There have been serious folks with serious money (e.g. Buncher) who have looked at Laurel and would have spent their own $$$ to revamp Laurel had the state just gotten out of the way.

You can bellyache about the state for spending our money, but the blame solely rests with the state for putting insurmountable roadblocks up which in turn prevents a private investor from using their money instead of ours.

BTW: I wonder how much its going to cost to park at Laurel next year if Bobby Nutting has his way? People who didn't earn their wealth, either by being born into it or marrying into it, are usually the biggest morons. There are exceptions, but Robert seems to be right up there.

I have to agree with you. Buncher was ready to go and we would have been skiing the last couple of years on Laurel. George risked it and if he was given 1/6 of the amount, we would be in paradise. We were interested in setting up a co-op which wouldn't cost the state much but never got our calls answered. Mellon's have a lot of pull and the State doesn't want it open. If it ever opens again, I will be totally surprised. Just looking at the building, it looks like the ski shop is stacked 3 foot with boots and there are skis showing by the open doors to the basement. I kinda wonder if it crosses anyone's mind to get skis and boots from the open building and ski the Lower Wildcat. I would be afraid to. I wish we could get Nutting out of there but the State gave him a golden agreement. Our Government!!!

Dave don't underestimate Bob Nutting, he's no lazy rich kid and far from a moron.

Who bought the remaining lots in the village?

What do you think is going to happen when the real estate market turns around?

I think that's when the ski area re-opens.

Hey Jimmy. I know Bobby is a Wheeling boy, so I can understand sticking up for a native. But I just gotta rant against a fellow Mountaineer.

I admit I don't know the man, I don't know if he's a good guy, a humanitarian or anything else positive about him. The only evidence I have to make judgement is what I observe and perceive. I have zero insight as to what he's doing hands on to steer the ships at 7S or at PNC Park, but here are a few of my thoughts.

At PNC Park, if it wasn't for the best ball park in the Major Leagues (paid for by PA taxpayers), an idiot fan base who show up in droves religiously for fireworks nights and over the hill rockers, the Buccos would play night in and night out in front of friends and family. And if it weren't for MLB small market revenue sharing, the Pirates would have set sail from the Burgh long ago. The 19 consecutive years of futility speak for itself; the longest in North American professional sports.

As for 7S, he's revamped a chairlift, added a half pipe and a shooting range, but by-in-large, a numbskull like me could have taken over and still kept it a successful enterprise just by inertia alone. The $10/$20 preferred parking this year is an outrage in this not-so-wintry weather and economic climate.

At Laurel, he bought the lots and the lodge for a song, but has not nudged the state forward one bit in getting laurel open. For example, if he was truly committed to reviving Laurel (and he claims to be an avid skier), he could thrown some money at the ski area to help revive/rehab it (Midway Cabin could use some major fixing up). He is waiting for the state to do and pay for everything and then has the audacity to complain, through an underling, that they're losing money there every year Laurel isn't opened.

I admit he may be shrewd (sneaking in the back door to keep Buncher away from Laurel), but IMHO, there is a not so fine line between shrewd and smart.

I may be way off base, but needless to say, I am not impressed. And I'll probably be less impressed by him after Laurel opens and then is shuttered after 1 or 2 bad seasons.

What's $1.5 million to a guy who's Daddy earned it for him.

jimmy, I have been giving Nutting the benefit of the doubt for some time now but what I'm hearing about the plans for Laurel are just plain disappointing. I have been trying to get details of the plans through PA's Right to Know law but they are stonewalling me. I understand that 7S does not plan to refurbish and run the quad they own lending credence to Dave's assertion that they will try to do this solely on the tax payer dime. This isn't the type of public/private partnership that I advocated

As I stated in an earlier post, PA paid for a due diligence study from the Jack Johnson Company, a successful ski resort designer, and they called for a $10 million capital investment to bring Laurel up to competitive standards. Where is the $4 million from 7S? Buncher was reported ready to commit $10 million in addition to the State's $6.5 million.

You know that I'm one of those 'big government liberals'(I don't think I am but I am a register Democrat) so I don't go around blaming government in general for all the failures of society but I will say that one particular state agency appears to be failing its fiduciary responsibility to the PA tax payer by awarding a lease knowing exactly what is recommended by industry experts and not requiring the lessee to put up their own money. The DCNR will get failing marks from me for not hiring an experienced ski area designer to submit a master development plan along with a sound business plan. They hired an experience tubing hill designer. Moshier designed 1 tubing hill at Allegheny County owned Boyce Park.

I could be totally wrong but as long as the DCNR, the Department of General Services (They're the state agency responsible for the actual construction.)and Seven Springs are not forth coming with they're plans they are inviting all this negative speculation. That is the last thing that Laurel Mountain needs.

On the other hand, I'm ready to give up on Laurel and start looking for a retirement home in Canaan.

Guys don't think I'm sticking up for him. I don't think he's doing what's best for skiing at Laurel Mountain, he's doing what's best for him.

Do you know why there is no Major Major League Baseball franchise in Nebraska?

Laurel Hill Crazie you already know there's a place for a big government yinzer down here.........Listen closely, it's west virginia, here it??? she's callin yinz .

I don't think DCNR wants it open. They seem to work to keep it closed. The building looks bad. 7 Springs needs to fix the building. With the door to the lodge open, I am surprised people aren't taking the skis and boots and skiing the Lower Wildcat. With a contract that doesn't seem to ever expire, it could be closed forever. The only good thing is the taxes on my Village lots are less per year than a single dinner.

I think it is time we found out what Nutting is contributing to Laurel Mountain Ski Area. If the tax payers are putting up $6.5 mil, then what is Seven Springs contributing? How much is their yearly lease payment? This all should be public knowledge.

Snowsmith, I do know that 7S is definitely advising on the "redesign". It would be interesting to find out if they are charging the state for this consulting work. I would bet they are.

Nutting is doing nothing up there. There is no work done, the grass hasn't been cut, the building is broken into, the chairs are still on the lifts and the double is the same as last year with the motor uncovered. I'm not sure but I don't think Nutting has to pay any lease yet. I think when it opens, he starts. He has it locked up. It probably cost him
1 million and it sits empty. The crowd goes to 7 Springs.
Smart move and the DCNR and Mellons gets their way.