13 replies to this topic

[zeedotcom]

The Superior Chronicle is reporting that Blackjack may reopen this season under new ownership.

http://www.superiorc.../blackjack.html

[Andoman]

zeedotcom, on 15 September 2009 - 09:36 AM, said:

The Superior Chronicle is reporting that Blackjack may reopen this season under new ownership.

http://www.superiorc.../blackjack.html

Hmmmm....Having a ski area half the size manage the area? I'm happy it's re-opening but I'm not sure how long this will last.

[skier691]

having briefly met Rick at the MSAA show and hearing what he's done at Nordic in the last few years, I can say Blackjack may have a chance. He is lover of the sport, someone who enjoys the lifestyle, listens to his people, and comes into this industry with lots of 'youthful' ideas. He is not the standard, pencil pushing owner. Adding several good parks and glades areas...good, it is what the midwest skier finds exciting, it would set them apart of the other 2 areas right next door. But, with all the competition in the area, plus the steady decline of skier visits in that area, it will make it tough. I can say (14 years ago) Blackjack had the best skiing in the area, not the biggest, but had a steady fallline, no flats like its neighboors. If it happens, I wish Rick and Blackjack well.

[Peter]

Andoman, on 15 September 2009 - 02:48 PM, said:

Hmmmm....Having a ski area half the size manage the area? I'm happy it's re-opening but I'm not sure how long this will last.

Remember when Peak Resorts, owner of 4 tiny midwest resorts bought Attitash and Mt. Snow?

[dh_lift_op]

I love Blackjack! Nordic, not soo much. Not anything Nordic can control, they're just too damn small. I'm excited for Blackjack ever since I saw the new kinda-sorta website (www.skiblackjack.com). I think this will stand a chance, personally I think if he brings the whole value thing to Blackjack that he has going at Nordic, he will be stealing BP and IndianHead competition!

[102Terry]

Rick is gonna do good with anything he gets a hold of.

[Andoman]

dh_lift_op, on 03 November 2009 - 10:38 PM, said:

I love Blackjack! Nordic, not soo much. Not anything Nordic can control, they're just too damn small. I'm excited for Blackjack ever since I saw the new kinda-sorta website (www.skiblackjack.com). I think this will stand a chance, personally I think if he brings the whole value thing to Blackjack that he has going at Nordic, he will be stealing BP and IndianHead competition!

I never made it to blackjack isn't it the smaller of the three?

[skier2]

Andoman, on 04 November 2009 - 05:07 PM, said:

I never made it to blackjack isn't it the smaller of the three?

It's fairly on-par with Big Powderhorn, but Powderhorn has more non-skiing infrastructure. Indianhead is larger, but much older and more run-down.

[dh_lift_op]

It is the smaller one, yes but they have a great park and IMO all the terrain is pretty close in that area.

[Walt Askier]

Blackjack is about half the area (~100 acres) and about 3/4ths of the vertical drop (456') of it's siblings at Big Powderhorn and Indianhead. (~200 acres and 600' for them)

Nice area that seemed to cater more to the locals than the toursits. With a $245 season pass, I understand why the locals tended to go there. I'd go back. Glad to see them back in business.

A couple of years ago there was talk of a merger of the three with an interchangable lift ticket, but the deal fell through.

[dh_lift_op]

They had the hill hopper pass with Powderhorn, Blackjack, and Indianhead, but they kicked Blackjack out the next year and the following year they closed. Also, not to hijack the subject, but does anyone know if Indianhead ever bought Powderhorn? I know they were planning on buying BJ and BP but Big Powderhorn Lodging Association sued BP becuase they had an aggreement that they would sell to them and they didn't listen to the contract. But this year I saw that they are under new ownership on the site, so I was wondering if maybe they did find a way to get ahold of it.

[skier691]

The last I heard was that Big Powderhorn was going to be bought by a group headed by Bruce Noren (also head of Big Powderhorn Lodging). The Big 3 'Hopper Pass' was to expensive, in my opinion, to out weigh buying just a day ticket at one area, plus without one unified shuttle service, to much work. Too bad, they need something. All the areas are stuck in the 70's and then add Whitecap and The Porkies, and theres a lot of skiing within 30 miles of each other. All trying to get the same few skiers passing Granite, Spirit and Cascade, all closer to 'home', with more modern facilities. I think Blackjack is the best suited to build numbers if they ramp up the terrain parks and bring back fun, like they are saying...

[dh_lift_op]

NEW SITE IS UP!

When the three were talking about merging to Indianhead there were talks of a shuttle service, but like I said BPLA didn't allow that and Indianhead would only take BJ if they would get BP too. I'm glad that that never happened as I have a feeling that they would have raised prices because there would be no competition. This way prices stay the same or close to the same. I personally think the skiing is better than Cascade or Granite as well as the snow. I would say Indianhead is a little more modern, atleast the lodge and restaurant.

[zeedotcom]

News item regarding the purchases

http://www.uppermich....aspx?id=373624