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Sleeping Giant Ski Area won't reopen this winter
By Carole Cloudwalker
This document was published online on Monday, September 22, 2008
Financial complications will keep Sleeping Giant Ski Area closed for another winter.
The board of the Yellowstone Recreations Foundation, which is renovating the facility and will operate it in the future, decided Friday to delay the re-opening of the longtime North Fork ski area for one year.
The Thanksgiving 2008 weekend was the original target opening date for the ski area when it was bought last year by Jim Nielson from the Dahlem family. (He's since transferred the ski area to the foundation.)
Sleeping Giant has already been closed for four winters.
The one-year delay is due to fundraising challenges, foundation communications director Kerry Strike said. Capital Campaign director Garrett Growney agreed.
“We need to have all the money in place before we open,” Strike said.
She added that the foundation's fundraising goal is $3.5 million, of which about $1.3 million has been raised.
Growney said delaying the opening “was a good decision, for financial reasons ... ideally, you'd like to have (the money) all raised before you open.”
He said the $1.5 million still needed would supplement a state grant that is being sought, bringing the total yet required to about $2 million.
“The decision was reached after a review of renovations and improvements made on the facilities, proposed further improvements and fundraising to date,” according to a statement issued by the board.
The foundation is a nonprofit entity hoping to improve economic development and winter recreation opportunities for Big Horn Basin people.
The group has the support of Forward Cody and the Park County commission in seeking a $500,000 Business-Ready Community Enhancement Grant through the Wyoming Business Council.
The main factor in the decision to not reopen for winter 2008-09 has been a “slow start to fundraising,” Strike said.
She said work continues to secure larger gifts and grants, but the foundation also is “reaching out to Big Horn Basin residents for any and all contributions.”
The foundation is planning an Oct. 25 open house at the ski area to give the public an opportunity to view work completed and see plans for future improvements.
The board of Yellowstone Recreations Foundation also has approved forming an advisory committee to further community involvement. They are hoping to develop this committee of volunteers from people around the basin interested in guiding the growth and improvement of the ski area as a community-based, family-oriented ski area.
While much work already has taken place, Growney said a few things will not be done until next year.
They will cost about $500,000 and could be covered by the state grant, if it is approved. They include:
€Installing the second half of snowmaking equipment on the west side of the ski hill.
€Completing installation of the new west chair lift, for which tower foundations already are in place.
€Completing electrical upgrades and installing new electric lines.
Work that has been done that will be visible to those visiting the facility include logging to create a pathway for the new lift.
The Forest Service requires the foundation to finish some work this winter, including completing a septic system leach field, rehabilitating the ski hill after logging and possibly finishing some interior work on the shop, Growney said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer on the committee or to donate money to the cause may contact Growney, 527-8986 or Yellowstone Recreations Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Cody.
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justthinkaboutit wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:39 AM: