Cafeteria at Lincoln Peak

[TimKeogh]

What is it I love about the base lodge at Mt Ellen so much? Why has the full might of the new Gatehouse lodge failed to suprass that?

There is plenty of room to eat, attendant bartenders & wait staff, a nice sunny deck.

And the nachos are awesome!

I hope the ambiance there never changes

[asland]

I actually do love to ski at Mt Ellan and the lodge there does lots of character. Sitting in front of the fire and out on the deck are two of my favorite memories of skiing

but...

It seems like having to change where I want to ski because the new lodge is jammed is not really a great option. I like Lincoln peak and want to bring my family there. Do I really have to drop big money at the restaurant just to get a little elbow room. All I’m saying is they put all this money into a new building and ended up with a worse scenario than they previously had.

It doen't make sense.

[Tin Woodsman]

I actually do love to ski at Mt Ellan and the lodge there does lots of character. Sitting in front of the fire and out on the deck are two of my favorite memories of skiing

but...

It seems like having to change where I want to ski because the new lodge is jammed is not really a great option. I like Lincoln peak and want to bring my family there. Do I really have to drop big money at the restaurant just to get a little elbow room. All I’m saying is they put all this money into a new building and ended up with a worse scenario than they previously had.

It doen't make sense.

What he said.

[aejkb]

Ditto about the cafeteria. I hope that some more thought goes into this summer's construction projects. It would seem to me that Valley House provides an important relief/alternative from the lunch crowds (on Sat. especially) and should not be torn down. Off the top of my head, i think that the Castlerock pub could expand into the retail space and the retail space should be moved to a new building elsewhere. The only solution to the debacle that is the changing/locker room is to locate it elsewhere. The attached sprung structure and the old Gate house was better than what they have now. and you dont need to tell me about capacity numbers or vaulted ceiling square footage; it looks nicer but it aint better. BTW, does anyone know if the architect for Gate House Lodge was the same for Clay Brook? IMHO the exterior of the lodge looks way better(beautiful even) than Clay Brook, though the inside of the Gate house has too many screw ups to be considered a successful design. I am not going to mention the big red Elephant in the room, because other than the initial visual shock it doesnt affect my life.

[Tin Woodsman]

Ultimately, they really, really need to get the new Guest Services Lodge right, or there will be big trouble in Bushville. It has to include a sufficiently compelling and sizable cafeteria to induce all users of that facility to use it, and thereby not use the main Gate House Lodge cafeteria. If the racers, ski schoolers, nursery schoolers, Blazers, Bears, etc... and perhaps even their parents (now there's a novel idea - parents of ski schoolers being able to join their kids for lunch, if the kids will want to be seen with them), then you create all sorts of extra space at the GH lodge, no?

If they blow it, and the VH lodge is but a distant memory, then they'll have real problems dwarfing anything we've seen this year - I don't care how many people can allegedly/theoretically fit into GH, CR Pub, and Timbers. They've got to do better.

Make it so, Win. Make it so.

[gottdogg]

Nothing better than a burger and couple of beers after a hard day of skiing. Scrap the deli and serve burgers, wings, etc. At least fire up a grill outside on the patio that gets used every third weekend or so.

[ski_resort_observer]

Another great "pizza/movie night" at Gatehouse tonight. Parents and kids were amazed at how great the pizza was. We pumped out over 25 pizza's in the kitchen. The food has improved 100% over the slightly smaller and very smelly former Gatehouse Lodge. A great time was had by all.

[Lostone]

Every third week or so might change as we start getting warmer.

Why do I suggest this?

1) I've been here before.

B) Coming out of the lodge a little after noon, today, I glanced down at the patio and was a little surprised to see it was packed.

[random_ski_guy]

Ultimately, they really, really need to get the new Guest Services Lodge right, or there will be big trouble in Bushville. It has to include a sufficiently compelling and sizable cafeteria to induce all users of that facility to use it, and thereby not use the main Gate House Lodge cafeteria. If the racers, ski schoolers, nursery schoolers, Blazers, Bears, etc... and perhaps even their parents (now there's a novel idea - parents of ski schoolers being able to join their kids for lunch, if the kids will want to be seen with them), then you create all sorts of extra space at the GH lodge, no?

If they blow it, and the VH lodge is but a distant memory, then they'll have real problems dwarfing anything we've seen this year - I don't care how many people can allegedly/theoretically fit into GH, CR Pub, and Timbers. They've got to do better.

Make it so, Win. Make it so.

Indeed the presure is on to correct the shortcomings of the current situation in the new guest services building. And because of this, I was dissappointed to read this winter that the proposed building has gotten a little smaller. I'd rather hear that its getting bigger.

Moving the retail shop to the new building could help a little. That space could add to the changing area space or used as more seating for the CR Pub. Perhaps as an overflow room for the pub.

Also, I was looking at the patio tucked between the rock wall and the CR Pub to the south of the building. What about installing a cavanas tent over this space for Nov-March 1st that gets pulled back for March and April skiing. The tent's not perfect, but with the right execution it might work. Under the tent (think large high quality tent) you could have another bar (the "ice bar") and space heaters. With enough body heat it might work for all but the coldest days (less than 10 degrees out might kill it).

[Tin Woodsman]

Indeed the presure is on to correct the shortcomings of the current situation in the new guest services building. And because of this, I was dissappointed to read this winter that the proposed building has gotten a little smaller. I'd rather hear that its getting bigger.

Moving the retail shop to the new building could help a little. That space could add to the changing area space or used as more seating for the CR Pub. Perhaps as an overflow room for the pub.

Also, I was looking at the patio tucked between the rock wall and the CR Pub to the south of the building. What about installing a cavanas tent over this space for Nov-March 1st that gets pulled back for March and April skiing. The tent's not perfect, but with the right execution it might work. Under the tent (think large high quality tent) you could have another bar (the "ice bar") and space heaters. With enough body heat it might work for all but the coldest days (less than 10 degrees out might kill it).

Couldn't agree more on the south patio - I've advocated expanding the whole lodge southward into that space many times, though your solution is probably much cheaper and more realistic. The retail shop idea is new. It's too bad that it's an island of space, across the wide hall from .....well, everything.

[ski_resort_observer]

Indeed the presure is on to correct the shortcomings of the current situation in the new guest services building. And because of this, I was dissappointed to read this winter that the proposed building has gotten a little smaller. I'd rather hear that its getting bigger.

Moving the retail shop to the new building could help a little. That space could add to the changing area space or used as more seating for the CR Pub. Perhaps as an overflow room for the pub.

Also, I was looking at the patio tucked between the rock wall and the CR Pub to the south of the building. What about installing a cavanas tent over this space for Nov-March 1st that gets pulled back for March and April skiing. The tent's not perfect, but with the right execution it might work. Under the tent (think large high quality tent) you could have another bar (the "ice bar") and space heaters. With enough body heat it might work for all but the coldest days (less than 10 degrees out might kill it).

Couldn't agree more on the south patio - I've advocated expanding the whole lodge southward into that space many times, though your solution is probably much cheaper and more realistic. The retail shop idea is new. It's too bad that it's an island of space, across the wide hall from .....well, everything.

Tin - a couple of months ago you posted that you felt the new LP base area developement was too large, it totally ruined the "vibe" of LP. Now you want to make it larger...please explain.

[Tin Woodsman]

Tin - a couple of months ago you posted that you felt the new LP base area developement was too large, it totally ruined the "vibe" of LP. Now you want to make it larger...please explain.

I guess you're joking, given the smiley. In case you're not, I think I said that Clay Brook was too large and that the new lodge was somewhat antiseptic and lacking in vibe. I've been saying for quite some time that the GH lodge is too small.

[MntMan4Bush]

To build on SRO's idea instead of a tent how about a hard plastic bubble. Almost like a greenhouse, but they make them of hard clear plastic as opposed to the soft walls normally associated with greenhouses. The top would be slightly slanted to allow snow/r word run off and extend out over the current patio. The current space heaters would definietly keep it warm enough. Then during the spring it could be taken down opening up the outdoor patio and put into storage until the following ski season. I know I've seen them used as sun room extensions off of houses and it would look a bit nicer than a tent.

I don't think that using the current Retail store as overflow for CR will work because there's no bar in there and I can imagine the service wouldn't be great, plus you'll feel completely cut off. You'd basically have to throw up one wall and knock down another to connect the two.

[thinksnow]

To build on SRO's idea instead of a tent how about a hard plastic bubble. Almost like a greenhouse, but they make them of hard clear plastic as opposed to the soft walls normally associated with greenhouses. The top would be slightly slanted to allow snow/r word run off and extend out over the current patio. The current space heaters would definietly keep it warm enough. Then during the spring it could be taken down opening up the outdoor patio and put into storage until the following ski season. I know I've seen them used as sun room extensions off of houses and it would look a bit nicer than a tent.

I don't think that using the current Retail store as overflow for CR will work because there's no bar in there and I can imagine the service wouldn't be great, plus you'll feel completely cut off. You'd basically have to throw up one wall and knock down another to connect the two.

It's a shame that all this thought didn't go into the original "master plan" (do I hear evil laughter??) as per Win.

[ski_resort_observer]

They recently opened a greenhouse in Maine to supply the regional demand for fresh tomatoes all yearround. It's footprint inside equals 25, that's right folks, 25 acres. Are we crazy or crazy like Nostradamus... http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive...D8N0TJ502.html