Windblown (NH) to be redeveloped by non-profit
Lew Lasher
target of an ambitious new non-profit organization.
Last season, Windblown owner Al Jenks announced his plans to retire
after 38 seasons and sell the ski touring center to a non-profit
organization. The non-profit, called Central New England Nordic
Council, now has a Web site at http://cnencxc.org . They are taking
pledges now, and, once they have obtained tax exempt status, will take
money. The site does not seem to mention their fundraising goal, but
it says that their deadline is March 31, 2011.
I happened to run into Al a couple of weeks ago and he told me he will
still be running Windblown for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. (But
last year the shop sold off their rental equipment and other retail
goods.)
The CNENC site has an ambitious master plan (
http://nordicnow.org/images/Windblown_Master_Plan.pdf ), including not
just buying the ski area, but developing a race course (mostly, but
not entirely, on existing trails) and "stadium", putting in snowmaking
and lighting and perhaps a biathlon range.
They are having an informational meeting on December 2 at the Weston
Ski Track.
Lew Lasher
One clarification: the non-profit organization does have tax-exempt
status now (they did not as of the writing of the master plan
document). They are hoping to use the pledges as a way to bootstrap
additional fundraising (e.g., grants). Of course, they also expect
people to pay up on their pledges.
Jon
Now that the current owners of Weston Ski Track have more formally
announced that they're retiring soon, and that the younger managers
aren't interested in continuing operation, was there any talk at the
meeting of redirecting efforts to keeping Weston going?
I haven't looked at the Windblown proposals in detail, but I've never
really understood the rationale--yes, it's in a nice snow belt, but
it's only about 30 minutes closer to Boston than Waterville Valley,
which already has a great infrastructure in place (facilities, nice 5
K race course, etc.).
Jon
Lew Lasher
> Now that the current owners of Weston Ski Track have more formally
> announced that they're retiring soon, and that the younger managers
> aren't interested in continuing operation, was there any talk at the
> meeting of redirecting efforts to keeping Weston going?
No, I wasn't aware of that. I was thinking that there was some
competition between Windblown and Weston for snowmaking trails, but
the people at the meeting seemed to answer that by saying that no one
from Boston would go up to Windblown on weekday evenings. But no
mention that Weston itself might be closing.
> I haven't looked at the Windblown proposals in detail, but I've never
> really understood the rationale--yes, it's in a nice snow belt, but
> it's only about 30 minutes closer to Boston than Waterville Valley ...
I kind of have to agree. (I'd say 45 minutes to an hour's difference,
but, still, yeah.) Much as I love the trails at Windblown, and I love
the fact that it was built by an enthusiastic skier, it isn't the only
good trail system that's a day trip from Boston. Northfield Mountain,
just a little further from Boston than Windblown, has an excellent
trail system, although less snow due to its low elevation. Someone (I
think it was another email list) suggested that Northfield would be a
good candidate for snowmaking since it has that big water reservoir
right there.
Jon
> think it was another email list) suggested that Northfield would be a
> good candidate for snowmaking since it has that big water reservoir
> right there.
Yes, I think I remember in my college days that they used to make snow
(and had a nice lake, also.)
Hope some workeable solution is developed for Weston...I would have
hoped there was some skiing, dot.com millionaire in the area who's
looking for a diversion :)