Northstar expects benefits from being a Vail property
By Jim Sloan, Sacramento Bee
When Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area opened in 1972, it was nicknamed “Flatstar” and derided for its lack of black diamond terrain.
Northstar has opened more terrain through the years. Photo/Kathryn Reed
Over the years, the resort has opened up steeper terrain, and its dated-looking base village has been remodeled with cobblestone plazas, trendy shops, expensive condos, restaurants and a 9,000-square-foot skating rink surrounded by fireplaces and lounging areas. Last year, Northstar developers unveiled a $300 million Ritz Carlton perched at midmountain.
Try as it might, though, Northstar never acquired the luster of some of those magnificent Colorado resorts like Breckenridge and Beaver Creek, with their European-style villages and $3 million slopeside condos. Last year, Northstar recorded 700,000 skier visits; Breckenridge, 1.6 million.
But with the arrival of Vail Resorts Inc., which acquired Northstar from Booth Creek Resort Properties Inc. for $63 million on Oct. 25, some say Northstar is poised to vault into the upper echelon of modern ski resort destinations. Vail’s other holdings – Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly on Tahoe’s south shore – aren’t just popular among skiers, they’re legendary.
“Vail Resorts is simply the best-run resort management company in the country,” said Charles Goeldner, a retired professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an expert on ski area economics. “They know how to bring people to their resorts and get them to spend money. This formula is what they will bring to Northstar.”
Northstar developers unveiled a $300 million Ritz Carlton perched at midmountain.
That’s what broke them into selling,plus Vail know for it’s tree cutting,pushing the locals aside for their own big money investments,you need to read the Vail Daily every once in a while,the people there are exactly thrilled with all what Vail does, yes they got a parking garage that doesn’t make money there also.
Just a little FYI on the Vail Daily, guess who owns the Vail Daily? Swift newspapers, same as the Trib.
Little off the subject but just a thought about the Bear problems we are having. Went to a Chili cookoff in Santa Cruz one time and the winner used Bear meat. The only way to stop or at least eliminate 90% of the problem we have is to require ALL residences to have Bear Cans. With all the Grants out there you would think we could get one to offset the cost. All the Bear proponents should call, picket, threaten, harrass, e-mail and pretty much bother our elected officials like they do when someone complains about Bears. We will never have a basin without people so we will either shoot them or try and solve the problem of a constant smorgassboard from Locals and Tourists. I got the ordinance changed for my commercial bldg. from having an open trash container to using Bear boxes, they can hold the same and they look a lot better. I also landscaped the one at my house with boulders and plants. We can make it work but you have to complain to our elected officials, turn people in and be proactive instead of reactive. We can coexist with nature. TRPA, are you listening?
THEY HAVE A COMMENT SECTION FOR THE BEARS UNDER NEVADA WILLIFE SECTION,IT TAKES ONLY A SECOND TO FILL OUT.
“EVERY LIVING THINGS HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE.”
What’s your point?
Skibum: See his most recent response to the Napa Valley article. You’ll understand.
I sold bear proof cans for $75.00, they cost $42.00 plus $30.00 shipping to Tahoe, if I chose Reno as delivery point the shipping would be $15.00, so my cost would be $57.00 not bad for a bear proof yellow can when bear boxes cost up to $1000.00, and I will still sell these for $75.00 with pre payment, if you can get a better deal buy it!
Ski the website for comments for opening hunting season up in the basin. They ask for your input to see a residents poll WORTH STOPPING OR PRECEEDING WITH PERMITS.
Ok, Thanks
Little off topic but the other day skibum pretty much ran me off the road with his big old truck. I had just turned on Al Tahoe with this big overbearing truck tailgating me, so I moved to the outside lane while noticing the ISKIBUM license plate in my rearview mirror. There was a person walking in the lane right after the post office (this town really needs sidewalks) and he almost ran me over. This was last Monday when there was lots of snow and dangerous conditions. Skibum SLOW DOWN and show some respect for your fellow citizens.
That cracks me up!