proposed ski resort in Alpine

[paintersspouse]

Originally Posted by xeffox

I just moved to Star Valley and want to know if there is a way to inject some life into the shelved ski area discussion

In this economic climate? You are new here. Ski hills take mega money and only work if they have land to develop and sell. It will be another 10 years before the talk starts again.

The ski hill/land swap is dead for now. Halpin is putting two much money into his other developments ( that he still has to sell) to worry about a new money pit.

[mojojojo]

But I agree, no way will they find investors at this point. Maybe if Ted Turner, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and the Saudi Prince got together to Bank Roll it.

[MRVphotog]

Well, the big new fancy golf course/resort being developed between Alpine and Hoback Jct has basically gone bellyup before it even opened.

The Targhee land swap has been a divisive debate for years as it was with the previous owners. The financial crisis has hit Jackson as they are expecting a big downturn in skiers this winter. Check the local paper, instead of 10 pages of jobs there are 2, instead of a few places to rent I counted 80 in this weeks paper.

One of the only new ski resorts built in the last 20 years, Tamarack up Idaho, recently declared Chapter 11 after just 2 years of operation.

[vinski]

There is so much snow in the mountains there it is the perfect spot to give JH some competition. I couldn't afford to live in Jackson or Teton valley. So I recently purchased some property above the reservoir. It is gorgeous! Quite possibly the most scenic place I have seen in a long time.
I contacted the city of Alpine and they really want one. I voluntered to help in anyway I could. I also heard that when Jackson asked the govn't to help finance the new tram, alpine stepped in and demanded the same amount of money to build a ski resort in alpine. So they want it. I believe that someday there will be an incredible ski area there. Let's just keep it open discussion! Anybody reading this have millions of dollars to invest?

[paintersspouse]

The town may want it but it will be a hard sell. The people who live next to the property are not as keen. They are organized and most are against it.

There are a myriad of factors against it.

[vinski]

What people need to get around is the idea that ski areas have to be Big, luxurious, expensive, and attract the rich. A chairlift is relativly cheap. thats whats creates the skiing not the million dollar lodges, or the fancy dining. Skiers are there to ski. The town has everything to offer (lodging, food, beer). The mountains are already there, with plenty of snow. Just focus on a damn chairlift. That's all you need. Skip the grooming, Screw the mountain village. let's go skiing!

And for the people who don't want it... you would hardly know it's there.

[paintersspouse]

What you need to understand is that the whole reason for the land swap and ski hill in the first place is not to provide skiing but to make money from selling lots and condos!

Ski hills do not make money or even break even. It is all the other businesses that go along with it that pay the bills.

[vinski]

Well a simple ski area on the cheap is better than nothing. There would be a huge draw from serious skiers that would certaintly be spending money in little old Alpine. The national forest should partner with the towns of alpine/thayne,afton,etc to try to make something happen. It dosent need to be a resort it dosent need to be about selling real estate. Real estate is dead anyway. It needs to be looked at like a community service. Think bridger bowl. Give the people something in return for their taxes. 1 chairlift can create so much. With terrain like the snakes and the salts it dosent take more than 1 lift in the right spot. Utilize the terrain. There are thousands of backcountry skiers that would call alpine the new mecca. Hell even in JH we pay good money to go hike our asses off cause everything is tracked in 2 hours. Just build a lift that gets us to a place we can hike.
If there was a "Ski Area" in alpine I know just about all of my friends would be there multiple times a year. Hotels would be doing well. There might be a demand for some decent food in town. Your house would be worth more my land would be worth more (maybe not as much as Jackson Hole) but it would help. There would still be a growing demand for housing/lodging near the area. It would still provide a health, wellness and economic benefit to the entire star/palisade/swan valleys.

You painting spouse might even have more work?

[paintersspouse]

How about this, find a spot that will not disturb an elk wintering ground or be in the back yard of people that bought with the assumption that they would not have to deal with skiers.

Maybe you could fund all the studies and public meetings. The goverment is a little short right now.

Better yet maybe you could just hike up and ski down. There are far better ways to provide well paying "year" round jobs that one little ski hill using our tax dollars.

I have lived in Ski towns most of my life. From the small to large. They lose money unless they are combined with other ventures.

[vinski]

Well I see your point. All I am saying is that a "little" Ski area can ski very big if the lift is put in the correct spot. Elk migration can probably be worked around. And there is a LOT of interest in the ski community to have more places like bridger bowl or silverton CO. People would relocate if not just visit if the terrain and snow is good enough. Which in Alpine it is!
Maybe with the new stimulus package this could be a job creator like it is supposed to be.
Anyway no sense in arguing. Realistically it probably wont happen. And hiking up and down is what I do anyway so it;s not like I cant ski without a ski area. But there are not many people who want it that bad to hike in and out of avalanche terrain for powder. To attract people there needs to be a chiarlift.

Just seems silly that the best skiing in the area and no ski lifts??? O well jackson is not far.

Cheers