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Burke Mountain sold to Jay Peak (VT)

post #1 of 20
5/24/12 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 

I came across this in today's Globe and thought I'd share:

 

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/ski/blog/

 

I'm new to skiing and have never been to Burke, but did go to Jay in January 2012 and had an absolute blast (went to a couple places for the 2010/2011 season).  I've heard good things about the "character" of Burke, but don't really know what that means...

 

In any event, Jay is in expansion/development mode, and the resort was wonderful.  If Burke does have character and a quaint feel, I'm curious how the two will do paired up.  Per the article, Jay is not making any promises about renovations, etc. to Burke, which I figure is a good sign. 

 

Any thoughts?  I think industry consolidation can be both good and bad.  I don't know enough about either mountain to really have an opinion on this transaction, but I'm sure others here can provide their feedback, be they local or otherwise. 

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post #2 of 20
5/24/12 at 7:19pm

Burke has permits in place for a big expansion. Stenger has lots of foreign visa money.

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post #3 of 20
5/24/12 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 

There was a big fuss about the foreign money for Visas in Vermont some time ago, so I'm not surprised to hear someone else vouch for deep pockets. 

 

Burke does have expansion plans in place, but I don't know how far they're going to push the envelope, so to speak.  With Jay an hour away, do you put up a condo/hotel/resort like Jay has and compete with each other?

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post #4 of 20
5/24/12 at 7:48pm

As a pass holder at Jay I can tell you that right now they could use the extra capacity. Jay has changed dramatically in the last few years. It was almost impossible to get lodging at Jay this winter. I think the old school Jay skiers would be happy to be able to go to Burke during peak times. I do miss the old Jay.
 

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post #5 of 20
5/24/12 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bliz1978 View Post

I think the old school Jay skiers would be happy to be able to go to Burke during peak times.

 

I think Burke would like them (or anyone!) to come.

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post #6 of 20
5/25/12 at 12:16pm

I think this is great for both mountains. A combo pass is going to be very attractive to buyers.

The Jay Peak ownership knows Burke's history well and will hopefully be able to avoid the stumbles of previous owners.

Improved snow making and a new hotel/lodge at Mid-Burke are likely the two top priorities at Burke.

Then we will see what happens next.

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post #7 of 20
5/25/12 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

 

I think Burke would like them (or anyone!) to come.

A few articles about Jay's aquisition of Burke have noted that Burke has roughly half the number of visitors as Jay. Judging from casual observations at both places this past (poor snow) year, "half" might even be a stretch.

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post #8 of 20
5/25/12 at 12:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fromthenek View Post

A few articles about Jay's aquisition of Burke have noted that Burke has roughly half the number of visitors as Jay. Judging from casual observations at both places this past (poor snow) year, "half" might even be a stretch.

One of the quotes I saw said they had 60,000 visitors last season. Normal was mentioned to be around 90,000. 90K is nothing for a mountain the size of Burke. This is one of the reasons Burke has always been one step away from NELSAP. Jay ownership will have no problem increasing visits beyond 90k.

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post #9 of 20
5/27/12 at 8:10am

I hope that Jay keeps the strong race program as one of there top priories.  The one thing that the new owner need to know is that in the bad snow years (IE last season) racer always show up so don't get rid from them..  Look at what happen at Wildcat this season.

 

hank

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post #10 of 20
5/27/12 at 1:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildcat hank View Post

Look at what happen at Wildcat this season.

 

 

What happened?

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post #11 of 20
5/31/12 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

What happened?


Yes... What happened!?!
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post #12 of 20
6/3/12 at 12:53pm

I was afraid this would not happen. I have skied Burke a couple times with friends. The resort is great in the sense that it is not crowded at all. The trails are also exellent and the tickets are great prices. However Burke is not a wealthy mountain. With Jay's owner ship I think we can expect more people, higher prices, and some locals getting very angry.

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post #13 of 20
6/3/12 at 5:40pm
There is a fine line between "it's great because nobody goes there" and "closed".
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post #14 of 20
6/5/12 at 3:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

 

I think Burke would like them (or anyone!) to come.

I disagree, the part of Burke that makes it suck a great mountain is its family-like community. Not to menchin there 5 minute lift line policy. Or the fact that you can go on the deepest days and practically have the mountain all to yourself.

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post #15 of 20
6/5/12 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregory99mar View Post

I disagree, the part of Burke that makes it suck a great mountain is its family-like community. Not to menchin there 5 minute lift line policy. Or the fact that you can go on the deepest days and practically have the mountain all to yourself.

You could more than double Burke's visits from last year to 150,000 and you would still have no lift lines.

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post #16 of 20
6/6/12 at 12:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by x10003q View Post

You could more than double Burke's visits from last year to 150,000 and you would still have no lift lines.

 

Maybe, but there base and mid-lodges are small. Usually both are filled but not jam-packed. Doubling the amount of visits would totally create a problem in these areas. Especially the bar in the mid-lodge.

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post #17 of 20
6/6/12 at 1:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregory99mar View Post

 

Maybe, but there base and mid-lodges are small. Usually both are filled but not jam-packed. Doubling the amount of visits would totally create a problem in these areas. Especially the bar in the mid-lodge.

I would expect the mid-lodge situation will be one of the first "building" projects the new owners undertake. Mid-Burke Lodge and Hotel. But keep the Bear Den as is! :)

 

(edit: it could use some new windows on the mtn side)

 

Mid_Burke_Hotel-Lodge3.jpg

 

Mid_Burke_Hotel-Lodge.jpg

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post #18 of 20
6/13/12 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by winterdude87 View Post

Yes... What happened!?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

What happened?

+1...what happened?
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post #19 of 20
10/12/12 at 5:13pm

I'm in Montreal, been getting a Jay pass for years. For 50$ is it worth adding Burke to my pass. Heard good things, any thoughts on

the extra 30min of driving for a smaller mountain receiving the same storms?

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post #20 of 20
10/13/12 at 1:17pm

Buying a combo pass for $50 extra dollars is a no brainer. For less than the cost of a single ticket, you have season long access to two mountains that are relatively close. The point has already been made that on the peak days at Jay, you can shoot over to Burke, and miss a lot of the crowds. Let's be honest, if you spend an extra hour round trip in the car for the day, it more than offsets the extra hours you'll spend in line at Jay.

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