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Old 08-08-2022, 06:59 AM   #1
John Mercier
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They make snow for Thanksgiving... so a cost without revenue is questionable tactic.

My point on the parking is that at some point, it maxes...
That point is being made up at Sunapee.

The Master Plan included building more parking and using the hotel funds.
https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...e9076bd6e.html

Last edited by John Mercier; 08-08-2022 at 08:20 AM.
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Old 08-08-2022, 05:18 PM   #2
rocket21
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Originally Posted by John Mercier View Post
They make snow for Thanksgiving... so a cost without revenue is questionable tactic.
They are not making snow for Thanksgiving. Gunstock has never counted on Thanksgiving for any measurable revenue. For small- to mid-sized areas, November snowmaking operations are generally about 1) testing/training and 2) building base if there are good windows. Snowmaking output is exponential; if you get cold, dry weather, you'll put down a lot more snow than at marginal temperatures. Some recent Novembers provided the best pre-Christmas windows for that.

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Originally Posted by John Mercier View Post
My point on the parking is that at some point, it maxes...
That point is being made up at Sunapee.
Sunapee is planning to add another lot this year, so they haven't reached their max. Likewise, if parking capacity was the primary concern at Gunstock, why would they be spending all of this money to pave the existing lot, rather than expanding parking?
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Old 08-08-2022, 06:54 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by rocket21 View Post
They are not making snow for Thanksgiving. Gunstock has never counted on Thanksgiving for any measurable revenue. For small- to mid-sized areas, November snowmaking operations are generally about 1) testing/training and 2) building base if there are good windows. Snowmaking output is exponential; if you get cold, dry weather, you'll put down a lot more snow than at marginal temperatures. Some recent Novembers provided the best pre-Christmas windows for that.


Sunapee is planning to add another lot this year, so they haven't reached their max. Likewise, if parking capacity was the primary concern at Gunstock, why would they be spending all of this money to pave the existing lot, rather than expanding parking?
Because a parking lot needs to be repaved once in a while, and to expand horizontally means to extend the season. Sort of like the campground did without you even noticing.
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Old 08-08-2022, 08:08 PM   #4
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Because a parking lot needs to be repaved once in a while, and to expand horizontally means to extend the season. Sort of like the campground did without you even noticing.
Repaved? Gunstock's parking lot is not paved.
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Old 08-08-2022, 10:22 PM   #5
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My experience skiing Gunstock only dates to 2009, but they have never opened for Thanksgiving weekend and really shouldn't. The business won't be there 9 years out of 10. Thanksgiving isn't a profitable weekend for most ski areas. It's a marketing budget spend for basically everywhere but Killington or Sunday River.

But almost all major areas start blowing snow Thanksgiving weekend even without intention to open. It's left in stockpiles which are more resilient to melting out. Then it's an added bonus to push out when a place like Gunstock is ready to go for it and open second weekend of December.

It's not a bad formula
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Old 08-08-2022, 11:44 PM   #6
John Mercier
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Originally Posted by rocket21 View Post
Repaved? Gunstock's parking lot is not paved.
The last time I was up, I parked on pavement right off from Alpine Way.
I've never been to any of the other parking areas, as it was a small group called in by Goddard to seek investment by Goddard.
It never really went anywhere as we were told that we should not expect a return on our investment.

You would pave... as they do roads... to lower the maintenance factor.
Middleton Meredith is now all paved for the same reason.
Having large unpaved areas turned out to not be suitable to early spring conditions.

As for Thanksgiving... they would need to find more income.
If they don't expand the amount of time open, then they need to expand the number of customers, and resources max unless you can find full value customers during the current slow periods (guessing weekdays).

Without some sort of expansion, the only option would be higher lift tickets.
Belknap taxpayers are going to expect more revenue from the site... and aren't going to focus on subsidizing some residents' recreational pursuits.

That is what this whole ''privatize'' thing was about... getting more revenue from the area into the county.
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