What do you think of "private" ski resorts?

[ski diva]

A new private ski and golf community has just received preliminary approval near Vail, Colorado. It'll encompass 5,000 acres and involve restoring an area contaminated by years of mining (that alone is a great idea!).

Anyone here ever ski at a private resort, like the Yellowstone Club? What do you think? Do you find them too exclusionary, or are they a great idea for keeping down the crowds? Are you for or against them?

 

[RachelV]

If I am ever able to afford membership in a private ski resort, I'm sure I will be 100% in favor.

Haystack (next to Mt. Snow) went private a few years ago, but I think it's still under redevelopment.
https://www.haystackclub.com/index.php
Wonder what the pricing is like.

 

[ski diva]

Last I heard, back in January the Haystack Club laid off all its sales staff, and the condos that'd been built (all four) hadn't been sold. So I'm not sure what the current status is. Anyone know?

 

[NannyMin]

I work for a family that belongs to the Yellowstone Club and ski there frequently. I'm for pro private clubs...but, I don't think you could ski them exclusively and not get bored eventually.

For me the pros outweigh the cons. The family I work as a nanny for is high-profile and we have received numerous kidnapping threats against the children and myself. The security screening done by YC is excellent so it is nice to be able to turn the "alert" level down just a bit and allow the children just a bit more freedom. First tracks almost everyday is hard to beat... and even during Christmas/President's Day Weekend/Spring break it isn't crowded. The level of attentiveness of the staff is amazing. Although it is "exclusive" they have made it a point to keep it friendly and fun. There have even been a couple of members kicked out because they were rude to staff members. The food is 5 star all the way and I miss this when I ski other places.

 

[Jilly]

The Collingwood, Barrie area north of Toronto Ontario has numerous private hill/clubs. Two come to mind when I hear "private clubs". The Toronto Ski Club and Alpine Ski Club. These clubs are exclusive and the membership cost is high. Think double income of doctor and lawyer couple. The hills themselves are the typical Niagara escarpment, so like Michigan hills etc. They are not mountains for sure. Membership doesn't have to include a condo or chalet, but most members have a place nearby as a get away. I find the kids in particular are snobby and rude. They have all the latest and greatest equipment and can't ski or board. They don't understand the rules of the average ski hill. When our local kids race against this group they usually win as our kids have talent but not the best equipment. Lately the "private clubs" won't come to race at our little hill because its "beneath" them. So even the parents are snobs. That said my doctor's dad has a membership and chalet at Alpine, but she is not snobby at all and the whole family are wonderful people.

 

[abc]

I've never skied in one but I don't see what's there to be against. There're private golf courses so why not private ski hills?

Would I be trying very hard to join, if I could? Probably not. Although I'm not crazy about the crowds on our average northeast ski resort, I've figured out ways to stay away from the crowd by skiing the tougher terrain that fewer skiers go to. So for the moment, I don't really have a problem that needs solution provided by the private clubs.

As I see myself going off-piste and probably joining the skin-up crowd sooner or later, I just don't see that much appeal, for me anyway, in these private clubs. I guess I already joined a "private club" of skiers whose "exclusive terrain" are defined not by paid membership but by skill level.

Another drawback is, I purposely ski at least ONE different resort each year for the sake of traveling and experiencing different terrain, scenary and culture. That would go orthorgonal to the idea of going back to the same, albeit posh, private hill.

 

[RachelV]

You know, the more I think about it -- if I had the cash to join a private ski club, I'd rather spend it on long weekends out west every few weeks.

 

[abc]

Well, the idea is, a private ski club OUT WEST! ;)

That may explain why Haystack couldn't work, nor would any other attempts for east coast "private" resorts.

Though the truth be told, if one has to choose if one need to give up one in order to afford the other, private clubs are probably not for you.

 

[RachelV]

I just stumbled across this article about the Yellowstone Club in the new york times:
https://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/realestate/greathomes/11yellowstone.html?pagewanted=all

They're building a FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND square foot house there:
"The 53,000-square-foot complex, called the Pinnacle, will have enough underground parking for 20 S.U.V.’s, a heliport and ice-skating rink and, at $155 million, could be the most expensive home for sale in the world."

...

That is CRAZY. Though if any of you feel like buying it and inviting me over, I probably wouldn't object. ;)

 

[ski diva]

Last I heard, back in January the Haystack Club laid off all its sales staff, and the condos that'd been built (all four) hadn't been sold. So I'm not sure what the current status is. Anyone know?

I was pretty sure I'd heard something about the fate of Haystack. Just stumbled across an article about it here. Looks like I was pretty much on the mark.

 

[altagirl]

Well, the idea is, a private ski club OUT WEST! ;)

That may explain why Haystack couldn't work, nor would any other attempts for east coast "private" resorts.

Though the truth be told, if one has to choose if one need to give up one in order to afford the other, private clubs are probably not for you.

No kidding! Membership fees for the Yellowstone club vary from 4 million to 10 million PLUS annual dues. If you can write a check for 4 million to go skiing... PLUS buy a house there, you're not exactly worried about whether you'd have money left over to travel.

 

[Pequenita]

Wow. Never heard of private ski areas before, but I like!


Anyone want to join in a heist with me to finance my, er, I mean, our memberships? ;)