]

7 hours ago, abe said:

I do like Roundtop a lot for how close it is, much better terrain than BC - the both of them as well as Spring Mountain are about equidistant.  I don't like that the evil empire now owns Roundtop instead of sno time.  Used to have an advantage card there.   I was there one evening this season with my cousin dad and sister. 

Already did a day a Blue Mountain though pretty easy to get there too.  Probably go to Blue still more than anywhere else.

Need to go to Whitetail sometime.   Liberty is kind of small.  I would be at Blue Knob every time if they would ever get their lower mountain snowmaking in action again

Have you been to Laurel Mountain?  It's a bit past Blue knob but seems like it would be fun. 

If you need a buddy pass for Blue, i usually don't use mine

[abe]

2 hours ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Have you been to Laurel Mountain?  It's a bit past Blue knob but seems like it would be fun. 

If you need a buddy pass for Blue, i usually don't use mine

Twice! Once this year and once a few years back.  Both times when they got dumped on with snow (which the Laurel ridge more frequently does than anywhere else in the state).  That place is awesome when the woods and natural trails are in play and skis way bigger than the trail map might imply if not limited to the snowmaking half.  The lodge and bar are very classy as well and its rarely crowded.  Its just about 3 hours even drive for me.  More frequently when I go out that way it's to the Laurel ridge xc center.  Laurel Mountain actually has groomed xc trails as well.

If you watch the snow maps and forecasts the PA Laurels (7S/HV/LM/LR and to a lesser extent Blue Knob) and Canaan Valley WV  (Whitegrass/Timberline/Canaan Valley) always have higher snow totals and get snow when everywhere else south of NY get rain.  Whitegrass being bigly epic and totally worth the 4+ hr drive.

[abe]

Appreciate the Blue buddy pass offer and I should try to ski there sometime when you guys are there

[abe]

In the back of my mind I sort of would like to hit all the ski areas in the state.  Have yet to ski Whitetail, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Denton Hill,  Big Bear, Sawmill, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Boyce Park, and Mt Pleasant.  Nemacolin and Skytop are probably doable as well.

[cjwill27]

First time poster long time reader here.   Elks lifts are slow but their lines are typically way shorter and trails less crowded when compared to Blue.  Guess I would prefer to be sitting on a slow chair than shuffling through a crowded line.  

[mgguy]

not Bear Creek/Southern Management for sure. Maybe someone else from DC.