Page 2: Cali4nia dreamin’
MMSA buys Big Bear Mountain Resorts.
Clearly, June Mountain had to be saved last week.
If June Mountain had been rendered inoperable, it would have killed the “Cali4nia” marketing plan.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area purchased Big Bear Mountain Resorts this week, doubling its ski area holdings from two to four (Mammoth, June, Big Bear and Snow Summit).
The acquisition adds approximately 1,500 acres of skiing terrain and 800,000 skier visits.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area CEO Rusty Gregory said Wednesday that “this is a better time to buy than sell a ski resort … We’re long on ski resorts and believe in the opportunity.”
He also sought to dispel rumors that the deal was simply a precursor to a larger deal with Vail Resorts.
“This [the acquisition of Big Bear and Snow Summit] is the big news. Bottom line – there are no discussions with Vail … they’ve got a great opportunity in Utah [with recent acquisitions of the Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort), and we’ll be comepting with them for the Southern California marketplace.”
Gregory also promised significant new investment. “People have forgotten the [larger] vision [we had for Mammoth]. We’re going to remind them.”
In addition to the Main Lodge land trade (see related op/ed piece by Rep. Paul Cook on page four), Gregory also mentioned Eagle Lodge as a target for a near-term upgrade.
The deal for Big Bear was eleven months in the making, and the final purchase price was approximately $38 million.
For a limited time, $689 can buy you a season pass good at any of the four ski areas. In addition, one can upgrade his/her season pass and join the Mountain Collective.
The Mountain Collective offers 14 additional days of skiing at numerous resorts around the west for an additional $389. Participating resorts include Aspen, Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbird, Whistler, Squaw Valley and more.
The pass will go on sale Sept. 27. Mammoth MVP pass holders who’ve already renewed for the upcoming season will automatically be upgraded. Current Bear Mountain/ Snow Summit 2014-15 winter pass holders will have the opportunity to upgrade to the new Cali4nia Pass.
As Gregory said in closing, “We have big plans. The market’s now moving.
Mitchell out at Tallus?
Rob Mitchell appears to be out as the Managing Partner of Tallus.
This week, The Sheet learned that a new corporate entity, Mammoth Springs Resort, seized control of the property Monday.
A complicating factor appears to be that Mitchell is currently living on-site. Colin Miller, now serving as President of what I suppose would be a holding company, Mammoth Springs Resort, told The Sheet Wednesday that the company is “exploring options as to his removal.”
The Sheet tried to contact Mitchell via telephone on Thursday and we sent Evans over to the property in the afternoon in an attempt to locate him. Evans was told he was out and the two employees on-site offered no further comment.
Matthew Lehman, who represents Mitchell on the Shady Rest Parcel (Mitchell has been on a spree, opening escrows at Lodestar and Shady Rest and closing on the Mammoth Mall this year), acknowledged that he had met with Mitchell on Thursday afternoon. The only thing Mitchell reportedly said to Lehman about Tallus was that “It’s something I’m working through.”
Miller is currently overseeing the property on behalf of a major lender.
To Miller’s knowledge, Mitchell does not have an ownership share in a Tallus unit.
Miller said that the new ownership group plans to bring back original owner/architect/developer Eric Fishburn as a consultant on the project.
There are currently seven completed units in the first nine-unit phase. Three of the units were sold into whole ownership. The remaining units were sold in 1/6th fractions.
Miller believes a total of eight shares have been sold.
One of the perks of Tallus ownership was a deal struck with Mammoth Mountain regarding transferable Black Pass memberships for Tallus owners and their guests.
Miller confirmed that the arrangement with MMSA has not been altered as a result of the change in ownership. Several sources said Mitchell had asked MMSA CEO Rusty Gregory to nix the Black Pass deal if he {Mitchell] were not a part of the Tallus project going forward.
Of course, Mitchell and Gregory had their own disagreements this past spring over Mitchell’s proposed development plans at Lodestar.
According to an April 19 article in The Sheet written by Evans, Gregory said, “We have to make it as unprofitable [for him] as possible to not follow the town’s plan. There is space for 700 units of transient occupancy on the acreage [at Lodestar], according to Gregory, but only 12 lots designated in Mitchell’s plan. “We cannot lose that density,” Gregory said. “We can’t lose the elements of our destination strategy.”
Gregory said there are only two places in town that are suitable for profitable year-round hotels— the acreage around Sierra Star Golf Course and Chuck Lande’s property out at Snowcreek. “We will shut the golf course down and stop air service support if those hotel locations go,” Gregory warned Town Manager Dan Holler.
Two weeks later, Gregory softened those remarks, but it’s hard to imagine, even many months later, that he would be jumping at the opportunity to do Rob Mitchell any favors.
ESLT hits the quinella
Kay Ogden of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust has certainly had a good week. How about this note:
“It’s hard to decide what’s more exciting: the stunning Sinnamon Meadows property protected forever, or $3 million dollars for a developing project in Bridgeport Valley?
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s grant award of $3 million dollars is a huge achievement for ESLT. With this grant, we are poised to permanently preserve more than 2,000 acres of environmentally and economically significant grasslands in Bridgeport Valley (please read more about this new project below). These grant dollars will go directly towards paying for an estimated 75% of the purchase price of a conservation easement – none of it can go towards ESLT staff time or help with day-to-day expenses. It is through support of members like you, as well as private grants, that we will be able to complete this critical work.
Sinnamon Meadows is a stunning expanse of historic ranch land in northern Mono County. The 1,240-acre property’s working lands, extensive wetlands, natural springs, and vital animal habitat are now protected forever with an agricultural conservation easement held by ESLT.”
2014-2015 Grand Jury
Given the Mono County Grand Jury has been in the news of late, here is the 2014-2015 lineup: Jon Boyer is the foreperson. Karen Johnston is the assistant foreperson. The remaining members are Sharon Clark, Karen Smart, Don Zeleny, Ken Murray, Robert Deforest, Deb Pierrel and Cleland Hoff.
