Even for the most recession-weary, those who love to ski and wait for the first flakes to fall still head for the hills, especially when they”™re packed solid with glistening white trails.
Belleayre Ski Park in Ulster”™s town of Highmount, state-owned and operated by the New York State Department of Conservation, may have not been inundated by the storms that hit the lower Hudson region earlier this year, but with 140 inches of base, it”™s a skier”™s delight ”“ and with revenues of more than $4 million for the 2010-11 ski season, the state”™s ski resort is keeping the local economy pumping.
“The recession hasn”™t hurt us as much as others because this is a niche for area skiers. We”™ve averaged about 165,000 people so far, but hope to hit 175,000 before the season ends in mid-April,” said Tony Lanza, superintendent of the park for the last 14 years.
“I know that for every person who comes to ski here, it”™s producing revenue in our local economy,” he said. That”™s important, especially since Albany”™s budget crisis has made many New Yorkers spend disposable income gingerly. Prices at the gas pump have not helped, either, but skiers aren”™t daunted, particularly since Belleayre offers many specials and discounts to keep its appeal in high gear.
“We open in November and continue through the second or third week of April,” said Lanza. “After the ski season”™s over, we have an incredible concert series that”™s been ongoing for 20 years, a beach and park that we run, and we promote mountain biking and primitive camping. We do our own construction, so we stay pretty busy year round.” Belleayre employs 349 full-time seasonal workers and 60 year-round personnel.
“We continue to make modest investments as far as the upkeep,” Lanza said. “The proposed development by Dean Gitter would have seen substantial development at Belleayre, but right now, none of that is happening. It”™s an ongoing process, to the best of my knowledge. We really have nothing to do with that.”
Gitter”™s plan to build a mountaintop resort adjacent to the ski area drew considerable ire and some applause and was heavily backed by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer until he resigned. Then, the Crash of 2008 knocked the wind out of many developers”™ sails, including Gitter”™s, who is owner/partner of Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper.
How Belleayre will be affected by the state”™s 2011-12 budget remains to be seen, Lanza said. “We don”™t have a budget yet and there are still many negotiations going on, but I have had no indications that Belleayre will be negatively affected. …like everyone else, we will wait and see what Albany delivers when the budget process is completed.”
Ulster Tourism is touting the ski center”™s positives. Rick Remsynder, UC Tourism”™s director, said in a statement Belleayre”™s economic impact can be seen in the number of people in the streets and shops in Ulster.
“Belleayre is just two hours and 58 minutes from midtown Manhattan. People come to see the constitutionally protected forest reserve. When you”™re looking at the mountain, you”™re looking at wilderness and people love that. You”™re not looking at thousands of condos. This is natural, scenic beauty. For this type of experience, you”™d have to go to Wyoming or someplace rural out west. People enjoy our mammoth wood-burning fireplaces and our rustic log cabin lodge.”
If the rest of the region”™s populace  is weary from snow, ice, slippery roads  and missed school days, Lanza and his staff are not among them. “We had 25,000 people visit here the last week of February. … we are hoping to break our 2008-2009 season record of 181,509 skiers.”
