Gunstock Expansion Plans

Descant · 07-24-2022, 03:02 PM

Yes, plan ahead. A lot of ski passes are sold in the summer and early fall because of deep discounts that disappear as snowfall approaches. Gunstock, and others, are no longer just ski areas. Adventure parks, campgrounds, and other year round activities are the norm. Getting people on site regardless of ski conditions is important which is why so many places add townhouses, condo's hotels, etc. This is hospitality industry, no longer ski industry.

rocket21 · 07-24-2022, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Gunstock, and others, are no longer just ski areas. Adventure parks, campgrounds, and other year round activities are the norm.

I recollect Tom Day telling the commission that summer operations aren't profitable (I don't believe he was including the campground in that statement).

Under prior management, they ran the summer attractions 7 days a week. Gunstock got by without them in 2020, and now they've been curtailed to Thursday-Monday, with some attractions being abandoned completely (Segways, E-Bikes, Water Wars, Summer Tubing, etc.). It's now basically the ziplines/treetop tour/mountain coaster.

That's not to say that Gunstock should be a ghost town in the summer, but the millions of dollars in summer investments haven't necessarily been a profit center.

John Mercier · 07-24-2022, 06:14 PM

Were those investments from the county or private?
Privatizing items like that would be what I would suspect.

Winilyme · 07-24-2022, 06:26 PM

My family and I enjoyed an afternoon at Gunstock last fall...some hiking and the zip line. It was quite busy but not overwhelmingly so. A low-stress way to have some fun. We were thinking of doing the zip line again later this summer but with everything I'm reading here, I'm putting the kibosh on that. Why?

Safety.

I felt safe last fall, but I'm not so sure now. You don't lose a lot of key leaders at once and expect the experience to be the same as before. While you'd hope safety would be the last thing to be compromised, I'm not putting myself one hundred feet in the air unless I feel reasonably secure about doing so. As of now, I don't.

LongBay · 07-25-2022, 06:08 PM

This Tue. July 26th, at 10am the GAC will be meeting to discus whatever…meanwhile 7 senior managers, 3 department managers and some others have resigned. The mountain remains closed and not one public statement has been put out what the GAC plan is and when Gunstock will reopen. When will they get it, no one wants to work for the current GAC “leadership”. Time for Ness and Strang to go to back writing wills and handing out aspirins and let qualified people run a profitable business.

Descant · 07-25-2022, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongBay

This Tue. July 26th, at 10am the GAC will be meeting to discus whatever…meanwhile 7 senior managers, 3 department managers and some others have resigned. The mountain remains closed and not one public statement has been put out what the GAC plan is and when Gunstock will reopen. When will they get it, no one wants to work for the current GAC “leadership”. Time for Ness and Strang to go to back writing wills and handing out aspirins and let qualified people run a profitable business.

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to a report of GAC action tomorrow. Perhaps if the GAC resigns, the delegation can act quickly and rehire lost management, and appoint new GAC. There were some very competent people there who may still be available.

John Mercier · 07-25-2022, 10:29 PM

I doubt that is going to happen the current GAC was put in place by the delegation.

Descant · 07-25-2022, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I doubt that is going to happen the current GAC was put in place by the delegation.

Understood. Maybe some will see that change is needed? We may find out in just hours. Or, in the September primary. Are any of these delegates opposed?

John Mercier · 07-26-2022, 12:11 AM

Opposed yes. But the number of seats in each of their districts suggests that they have a very good chance of reelection.

Personally, I would just like to know what the long term game plan is.
If operations are totally taken by a private company... what is the purpose of the GAC... and would any private company be willing to invest the time and resources under that construct?

rocket21 · 07-26-2022, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

If operations are totally taken by a private company... what is the purpose of the GAC... and would any private company be willing to invest the time and resources under that construct?

My guess is that in that scenario, the Gunstock Advisory Commission would meet once or two a year to review an operator's annual operating plan and expansion proposals. The Sunapee Advisory Commission performs this task for the state.

fatlazyless · 07-26-2022, 06:52 AM

Hey y'all ..... just look-ee here .... this latest Gunstock bru-ha-ha done made it into www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunstock_Mountain_Resort ...... where it says ....

"On the night of July 20, 2022, the entirety of the resort's management team resigned due to overreach by thr Gunstock Area Commission after members of the commission tried to take a "larger stake of control" over the daily operations of the resort along with accusations of disrespecting the resort's staff. The following day, the resort closed "until further notice".

Seems that Gunstock would be a nice spot to build a gambling casino run by the NH-Lottery with all profits, after expenses, going to fund local NH public schools. This would be a year 'round activity, gambling, and attached eating and entertainment, in all 12-months and daily weather. And, you can bet it would be a busy happening place-to-go ..... long time home of the Belknap Indian Lost Nation tribe ...... ugh! ...... to that! ...... holy cow-a-bunga! ..... such a stupendous suggestion! ....

Descant · 07-26-2022, 04:48 PM

WMUR reported at 4:00 pm that resignations were requested from Strang and Ness, who then walked out of the meeting. No indication at that time of a response. It appears from the WMUR vignette that management will return if Strang and Ness are gone. We shall see.

Leoskeys · 07-27-2022, 07:19 AM

That is correct. I was there at Gunstock yesterday. 300 residents and employees on hand. Two of the commissioners and the crowd urged Strang and Ness to resign which would lead Gunstock management to come back. They didn’t sign resignation papers they were handed, and eventually they both walked out prior to the meeting being formally adjourned or listening to public comment. Here’s a recap.
https://www.wmur.com/article/gunstoc...eting/40723461

TiltonBB · 08-02-2022, 07:56 AM

Monday night meeting. Gunstock opens.

Strang resigns. New Commissioner Denise Conroy sworn in.

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-gun...-8122/40776657

ITD · 08-02-2022, 10:41 AM

Now the question of what happens with this oft mentioned audit that will embarrass everyone. I suspect it disappears.

FlyingScot · 08-02-2022, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITD

Now the question of what happens with this oft mentioned audit that will embarrass everyone. I suspect it disappears.

We haven not heard any evidence or even credible assertions that an audit will embarrass the management team. Let's all just breathe a sigh of relief that the lunacy appears to be over, at least for now

mowtorman · 08-03-2022, 06:10 PM

From Gary Kaidasch April 1990

He said there are no plans for real-estate or condominium developments on the mountain.

“We’ve seen the sins of those ways,” he said.

He said the company is committed to running the mountain based on its services, namely skiing.

Mr. V · 07-25-2022, 10:32 PM

Sort of "a spider on the wall" as to this issue, but all I can say is "Wow: you asked for it, you got it."

When you vote idiots into office they do idiotic things.

07-26-2022, 06:52 AM	#11
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,920 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 306 Thanked 1,055 Times in 768 Posts	Hey y'all ..... just look-ee here .... this latest Gunstock bru-ha-ha done made it into www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunstock_Mountain_Resort ...... where it says .... "On the night of July 20, 2022, the entirety of the resort's management team resigned due to overreach by thr Gunstock Area Commission after members of the commission tried to take a "larger stake of control" over the daily operations of the resort along with accusations of disrespecting the resort's staff. The following day, the resort closed "until further notice". Seems that Gunstock would be a nice spot to build a gambling casino run by the NH-Lottery with all profits, after expenses, going to fund local NH public schools. This would be a year 'round activity, gambling, and attached eating and entertainment, in all 12-months and daily weather. And, you can bet it would be a busy happening place-to-go ..... long time home of the Belknap Indian Lost Nation tribe ...... ugh! ...... to that! ...... holy cow-a-bunga! ..... such a stupendous suggestion! .... __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

07-27-2022, 07:19 AM	#13
Leoskeys Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 148 Thanks: 134 Thanked 27 Times in 21 Posts	That is correct. I was there at Gunstock yesterday. 300 residents and employees on hand. Two of the commissioners and the crowd urged Strang and Ness to resign which would lead Gunstock management to come back. They didn’t sign resignation papers they were handed, and eventually they both walked out prior to the meeting being formally adjourned or listening to public comment. Here’s a recap. https://www.wmur.com/article/gunstoc...eting/40723461 Last edited by Leoskeys; 07-27-2022 at 01:03 PM.

08-02-2022, 07:56 AM	#14
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,059 Thanks: 726 Thanked 2,235 Times in 955 Posts	Changes are happening Monday night meeting. Gunstock opens. Strang resigns. New Commissioner Denise Conroy sworn in. https://www.wmur.com/article/new-gun...-8122/40776657

08-03-2022, 06:10 PM	#17
mowtorman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231 Thanks: 75 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	Stowe expansion 1990 From Gary Kaidasch April 1990 He said there are no plans for real-estate or condominium developments on the mountain. “We’ve seen the sins of those ways,” he said. He said the company is committed to running the mountain based on its services, namely skiing.

07-25-2022, 10:32 PM	#18
Mr. V Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 66 Thanked 261 Times in 179 Posts	Sort of "a spider on the wall" as to this issue, but all I can say is "Wow: you asked for it, you got it." When you vote idiots into office they do idiotic things. __________________ basking in the benign indifference of the universe

07-24-2022, 03:02 PM	#1
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,472 Thanks: 1,386 Thanked 1,667 Times in 1,086 Posts	Yes, plan ahead. A lot of ski passes are sold in the summer and early fall because of deep discounts that disappear as snowfall approaches. Gunstock, and others, are no longer just ski areas. Adventure parks, campgrounds, and other year round activities are the norm. Getting people on site regardless of ski conditions is important which is why so many places add townhouses, condo's hotels, etc. This is hospitality industry, no longer ski industry.

07-24-2022, 06:14 PM	#3
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 3 Thanked 634 Times in 521 Posts	Were those investments from the county or private? Privatizing items like that would be what I would suspect.

07-24-2022, 06:26 PM	#4
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 547 Thanks: 160 Thanked 311 Times in 169 Posts	My family and I enjoyed an afternoon at Gunstock last fall...some hiking and the zip line. It was quite busy but not overwhelmingly so. A low-stress way to have some fun. We were thinking of doing the zip line again later this summer but with everything I'm reading here, I'm putting the kibosh on that. Why? Safety. I felt safe last fall, but I'm not so sure now. You don't lose a lot of key leaders at once and expect the experience to be the same as before. While you'd hope safety would be the last thing to be compromised, I'm not putting myself one hundred feet in the air unless I feel reasonably secure about doing so. As of now, I don't.

07-25-2022, 06:08 PM	#5
LongBay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 151 Thanks: 48 Thanked 61 Times in 35 Posts	This Tue. July 26th, at 10am the GAC will be meeting to discus whatever…meanwhile 7 senior managers, 3 department managers and some others have resigned. The mountain remains closed and not one public statement has been put out what the GAC plan is and when Gunstock will reopen. When will they get it, no one wants to work for the current GAC “leadership”. Time for Ness and Strang to go to back writing wills and handing out aspirins and let qualified people run a profitable business.

07-25-2022, 10:29 PM	#7
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 3 Thanked 634 Times in 521 Posts	I doubt that is going to happen the current GAC was put in place by the delegation.

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
Grove84 (08-07-2022)

07-26-2022, 12:11 AM	#9
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 3 Thanked 634 Times in 521 Posts	Opposed yes. But the number of seats in each of their districts suggests that they have a very good chance of reelection. Personally, I would just like to know what the long term game plan is. If operations are totally taken by a private company... what is the purpose of the GAC... and would any private company be willing to invest the time and resources under that construct?

07-26-2022, 04:48 PM	#12
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,472 Thanks: 1,386 Thanked 1,667 Times in 1,086 Posts	WMUR reported at 4:00 pm that resignations were requested from Strang and Ness, who then walked out of the meeting. No indication at that time of a response. It appears from the WMUR vignette that management will return if Strang and Ness are gone. We shall see.

The Following User Says Thank You to TiltonBB For This Useful Post:
Biggd (08-02-2022)

08-02-2022, 10:41 AM	#15
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,941 Thanks: 481 Thanked 699 Times in 390 Posts	Now the question of what happens with this oft mentioned audit that will embarrass everyone. I suspect it disappears.