I've heard rumors floating around the ridge for a few months that he is looking for a buyer. Of course, there are always so many rumors on the ridge at any given time. Until it's confirmed, it's just another ridgie rumor.

They built a new spa, they renovated the hotel rooms and they got rid of the old greasy spoon diner. You'd think that diner was an institution. It didn't fit there.
They sold all of those big ticket town houses and added a 6-pack high speed lift. I don't know what you guys are smokin, but I would say they doing pretty well. Is the flat economy affecting them...of course it is. It's affecting everybody except funeral homes and liquor stores.
I think they had a good year on the slopes.
Stop being so negative!

I just heard the same rumor from a 30 year Somerset businessman.

I've recently spoken to several people who definitely would know if the rumor regarding the Nuttings shopping 7S around might have legs. 2 of the 3 didn't even hear of it and the other heard the rumor here, so my uneducated guess would be the rumor is completely false (maybe just wishful thinking).

Regarding Laurel, I am awaiting a return phone call from a manager at 7S to address whether or not there is a chance Laurel might open for the 09-10 ski season. I'll update the thread if there is any news.

Without any official word on Laurel soon, I would guess chances, yet again, become remote we'll be skiing Laurel this upcoming season. I'll repeat this again, we and the state will regret a deal was not struck with Buncher.

Wow... I have said it before and I will say it again - I have never seen a thread with so many conspiracy theorists!

I gotta agree with snosnugums, 7S is doing pretty well and the Nuttings are investing in the resort. Screw the baseball team and get over it! Watch the Pens or the Steelers! The resort is coming alive again. Can you imagine all the work that needed to be done to that place after years of neglect under the Dupres? Good God!

Trust me, my cousin works at 7S and I live in the Ligonier Valley. Recently I meandered through Laurel on a hike with my family. There is NO way that place is opening this season. From the looks of it, even if 7S had sealed the deal with the DCNR and the other bureaucracies last summer or early fall, Laurel would not open this coming season. The whole place is ghosttown mess.

But I guess getting it open ASAP to make all the naysayers happy regardless of safety and thought is more important? The whole resort needs rehabilitation. Water lines, sewage, rusting chairlifts, run down lodge, pitted slopes - WHAT A MESS!

I don't know about all of you - but I want Laurel to re-open the right way even if that means it takes some time. Don't you all remember when Somerset Trust thrust it into Dupre's/7S's hands in 04-05 like two months before the snow fell? No time for planning or operational thought. It was horrendous! A total disgrace!

Hockey Dave, I guess you won't be skiing Laurel since it won't be under the realm of the Bunchers? You know they passed LM up, essentially giving it to 7S. They should kick themselves in the you know what.

LValleyGirl, I'm pointing out facts. Look at the Pirates, and forget about the fluke of a start this year (they will revert to losing form, trust me). The Nuttings were given a taxpayer funded stadium and have fielded a sub-500 team 16 years running. Whenever they have a choice between winning or making a large profit (having a fire sale, signing/re-signing a star, drafting below par talent so they won't have to pay as much), they choose profit every time. I suspect they will nickel and dime Laurel if they do finally get around to opening it.

Just my opinion, Laurel was not a disgrace when opened by the Dupres in 04-05. Bad year for skiing because of the weather. At least it was open.

I don't think 7S was neglected by the Dupres. If you wanted to see neglect, just head 3 miles north to Hidden Valley. The Kettlers were guilty of that until Buncher bought the place. Buncher has a track record of revamping resorts (actually only 1 resort) and quickly, I might add. Buncher has changed Hidden Valley from a piece of crap to a wonderful resort in less than a year and a half. The golf course was a cow pasture due to years of neglect and now is near country club standards. The new snow-making at HV is the best. I know firsthand that Buncher did not abandon Laurel, the state dragged its feet and Seven Springs snuck in the back door with Somerset Trust. If it weren't for Buncher and their interest in Laurel, we wouldn't even be talking about a future at Laurel. And although I'm not Missouri, the Nuttings will have to prove to me they are truly interested in operating Laurel as a public/private partnership as Buncher proposed and would have done. A good faith gesture would be to start revamping the lodge (power-wash and stain isn't asking much) right now. And as of yet, I have not seen one shred of evidence that leads me to believe the Nuttings will be good stewards of Laurel, if at all.

LValleyGirl...I'm all for optimism. But on the one hand, you sort of say, trust the Nuttings, they are doing a good job with 7S, etc.

And then on the other hand you admit that you hiked on LM and see absolutely no evidence that anything is happening.

A lot of the people on here who would love more than anyone to see Laurel reopen have consistently stated that they only wanted it open if it was opened and run correctly. So wanting to see progress and wanting to see encouraging signs is not the same as wanting to see it open ASAP even if that means it being open haphazardly.

I'm going to second what hockeydave said, but maybe for a different reason. I wish Buncher would have got LM b/c I think an HV/LM season pass would be the best pass you could have around here. I don't really get what Laurel does for 7S -- they already have the terrain that HV lacks.

I'm sorry it has taken so long to reported back on the details of the Jack Johnson report on Laurel. I've been tending to the chores I've put off all winter and 2 weeks ago we had a furnace fire that caused some smoke damage to our house. The biggest problem the fire caused was uprooting us from home until the cleaning crews did their job. We are back now and beginning to get back to our daily routine.

The study dated April 28, 2008 and titled Summary of Laurel Mountain Ski Resort Financial Analysis was commissioned by the DCNR with input from the Buncher Company who was in negotiation with the DCNR for a lease at that time. Since Buncher is now out of the picture I don't know if this study is still relevant. I would think it still has some significance because it was a DCNR funded study to determine the feasibility of a successful reopening for Laurel. It is not a master plan.

The study looked at two scenarios. One would be a minimum upgrade and repair. The other would be a major capital upgrade. The Study was done with a 2008/09 opening date and costs were calculated in that time frame.



Scenario 1

Scenario 1 would require a total cash expenditure of $789,200 with a repair budget of $743,000, most of which would go to repairing existing lifts; $235,000 for the quad and $365,000 for the double. Snow making repairs would be $30,000. The rest would go to upgrade safety items (replace tower pads), food service including water supply, signage, groomer repair, building maintenance, and labor cost.

Capital improvement budget under scenario 1 totals $46,200. The only significant improvement would be a $20,000 outlay for what is termed a new beginner trail. The rest of the capital budget would include computer and communication improvements, maintenance tools, snowmobile and contingency money.



Scenario 2

Scenario 2 would require a total cash outlay of $8,093,600. The breakdown is $486,000 in repairs and $7,607,600 in capital improvements. The repair items are the same as scenario 1 minus the repairs on the double. Highlights of the improvements include $1,815,000 for a new fixed grip quad, $1,400,00o for snow making, $160,000 for a magic carpet lift, $360,000 for trail improvements, $1,000,000 for pond and environmental conditions, $1,000,000 for sewage, $230,000 for new rental equipment, $60,000 for building improvements, and 50,000 for warming hut improvements. Also included are upgrades to the terrain park, lighting, sprinklers (fire safety, I assume), along with items listed in scenario 1 and $691,600 for contingency money.

The report states that, and I quote, “….it is felt that with the recommended capital improvements, sustained financial viability for the Resort’s operation is achievable.”

This is all I have time for now. I’ll try to post some details on the financial models on which this study was based but if there are any questions just post them here and I’ll try to answer.

Leo, 7S does not have a finalized deal with the DCNR or the Mellon Foundation. So - why would they go in and start working on a property that is not completely theirs? Kind of bassackwards...

Wow, didn't notice the new post here since I started to summarize the Jack Jonson report. I hope it doesn't get lost in this current round of flame.

I expressed misgivings over Nutting's intentions when they bought the assets from Somerset Trust last year. I sincerely hope that I'm proven wrong and I will support any attempt to get Laurel open. So far I only have the letter from Director Norbeck as proof that talks are on going with Seven Springs but as April draws to a close and no announcement is forthcoming doubts will linger.

As for the possibility of reopening next season, it is doable from a construction standpoint if a lease is signed soon. I doubt it will happen unless the reason for the delay in announcing a lease agreement is that a full master plan and business plan is being put in place. No State money will be committed until the DCNR is satisfied that this type of development plan is in place. Remember, the capital funds are going to the DCNR for the rehabilitation of Laurel. The money is not going to Seven Springs.

Now I have heard all sorts of rumor that Seven Springs want to do this or do that but it will ultimately be decided by the DCNR how the facilities will be developed. I hope the the DCNR will listen to Seven Springs concerns but then hire an outside resort development firm such as Jack Johnson or Sno Engineering (SE Group) to do the final master plan and over see proper development. This is no reflection of a distrust of Seven Springs or the Nuttings. I only hope that Laurel be done right and these two firms are the only two that I know of that have the experience in ski area design.

As for the Buncher Company, they have done wonderful things at Hidden Valley in a very short time. Rehabilitating the Valley was the best thing that happened to Western PA skiing, nothing like real competition to keep both parties sharp. The fact remains that for whatever reason Buncher withdrew from negotiations and Seven Springs stepped up. I'm sorry to see Buncher go, I'm glad that Seven Springs is interested and made bold public announcements to their intention. It puts their credibility on the line and I see it as a commitment to follow through.

I think bickering about intentions or regretting past events does no good. Seven Springs is at the plate ready to go to bat for Laurel. Me, I'm rooting for a grand slam and a run deep into the coming season.