Thanks to Wyfurasko for this suggested subject. I am going to start this off with a historic resort, bought by former American Skiing Company CEO, Les Otten. They proposes to make this modest ski area with a historic hotel in Dixville Notch, NH the largest ski resort, by far, on the east coast. So far, this plan has essentially gone no where. Here is a link to Les's sales job:
THE VISION | The Balsams Resort
The ski area video is below....
https://thebalsamsresort.com/balsams-ski-area-expansion-fly-over/
I am hoping that many of you will find and post about others, both local and national. I think this could be interesting.
In before the first MPC post. :)
There is at least one unfinished mountain on the Lost Ski list, Tory Mt.
Lost expansions I can think of.
This Blue Knob promo circa 1982, narrated by none other than Peter Graves is a classic.
This video is a must for all Blue Knob fans. This was someone’s pipe dream.
snowsmith wrote:
This Blue Knob promo circa 1982, narrated by none other than Peter Graves is a classic.
This video is a must for all Blue Knob fans. This was someone’s pipe dream.
The Blue Knob video is so much better than the Beech Mtn. video. I have both up.
Camp,
That is one cool map of the projected build-out of Whitetail!
Here on DCSki we’ve had a couple of discussions about WT expansion, mostly focused on potential steeps on the N and NW sides of the ridge. Seemed too steep, and terribly wind-exposed iirc.
A fun summertime exercise would be to walk up the road across from WT and mentally sketch where all the trails on your map would run.
Thanks for posting.
Woody
wfyurasko wrote:
snowsmith wrote:
This Blue Knob promo circa 1982, narrated by none other than Peter Graves ...
The Blue Knob video is so much better than the Beech Mtn. video. I have both up.
Wow! A great “period piece” promoting a new development at Blue Knob.
Fun viewing. Thanks 😊
Woody
I remember years ago, when Silver Creek was an independent resort, they had a paper mache rendering of their expansion plans in the lobby. In addition to the expansion plan shown on their ski brochure from the same time period, this map showed a small trail pod off the backside of the mountain. More importantly, it showed that trail pod connecting a larger trail pod with a significant vertical drop going up another peak.
I wonder what happened to this rendering and if Alterra ever plans to build-out more terrain at Silver Creek?
No such thread on unbuilt ski areas would be complete without mentioning the ambitious plans for Tory Mtn WVa. In this case they actually did start some work cutting trails: 1980's brochures and newspaper articles assured investors told upcoming opening and construction ,with 1,100 feet of vertical. Plans called for an 18th century-themed village, complete with shopping, pubs, and an impressive 300-room Hotel. Getting infrastructure to the location was an issue and the cost of developing utilities was said to be the death of the plans;
Here is the Silver creek proposal from the 80's.
madspark wrote:
The lift line underneath the chairlift to the top of Massanutten is graded and cleared of rocks like a ski trail. Was it originally planned to be a run?
Good point, madspark. And didn’t we have a recent discussion here - in the past few months - about another run or two proposed for looker’s right off the black chair?
The limiting factor here might be return on dollars. Would the benefits of another run or two offset the costs of their construction and, especially, the ongoing expenses of snowmaking, grooming, patrolling, and so forth?
Woody
bousquet19 wrote:
madspark wrote:
The lift line underneath the chairlift to the top of Massanutten is graded and cleared of rocks like a ski trail. Was it originally planned to be a run?Good point, madspark. And didn’t we have a recent discussion here - in the past few months - about another run or two proposed for looker’s right off the black chair?
The limiting factor here might be return on dollars. Would the benefits of another run or two offset the costs of their construction and, especially, the ongoing expenses of snowmaking, grooming, patrolling, and so forth?
Woody
I used to teach at Massanutten. We would talk endlessly about a run under the chair as well as other runs to looker's right off Lift 6. I was told the challenge to cutting more runs was always sun exposure in that area. We did ski that line under Lift 6 a handful of times in the 90s after big storm cycles, and it would be nice to see it turn into something skiable even if snowmaking made the ride up less pleasant.
+1
SkiHawthorne wrote:
We did ski that line under Lift 6 a handful of times in the 90s after big storm cycles, and it would be nice to see it turn into something skiable even if snowmaking made the ride up less pleasant.
SkiHawthorne wrote:
I used to teach at Massanutten. We would talk endlessly about a run under the chair as well as other runs to looker's right off Lift 6. I was told the challenge to cutting more runs was always sun exposure in that area. We did ski that line under Lift 6 a handful of times in the 90s after big storm cycles, and it would be nice to see it turn into something skiable even if snowmaking made the ride up less pleasant.
A story from this season after the big snowstorm when I was riding up Lift 6 with a tween and a friend. Tween had gotten distracted and dropped a pole when we loaded. Ended up being handed to a patroller who was a couple chairs behind us. As we're about half way up, there is a snowboarder working his way down under the lift. It had warmed up enough that there was a pretty solid surface, so he was being pretty careful and stopping after every turn or two. As I turned around to follow his progress, I saw the patroller reach for his radio.
From the comments I could catch, pretty sure ski patrol didn't catch up with the boarder. We had fun trying to see the tracks on the next ride up.
Only other time I've seen tracks under Lift 6 was after the blizzard in February 2010.
The "new" terrain at Mnut this season was the short section under Lift 5 that starts at the cross-over to Upper MakAttack from Upper Showtime. Ends at mid station. There was a Expert sign at the top. The instructors were thoroughly enjoying those bumps while they lasted.
Keith_Moon wrote:
Before COVID hit, wasn't there talk of Snowshoe adding a blue run to the Western Territory?
Pending covid snowshoe has a UCI event in September. (last one was amazing, hoping this year actually happens) Depending on what the route of this trail is that even may make large construction difficult, but it will also make the resort a ton of $$$.
And another run served by Soaring Eagle?
Keith_Moon wrote:
Before COVID hit, wasn't there talk of Snowshoe adding a blue run to the Western Territory?
Cole53 wrote:
Here is the Silver creek proposal from the 80's.
Looks like the plan was to build lodging and parking at the bottom of the mountain rather than up top where Silver Creek Lodge is. Interesting!
I was just looking at some old dcski posts about Snowshoe. I did not realize that Soaring Eagle lift and a couple of trails were added in 2006. I had been to SS in the early 2000s but didn’t come back for about ten years (kids, etc.) and forgot about the old Widowmaker lift.
I still don’t know why, when they added Grabhammer in the mid 1980s, they didn’t have it go “one more pole” all the way up to the village...
Laurel Highlands wrote:
No such thread on unbuilt ski areas would be complete without mentioning the ambitious plans for Tory Mtn WVa. In this case they actually did start some work cutting trails: 1980's brochures and newspaper articles assured investors told upcoming opening and construction ,with 1,100 feet of vertical. Plans called for an 18th century-themed village, complete with shopping, pubs, and an impressive 300-room Hotel. Getting infrastructure to the location was an issue and the cost of developing utilities was said to be the death of the plans;
The Snow Sports Museum of West Virginia has been working on an exhibit for the future of the lost ski areas of West Virginia. We have gathered info on Tory, Laurel Creek, Terra Alta, Chestnut Ridge, Almost Heaven, and the drift on Cabin Mountain. Still looking to find info on Bald Knob and a few others like Coonskin. The stories behind most of these are fascinating. We will announce when we have that exhibit ready. Currently, our opening exhibit is called "Cabin Mountain, six ski areas from Driftland to Timberline." It was SCWDC that started skiing in WV at the south western most point in the valley. Then it was Bob Barton and his Weiss Knob I ski area at what is now called the meadows at CVR in 56. He moved Weiss Knob to the current site of Whitegrass because the snow was better there or so he said. The state opened CVR ski area in 71 and Timberline was opened in 81 By David Downs with a tow rope to mid station and snow cat skiing from the top. The Herz's bought it in 86 and installed the infamous triple in 87. They later installed the beginner double and the silver queen double. Technically, Timberline was a lost ski area for almost two seasons before it's purchase by Perfect North.
Widowmaker was a much better name - I still refer to it that way, and its a good slope since they seem to leave a wide path under the lift ungroomed. I always liked that Silver Creek map though it definitely exaggerates the vertical quite a bit, but I like that its a lot more north facing than the rest of the shoe.
Mongo wrote:
Cole53 wrote:
Here is the Silver creek proposal from the 80's.
Looks like the plan was to build lodging and parking at the bottom of the mountain rather than up top where Silver Creek Lodge is. Interesting!
I was just looking at some old dcski posts about Snowshoe. I did not realize that Soaring Eagle lift and a couple of trails were added in 2006. I had been to SS in the early 2000s but didn’t come back for about ten years (kids, etc.) and forgot about the old Widowmaker lift.
I still don’t know why, when they added Grabhammer in the mid 1980s, they didn’t have it go “one more pole” all the way up to the village...
Here are some details of Urban Ski Inc.'s proposed development of Laurel Mountain from the mid-1990s.
I have not, but here is one really old dcski post with speculation. Seven Springs Expansion Speculation (long)
I have known for a long time that the cut slope they reference is easily visible on google earth and goes back to the 2005 timeframe in the time machine. It is in fact the area just below Great Western trail (naturally). There had also been a clearing attempt at some point beneath a lake/pond that seems to be the source for Neals Run.
snowsmith wrote:
Has anyone ever seen a trail layout for Seven Springs Western Territory expansion? Not that it will ever happen with Beancounter Mauch in charge.
Join the conversation by logging in.
Don't have an account? Create one here.
