SB's Attractiveness to Families vs. Singles

[HowieT2]

I was a 4 time seasonal renter back in the late '80s as a single guy. I am still here....but now I'm 47, I own a South Village condo, and I have 2 kids 8 and 13.

Back in the late 80s it was a lot of fun for singles. We always had a beer or two in the base lodge after skiing. There were kids everywhere, parents, grandparents, all crowded in with the boots, bags, trays, whatever. It was part of the fun. Later in the evening after supper we would go out to Mooselips (now Local Folk), right across the street was Gallaghers (Smurfs!), and the Blue Tooth (free soup) up on the Mt road. Big bars, bands, crowds...really a lot of fun to be had all over. All 3 places were busy late into the evening. It is definitely a little boring now, even for a 47 year old dad like me. Reviving that part of the Sugarbush experience would not be a negative to me in any way.

Welcome to the board.

I think the issue is more with the paucity of singles than the availability of venues. Since I've been out of that demographic for so long, I couldnt even guess at the real reason, but perhaps SB and or the MRV could do more in terms of marketing to that segment. like cheap condo deals during winter/spring break for college kids, facebook ads, etc.

[Xskier]

That said, there's probably a place for a Wobbly Barn/Pickle Barrel/Matterhorn (are these places still operating?) venue in the MRV. I'm not sure that the Local Folk or the Slide Brook fills the niche. (Did the Warren House fill the bill years ago? I was up a coupla weekends ago and saw for sale signs there - somebody's trying to develop it into vacation properties?) Having one such nightspot would not spell disaster for the MRV and might move SB towards the middle on my loosely defined scale.

I don't mean to talk out of both sides of my mouth - I like the low key MRV vibe, but I don't think it would be ruined by a place that would be attractive to singles in their 20s and 30s.

Its funny you said that, I've always said that all Sugarbush needs is a Rusty Nail. A place that is big enough that if you want music you can listen to music or play some pool where its not deafining loud.. We just need one big place to go that caters to several crowds. When Gallaghers closed it was a huge blow to the valley. In the late 90's the music was great. They brought some bands up from boston who were awesome always had music that catered more to the city folk. I love the detonators and blue grass but sometimes you need to go a little more main stream on the music to attrack a diverse crowd.. The tooth was a loss too but Galaghers was huge and I know it would still be going strong if the owner Steve didn't kill the place..

[Hrdstrt]

There is a little revisionist history in this thread and that's OK, we always like to remember the good things.
Some of the things discouraging night life now, is the valley's perception of stiff law enforcement. For quite a while the places that had the night life were complaining that they were being unfairly targeted. A few folks have tried to carry the torch but there aren't very many facilities in the valley that are really suited to the task to do something like the rusty nail. For example, Egan's/Gag's has a horrible parking situation, Smokehouse is similar, but a little better. The phoenix was a little better in that you have the village lot available plus the shuttle route, unfortunately, it's out of site and out of mind. The tooth was the same way, not much by way of parking.

I think it would be a tough sell to convince anyone to build a new facility. I don't think there is enough year round traffic to support it. Many of the younger folks like the scene in Waterbury and Burlington. There just ins't the population base to support it 90% of the time. At this point, I don't think it's a case of build it and they will come either. Part of the valley's charm are all the little hole's in the wall. Small, intimate places that make you feel like a local whether you are or not.

I would wager that for the over 35 crowd, night life is a low priority, regardless of the resort town you pick. While you may want to relive your glory days once in a while, I don't envision it happening as much as everyone would like to think. That leaves the young people to carry the torch. Many of them are likely employed by the resort. Unlike a decade ago, it's pretty rare for a young single employee to call the valley home, it's just not affordable. Many commute in from the surround areas, like waterbury, Mont, Barre, and Northfield. No reason to go out here in the valley when they can go out stumbling distance from their apartments in the surround towns.

[noski]

There is a little revisionist history in this thread and that's OK, we always like to remember the good things.
Some of the things discouraging night life now, is the valley's perception of stiff law enforcement. For quite a while the places that had the night life were complaining that they were being unfairly targeted. A few folks have tried to carry the torch but there aren't very many facilities in the valley that are really suited to the task to do something like the rusty nail. For example, Egan's/Gag's has a horrible parking situation, Smokehouse is similar, but a little better. The phoenix was a little better in that you have the village lot available plus the shuttle route, unfortunately, it's out of site and out of mind. The tooth was the same way, not much by way of parking.

I think it would be a tough sell to convince anyone to build a new facility. I don't think there is enough year round traffic to support it. Many of the younger folks like the scene in Waterbury and Burlington. There just ins't the population base to support it 90% of the time. At this point, I don't think it's a case of build it and they will come either. Part of the valley's charm are all the little hole's in the wall. Small, intimate places that make you feel like a local whether you are or not.

I would wager that for the over 35 crowd, night life is a low priority, regardless of the resort town you pick. While you may want to relive your glory days once in a while, I don't envision it happening as much as everyone would like to think. That leaves the young people to carry the torch. Many of them are likely employed by the resort. Unlike a decade ago, it's pretty rare for a young single employee to call the valley home, it's just not affordable. Many commute in from the surround areas, like waterbury, Mont, Barre, and Northfield. No reason to go out here in the valley when they can go out stumbling distance from their apartments in the surround towns.

Your first post to the boards is one containing sound and realistic observations. Personally, I enjoy local theater and local music (i.e. Mr. noski at Purple Moon Pub this Sunday night, Phineas Gage this w/e at SB and Big Pic, etc) in the smaller venues. There is alot of talent in this cultured valley of ours. Welcome, Hrdstrt!

[ski_resort_observer]

Eagan's Big World Grille is going on the auction block, buy it, name it Gallaghers and you just reversed history 15 years.

[Xskier]

Well my group is all over 35 and we still love to go out one night each weekend. My house is still less than half full and finding new members is tough because there is lots of competition from the other houses that apparently are not full this year either. I am sad to say that my house will be going on the market in the spring. Time to try something else on my winter weekends. I really liked the Bethel Area when I was there last weekend and that golf course rocks!! Or maybe i will join someone else's house, but one thing is sure I won't be bringing 18+ people to the mountain on a regular basis this year or ever again for that matter.

[random_ski_guy]

I feel like all the singles have brought their night life spirit to the CT casino scene (or other casinos). I am talking about those singles who might ski 3 times a year, two of which times would be crashing at ski house, spending more time partying it up at night and skiing little during the day. What motivated these people was the both the snow and the nightlife. Now the ski nightlife has become too inconsistent and moreover, a fun winter's nightlife can be found much closer at the casino scene.

I am not endorsing the casino way, its certainly not my taste. I am just looking at people I know and the choices they make when they hit the road for a two nights away in the middle of the winter.

[Benski]

I feel like all the singles have brought their night life spirit to the CT casino scene (or other casinos). I am talking about those singles who might ski 3 times a year, two of which times would be crashing at ski house, spending more time partying it up at night and skiing little during the day. What motivated these people was the both the snow and the nightlife. Now the ski nightlife has become too inconsistent and moreover, a fun winter's nightlife can be found much closer at the casino scene.

I am not endorsing the casino way, its certainly not my taste. I am just looking at people I know and the choices they make when they hit the road for a two nights away in the middle of the winter.

That's an interesting observation. The casinos offer cheap rooms to get people in the door and spending money. The cruise industry does the same thing. I don't get either. But I have a sister who does both and loves it. Those are two major competitors which barely existed 25 years ago.

[random_ski_guy]

Benski, yeah its weird to think that ski areas compete with casinos, but they do in a rather indirect way. Needless to say, there is an abundance of options with your entertainment dollars these days.

[gostan]

I was watching the news over the weekend and saw a report that 85% of graduating college students are moving home with Mom & Dad. Pretty tough to join a ski house today in this type of job environment. Although, there may be lots more openings for "ski bums".