Trends – The Knowledge Path

Before we get to the early snow, the new businesses, the zipping skiers and beaming boarders at Mammoth Lakes, let’s remember how bad things have been this year for this corner of the Eastern Sierra.

How bad was it?

Scant Snow In The 2011-12 Season Shuttering Of Its June Mountain

First, Mother Nature delivered scant snow in the 2011-12 season, driving tourism down just as the larger economy seemed to be recovering. Then in June, management at Mammoth Mountain, the resort that dominates the town, trimmed staff, cut salaries and announced the shuttering of its June Mountain ski operation — a painful blow to the tiny mountain community of June Lake, 20 miles north of Mammoth.

Financial Hardships

Mammoth Lakes Declared Bankruptcy

Oh, and in July the town of Mammoth Lakes declared bankruptcy after it lost a breach-of-contract lawsuit. Recovery, town officials said, would depend on layoffs, pay cuts and a plan to make debt payments of $2 million a year for 23 years.

June Lake Local Businesses Are Doing Without

These have been hard times, especially in June Lake, where local businesses are doing without their own ski mountain for the first time in decades.

Deals to bring skiers and boarders back for new season

Westin Monache Resort Mammoth

Westin Monache Resort Mammoth, 50 Hillside Drive, Mammoth Lakes; (760) 934-0400, http://www.westinmammoth.com. Some 230 rooms (all with kitchenettes) in contemporary style, with Whitebark restaurant downstairs. Winter rates $299-$599 for most rooms, more during peak time.

Village Lodge

Village Lodge, 1111 Forest Trail, Mammoth Lakes; (800) 626-6684, http://www.thevillagelodgemammoth.com. Vacation condos. Winter rates $289-$669 for a one-bedroom condo, plus $20-a-night resort fee.

Swiss Chalet Bed & Breakfast Inn

Swiss Chalet Bed & Breakfast Inn, 101 Hill Street, Mammoth Lakes; (760) 914-3452, http://www.swisschalet-mammoth.com. Opened this summer, the inn has two rooms with private baths in a modern log home with a spacious great room, picture windows and a deck with whirlpool. Winter rates typically $200-$275.

Mammoth Mountain Inn

Mammoth Mountain Inn, 10001 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes; (800) 626-6684, http://www.themammothmountaininn.com. A short walk from the lift lines, but gets mixed marks on TripAdvisor. Some 217 rooms. Winter rates $129-$398

Our second profile glance picked up some of changes to Mammoth’s community.

Profile At-A-Glance (Winter 2013-2014)

Life Stages: Singles, Families, Baby Boomers, Empty Nests

Ages: 25-54, 35-54, 55+

Community Neighbors:

Wireless Resorters

Premier Resorts – WRPR

20F2T1, Fast-Track Families, 35-54, Families, Young Accumulators, Landed Gentry, WRPR Premier Resorts, Wireless Resorters

Maturing Resorts — WRMR

23Y2T2, Greenbelt Sports, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters

28M2T2, Traditional Times, Empty Nests, 55+, Couples, Conservative Classics, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters

32F3T2, New Homesteaders, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters

33F3T2, Big Sky Families, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters

By Winter of 2013 -2014 the first Premier Resort lifestyle segment flew into the scene – midlife families on the fast-track taking advantage of the real estate deals.

Two of the WRMR – Maturing Resort – lifestyles, 55+ age Empty Nests and Mainstream Families depart.

But, another Mainstream Family, age 25-54, moves in.

In 2008 Mammoth said goodbye to the younger 20-29 Millennials.

Now, two Baby Boomer lifestyles fly away.

The first, 32F3T2 families, like in South Lake Tahoe, disappear from all the California, Nevada and Colorado mountain towns we visited.

But, the second, 28M2T2 Empty Nesters, show up in almost all of the those towns surrounding Lake Tahoe.

As well as in these Colorado towns:

And, then in California:

Tahoe City,
LonePine, and
Bishop / Swall Meadows.

Like snow flurries that fall and don’t stick, at the end of the season in spring, Mammoth said hello and then goodbye to its only Premier Resort, Fast Track family lifestyle.

They, the 35-54 year old Young Accumulators (20F2T1), moved on to Olympic Valley – Squaw Valley.

Reading some of the 2013 headlines, in hindsight, you can notice some new opportunities and something positive was in the air.

Were things returning to normal?

Three seasons of highlights and headlines provide some clues.

Highlights and Headlines

5-Year Time Frames 2009 — 2014

Spring 2013

Extending Spring Snow Conditions

Tons Of Snow And Will Be Open Through Memorial Day

But not to worry, the resort has tons of snow and will be open through Memorial Day; In the meantime, it’s using those balmy temperatures as part of this quirky lodging deal:

Thriving in Lifestyle Businesses

Howard Sheckter, The Weather Sage Of The Eastern Sierra

A hailstorm ignited Howard Sheckter’s obsession with the elements. For three decades, the real estate agent has doubled as the weather sage of the eastern Sierra.

Range in Temperatures

Daily High Temperature At Main Lodge

Officials said the daily high temperature is based on the high temperature at Main Lodge recorded on the ski patrol website. To book, go to mammothmountain.com/VacationPlanning/Deals/.

Deals and Incentives

Discounts For Two Or More Nights

If you stay two or more nights at Mammoth from Saturday to May 23, you will receive a nightly discount based on the high temperature for the previous day. That means if it’s 50 degrees, you’ll get a $100 discount upon checkout for your two-day stay.

Summer 2013

June Mountain Season Passes https://www.junemountain.com/winter/plan-a-vacation/plan-a-vacation/deals-packages

Open for Family Fun

Reopening Of June Mountain In Winter

This coming season also marks the reopening of June Mountain, the family friendly neighbor that closed last season. At Mammoth, meanwhile, Unbound Playgrounds and Adventure Zones, which offer a go-slow introduction to terrain parks for beginners and children, will have some additional interactive elements this winter.

Water Rights Settlement

LADWP Drops Two Lawsuits For $5.8 Million

In return for $5.8 million, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power drops two lawsuits. Each agrees not to challenge the other’s water rights.

Snowboarding Training and Contests

U.S. Olympians Training Ground

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Assn. has chosen Mammoth Mountain as an official training ground for U.S. Olympians in freeskiing and snowboarding. Mammoth Mountain, celebrating its 60th season this year, will help them prepare for upcoming Winter games in Sochi, Russia, which start in early February.

Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix

Around since the late ’90s, freeskiing involves jumps and tricks on terrain park features usually reserved for snowboarders. Additionally, the 2014 snowboarding team for halfpipe will be announced at Mammoth during the final Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Jan. 18 and 19.

Fall 2013

Fall Colors in Creeks and Canyons

Quick Trip To Mammoth For Brilliant Fall Colors

California: Near Mammoth, fall color starts to creep in. Don’t believe California has fall color? Neither did a Vermont friend, so I took her on a quick trip to Mammoth last year so she could see for herself. She was surprised.

Rock Creek May Be At Its Brilliant Best This Weekend

Timing and elevation are everything, of course, so if you’re planning a trip this year, know that colors are beginning to appear at higher elevations. In fact, Rock Creek may be at its brilliant best this weekend.

Lundy Canyon, Bishop Creek and Rock Creek Canyon

From our trip last year, here’s what we saw along with some early color reports from this month. Just north of Lee Vining is Lundy Canyon, identified by California’s Eastern Sierra Color Guide and Map as one of the best places to see color (we also chose Bishop Creek and Rock Creek Canyon).

Waterfalls And Trails, Vistas And Forests

None of the drives was more than about 40 minutes from Mammoth. Lundy Canyon and Lake is beautiful any time of year, with waterfalls and trails, vistas and forests, but fall is special.

Color Has Now Descended To The 7,000 Feet In Elevation

Color spotter Christie Osborne reports in CaliforniaFallColor.com that color has now descended to the 7,000 feet in elevation and is approaching full peak at Mammoth Lakes, five hours away from L.A.

60s Daytime Temps Nights In The 20s And 30s

Poimiroo says daytime temps have been in the 60s with no wind. Nights remain cool in the 20s and 30s, providing optimal conditions for fall colors to intensify. The canyon roads west of Mammoth are always aflame in October, and the June Lake Loop is a can’t-miss destination.

Deer Spotting

Feeding Deer at June Lake, Past Village, Down Along Silver Lake

Best June Lake stretch is just past the village and down along Silver Lake, where tunnels of aspen line the road and deer come out to feed just before dusk. Bring a book, a camera, a camp chair and something to sip. Leave the rest to Mother Nature.

Steps:

25) Compare what “life” was like in those communities before the Great Recession, how resilient each was during the economic downturn, and to what degree did each bounce back after with any “economic hangover.”

28) Which lifestyles profiled in the western resort towns during 2008 – 2009 remained five years later in 2013-2014? Which disappeared entirely? Why? Which new lifestyles emerged, grew or moved in to shift the neighborhood mix? Have longtime locals been forced out by escalating property

30) Review headlines and relevant news as far back as you can find online to surface each community’s unique pulse and identify information necessary to make your decision. Is there a “ticking time bomb” issue you may uncover that eliminates the resort from your bucket list? Search on topix.com.

August 17, 2018February 27, 2019

Chains that Bind – Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and No Snow

It verified the drip, drip, of snow melting and sliding off brown wood shingles would not turn into ice cycles any time soon.

But one year, the highway patrol flagged you down at a blinking yellow light to check out your chains with one of those abnormally long flashlights they always carry.

An excerpt from Book Five in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams in the Sierra Mountain resorts.

Part One: Mammoth

Part Two: What Was Mammoth Like Before the Great Recession?

5-Year Time Frames

2009-2014

By the fall of 2010, with the help of local business owners, the Village had seen a resurgence of new restaurants and stores.

But, if you and the Swall Meadows family had Googled “Mammoth Real Estate Market” in 2011, you would have come across links to realtor blogs discussing foreclosures and distressed properties.

In August Jeff Warwick reported on the sales of bank-owned (REOs), foreclosures, pre-foreclosures and short sales.

Of all those closed 2011 sales, 89 of them were distressed (REO’s or Short Sale) transactions.
43.4% of all 2011 fell into the distressed real estate category.
He pointed out that only 5% of the listings are distressed, but 43% of closed sales are distressed.
And nearly 1/3 of all closed sales were cash buyers — a market indicator that the investor-buyer accounted for a stronger component.

Wikipedia picks up the story thread:

The California Court of Appeal, Third District, affirmed the judgment in December 2010, and the California Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal on March 23, 2011.

On Monday July 2, 2012, Mammoth Lakes filed for bankruptcy in the face of the judgement.

Later the same year, the bankruptcy was dismissed as a result of a settlement between the town and their largest creditor.

Having guessed right all those years, maybe we were due for a Thanksgiving-like winter in February of 2012.

Bad news for the rest of the family, but not so bad for me because I hadn’t fully recovered from my skiing accident surgery.

Sure, I’m easy with solitude, but even I can catch cabin fever.

Upstairs there’s a loft between the third bedroom and second bathroom.

Where the bunk beds accommodate the younger and single family members

Usually you can look directly out through the top window across from the bunk beds to see snow laden fir trees giving way to streams of snow blowing off the mountain peak.

Only this year, not so much.

Yes, lots of snow packed the upper third of the mountain.

But in town not so much.

Even the black pavement, often treacherous at night with black ice patches, dried to gray.

There’s a huge round thermometer in the glassed in porch overlooking the hot tub where we dip into a winters supply of firewood,.

It verified the drip, drip, of snow melting and sliding off brown wood shingles would not turn into ice cycles any time soon.

You couldn’t grab the green disc or red plastic sled out of the closet to slide in the deep snow on the two stage slope along the side of the condo complex.

Well you could, but you wouldn’t make much progress.

Unless you slid a foot, hopped up and ran to the next patch sat with your feet and knees pulled up for the next two feet, and so on and so on.

But the lack of deep snow meant one thing.

Another off road adventure exploring the area on the opposite side of the turnoff to Mammoth Lakes.

We backtracked on Meridian Blvd to where it dumped into CA 203 (or Main Street in town) turned right and drove to US 395 intersection.

In years past we collectively held our breath, arriving near or past midnight in our SUV at that intersection.

During a normal snow season roadside signs told you you needed to put on your chains before you could climb the final hill into the town and your condo.

We wanted to take our chances each time.

But one year, the highway patrol flagged you down at a blinking yellow light to check out your chains with one of those abnormally long flashlights they always carry.

Reluctantly I flipped open the hatchback.

Grabbed some gloves and a flashlight.

Pulled out the rear tire chains and fumbled for 45 minutes fastening them.

Not noticing that the blinking yellow check point closed.

Oh well.

Other years, having learned from my ordeal, we’d shell out the going rate to locals for installing our chains, while we stayed warm inside listening to the final songs on our road trip playlist.

But enough about that.

Part Four: Stuck in the Middle with You

Steps:

July 25, 2018December 30, 2018

Mammoth

To top it all off for the winter 1976 – 1977 ski season Mother Nature decided to dump only 94 inches making the disaster the worst in Mammoth’s history.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area was sold to Starwood Capital Group in a deal that valued Mammoth at $365 million- a far cry from the $135,000 he borrowed in 1953 to build the first lift.

An excerpt from Book Five in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams in the Sierra Mountain resorts.

If the Swall Valley family needed to relocate, either temporarily or permanently, after the Round Valley Fire, and they chose Mammoth then their commute to the school district would be closer and less expensive.

Like the Swall Valley community the Mammoth Mountain Ski area and town of Mammoth Lakes, since the 1940s, suffered their share of economic, prolonged climate and seasonal weather-related setbacks too.

Establishing Mammoth Mountain as a growing ski area wasn’t easy for Dave McCoy when he switched from McGee Mountain in 1941.

At the end of the 1950s his entrepreneurial burning desire was almost snuffed out by a drought.

Roughly a dozen years later the Southern California economy almost collapsed with a spike in gas prices triggered by the 1973 oil crisis.

Drivers who had to fill up at much higher fuel prices, but only on odd or even days of the week, weren’t about to risk getting stuck somewhere along US 395.

To top it all off for the winter 1976 – 1977 ski season Mother Nature decided to dump only 94 inches making the disaster the worst in Mammoth’s history.

But, in the ‘90s Alpha Airlines flew resorters from LA to the small Mammoth Airport you drive past on US 395.

In the mid- to late- ‘90s investors wanted a piece of McCoy’s dream.

Here’s how Wikipedia described the time

In January 1996, Intrawest Corporation and Mammoth Mountain Ski area announced that Intrawest Corporation had purchased 33% of Mammoth and June Mountain ski operations, as well as all of the developable real estate owned by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

In 1998, Intrawest increased their partnership interest to 58%.

5-Year Time Frame 2003-2008

When the new millennium began in the Eastern Sierra’s times were better.

Horizon Airlines offered service round trip between Mammoth and Los Angeles and the Bay Area and Reno.

Not just for winter holidays, but for all four seasons too.

The Swall family completed their sustainable, forever home and hadn’t volunteered for a financial make over yet.

The Malibu fire hadn’t forced Scott Palamar from the mountains to Owens Valley yet.

The Great Recession hadn’t dashed the hopes of millions yet.

With Intrawest’s investment, McCoy realized a significant portion of his dream.

The development of three new village areas: The Village at Mammoth, Sierra Star, and Juniper Springs, has brought new developments to the resort.

The Village at Mammoth, a European-style and pedestrian-only complex, was built in a style similar to other Intrawest properties, such as Whistler or Keystone.

The Village opened in 2003 with various stores, restaurants, galleries and 166 luxury condominiums.

The 15-passenger Village Gondola, which departs from the Village, transports skiers and snowboarders directly to the Canyon Lodge base.

By 2005 McCoy had designed, build and run the ski area for almost 70 years.

So, he decided to sell his stake in Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and announced it during the winter ski season in 2005.

Maybe he just wanted to enjoy skiing for a few more years without all the headaches and responsibilities he had shouldered for 68 years.

Or maybe his knee began bothering him.

Three years later he had a knee replacement.

Or maybe he wanted to take more time to enjoy his family.

As of 2008, he and Roma’s family numbered 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren according to Wikipedia.

At any rate, in the first week of October, 2005 Barry Sternlicht of the real estate private equity fund, Starwood Capital Group, bought McCoy’s ownership stake.

Wikipedia reported the details

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area was sold to Starwood Capital Group in a deal that valued Mammoth at $365 million- a far cry from the $135,000 he borrowed in 1953 to build the first lift.

Timing is everything.

Because of a poor economy in California, beginning in 2007, many of the stores and restaurants in The Village closed.

As the recession hit, the Town of Mammoth Lakes owed tens of millions of dollars for a deal that fell through.

Wikipedia says

In 2008, after a jury trial, the Mono County Superior Court entered a $43 million judgment against the Town of Mammoth Lakes for breach of a development agreement.

Part Two:

Steps:

24) Determine which maker or breaker community issues you will find across all resort communities vs. those unique only to the quality-of-life towns at the top of your best places list.

November 6, 2017December 30, 2018

Life After the Great Recession

“Local news for (fill in a town on your bucket list, or in your itinerary) continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.”

For couples and parents, you might find the following quote from city-data a deal breaker:

An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.

5-Year Time Frames — 2003 – 2008

Continuing with favorite Highlights and Headlines for the next five years.

5-Year Time Frames 2009 – 2014

Later in 2009 as the impact of the Great Recession begins to sink in …

Pagosa Springs Locals Resist Arts Cuts

No music festivals, no dance, no theater, no art galleries, no children’s programs, no singing, no film festivals, no sculpture, no debates in the newspaper about differing …

Winter 2009 – 2010

While other Colorado towns (Vail) lined up for economic stimulus money…

Winter Snow Scenes

Pierre Mion taught his popular Winter Watercolor Workshop featuring Pagosa area snow scenes, one of which was featured on the December page of the 2009 Pagosa Country Calendar.

Winter 2013 – 2014

Overlooked Family Bargains in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming –

Wolf Creek, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, most snow in Colorado.

$58 adult lift tickets, no lift lines. great food at the ski lodge. Great accommodations. Lots to do besides great skiing & great snowboarding. Hike, cross-country ski, snow shoe. horseback ride, sleigh ride, enjoy Pagosa Hot Springs, right downtown Pagosa. indoor heated olympic pool. Great restaurants, tequila, Bear Creek, JT’s, Chatos. Awesome grocery – City Market. miss ski season by 5 months for secret spot fly fishing, ride the Cumbres Toltec narrow gauge railroad, Red Ryder Rodeo every thursday night.

For regional coverage we’ve relied on Topix.com in the past.

“Local news for (fill in a town on your bucket list, or in your itinerary) continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.”

To test it out, search for your current hometown.

Notice and how current and complete the local items in the news are in your search results.

We set up RSS feeds for Topix towns, but soon discovered a major problem.

Like almost every other news outlet, local online papers rely on world and state news to fill their editions (that weren’t relevant).
AND, the vast majority of local stories centered on crime.

So we set up a variety of filters to screen out “jail,” “robbery,”” burglary,” and all the variations of those terms.

As a back up, you might want to try The Paperboy.com which claims they’ve got lists of 12,064 Online Newspapers & ePapers.

News feeds for Whitefish, Montana:

http://www.topix.com/city/-mt

http://www.pilot.com/ for the Pilot News – set up an RSS feed

For Pagosa Springs, Colorado:

http://www.topix.com/city/pagosa-springs-co

http://www.pagosasun.com/ Pagosa Springs Sun

And, finally if you’re serious about Pagosa Springs (or Whitefish so far), or about any other town on your growing bucket list, you’ll want to investigate the most comprehensive resource we’ve found – city-data.com.

In Depth Data for Cities and Towns Across the U.S.

Their detailed, statistical data often provide more information than you know what to do with.

They aggregate public records open and available to the public at large and periodically update their information based on the records that these agencies release.

They also encourage user-generated content.

Here’s the link for Pagosa Springs:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Pagosa-Springs-Colorado.html.

Updated Stats for Local Registered Sex Offenders

For couples and parents, you might find the following quote from city-data a deal breaker:

According to our research of Colorado and other state lists there were 24 registered sex offenders living in Pagosa Springs, Colorado as of April 20, 2015.

The ratio of number of residents in Pagosa Springs to the number of sex offenders is 71 to 1.

Steps:

September 19, 2017

Wild

“Colorado Wild works as a part of the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, a coalition conservation organizations dedicated to protecting Colorado’s public lands, air, water, and wildlife habitat.”

Ski Resorts Ranked from sucks to top of the class: Sun Valley, Copper Mountain, Aspen.

An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.

Purgatory captures the excitement of what skiing or snowboarding is all about in a local resort.

Now it is the Durango Mountain Resort.

And, you can check out the mountain and town by web cams around the clock.

Most would agree that Durango Mountain Resort isn’t in the same “destination league”as Aspen, Copper or Vail.

Which is probably why in the winter of 2007-2008 a note from the Vail Daily caught my eye.

“Vail isn’t the most environmentally friendly ski resort around, but it’s gradually improving, according to a report from the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition.”

The Ski Area Citizens Coalition released its eighth annual survey of environmental performance, finding that some ski areas are taking steps to reduce their impact and supporting broader environmental improvement measures.

The following fall, in November, report cards returned to my feeds (and season thereafter until the winter of 2013 – 2014 when it went on hiatus.)

Sun Valley Resort failed.

Copper Mountain ranked slightly above Sun Valley.

But Aspen Mountain received an “A” with a score of 85.7 out of 100.

Most volunteers and staff of SACC are skiers themselves, and recognize skiing as a valid use of public lands.

We also recognize that not all ski areas are the same when it comes to environmental protection.

So just who performs the rankings?

With a little digging I found out Colorado Wild operated out of Southwestern Colorado.

From a P.O. Box in Durango, Colorado.

Rocky Mountain Wild
1536 Wynkoop St, Ste 900
Denver, CO 80202
303-546-0214
info@rockymountainwild.org

Later, I’m not sure when or why the SACC moved to Lake Tahoe, California.

On our BOF bucket list, but coming up a little later.

Clearly they shared the same passions for wildness that author and fellow High Country Eagle Petersen does.

Colorado Wild works to protect, preserve, and restore the native plants and animals of the Southern Rocky Mountains with particular attention given to habitat protection of Colorado’s forested, roadless, public lands and other ecologically important areas.

They focused on threats to Colorado’s wild lands – primarily logging and industrial ski area development.

As an active part of the coalition, you’ll remember, they successfully challenged Texas billionaire Red McCombs.

His Wolf Creek Village and Piano Creek developments near Pagosa Springs.

Comprised of more than 800 concerned skiers, hikers, photographers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, Colorado Wild continues to fill a critical niche.

So how did Durango score?

For the 2007 – 2008 winter season Durango Mountain Resort received a passing grade (C) with a score of 63.7 out of 100 points possible.

But, more recently, they pulled up their grade to an “A” scoring 88%.

Colorado Wild works as a part of the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, a coalition conservation organizations dedicated to protecting Colorado’s public lands, air, water, and wildlife habitat.

During the intervening years, the Ski Area Citizens Scorecards graded all, if not most, of the ski areas across the western states.

Which may partially explain why the headquarters shifted to Lake Tahoe.

Steps:

(33) When you move, will your established neighbors share your same values? Does your new home have potential over the long-term to develop into a high appreciation real estate investment while being affordable for mid-life or empty nesters? Do the weather patterns in winter or summer make you want to live there year round, or only on a seasonal basis. Does your new community offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities?

September 13, 2017July 4, 2019

Development

“Does anyone out there remember when the city of Whitefish had culture? Reminisce beer barters in the streets? Can you recall dancing to music in the parks? Chili cook-offs? Is there any recollection of those …?”

Natural beauty or high-end development: Piano Creek Ranch, Wolf Creek Village, the Yellowstone Club and Tamarack Resort.

An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.

Like Rafael, not everybody living in a pristine resort at the innovation stage looks forward to development.

They fear that someone, usually from outside of their community, state or country will be tempted by the raw natural beauty and try to develop it into an exclusive, high-end resort destination.

“Wealthy Influentials” sense the breakout point possible in real estate from their own prior investment experiences.

Like the consortium behind the Piano Creek Ranch attempt near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, who hatched development plans between 1999 and 2000.

Or like Red McCombs in 2008, with his Wolf Creek Village surrounded by the Rio Grand National Forest in Colorado.

Or, like Bobby Ginn beginning to develop a private resort near Minturn, Colorado in 2004– aptly named Battle Mountain Resort — in Eagle County, home to Vail and Beaver Creek destination resorts.

Some destination resorts, home to “Wireless Resorters,” fell victim to the “Great Recession”.

Places in the pristine mountains of Montana, Utah and Idaho like the Yellowstone Club and Tamarack Resort from which the Bank of America reclaimed their ski lifts.

In Colorado, development weighed heavily on small innovation towns like Basalt.

Their town council in 2007 and 2008 crafted a land-use master plan with five scenarios unfolding over a decade.

In the summer of 2008 a long-time “High Country Eagle” citizen from Whitefish, Montana lamented:

“Does anyone out there remember when the city of Whitefish had culture? Reminisce beer barters in the streets? Can you recall dancing to music in the parks? Chili cook-offs? Is there any recollection of those …?”

Ah, the good old days.

The good old ways.

Some urban and suburban consumers may question inhumane food practices in the processing of chickens, pigs and calves purchased in our local markets for our kitchen table.

Neighbors may protest and city councils may ban chickens as pets in California’s “Wealthy Influential” Newport Beach, but not so much in other parts of California or Montana.

In the winter of 2008 the City Council thumbed their noses at the complaining newcomers by passing an ordinance that allowed hens as pets by a margin of 5-1.

During the summer of 2010 residents in Eastern Sierra town of Bishop, California tried to follow suit.

And, the heated arguments voiced in face-to-face town meetings boiled over to the Internet.

“It is obvious that you are a young, smart-a– who probably moved from LA to Mammoth, couldn’t afford to live there and ended up here.”

“I was born here. You’re obviously a hypocrite.”

“Go back to Metropolis, where superman protects you from all the big, scary and stinky farm animals.

Bishop will be ok without one more flatlander type.”

Steps:

(29) Investigate each community’s local attitude towards development. Is there a fear that someone, usually from outside of their community, state or country will be tempted by the raw natural beauty and try to develop it into an exclusive, high-end resort destination?

August 30, 2017September 5, 2017

Resort

Rafael told me on one of our earlier trips that they had grown tired of Hawaii, where they had run a restaurant for years.

“When is this real estate bubble going to pop?”

Words of wisdom from Harry Dent.

“Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while.”

From the days of the original beachfront resort – the Hotel Hacienda Beach Resort, in a sleepy little fishing village – the number of hotels rooms available has exploded.

In the 5 years prior to 2003 they almost doubled.

A clear sign back then that Cabo had passed the “Innovation” stage and entered the 10% to 25% breakout “Growth” phase.

It’s easy to see why, watching the sun setting, overlooking Medano Beach and the Sea of Cortez?

Or sitting at a bar table underneath the azure blue umbrella on the patio, steps away from the lower pool.

The word on the street estimated it would take 15 years before Cabo hit world-class resort development status – moving through “emerging and rapid growth stages.”

But, the word around the pool in casual conversations was actually a question.

“When is this real estate bubble going to pop?”

Dent projected it to begin sometime in 2009, more than 5 years away.

In the evening I walked up a dirt lined street and a short hill to the pink restaurant, Casa Rafael’s, between the Hotel Hacienda and Marina Sol.

Ah, this is the life, isn’t it?

It’s real easy to fall in love with a tropical resort.

Once your bio- rhythms synchronize with the pace of life and the prevailing trade winds, you can see why resorts top the list of nine types of places to invest in, can’t you?

After interviews with David and Johnny over at the Pueblo Bonito Pacific Resort I was introduced you to our dinner’s hosts — Rafael Arraut’s wife and brother.

I had heard rumors that the owners came to visit Cabo San Lucas some time in the 1980s and never left.

They opened the restaurant in the early ’90s.

Rafael’s brother mentioned the same 15-year period David did earlier, but when I asked him what he’d do after Cabo became too developed for his tastes, he said, “Move to Cuba.”

When it comes to resort areas, these guys like to get in at the innovation or early growth breakout stage.

Rafael’s brother regaled us with fishing stories on pristine beaches and ultra friendly people.

It turns out his family is from Cuba.

And that may be why, in addition to the six course meal, they offered Cuban cigars.

Rafael told me on one of our earlier trips that they had grown tired of Hawaii, where they had run a restaurant for years.

When we finished, Rafael’s wife suggested we take the taxi, instead of walking down the hill above Medano Beach to the Marina and Sancho Panza for Jazz entertainment.

Steps:

(9)) Conduct a preliminary marketing study of the top 4 or 5 favorite places — focus on the intersection between ease of acceptance and degree of support for your Mobile KnowCo.

An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.

August 21, 2017August 30, 2017

Trapped

“What is happening in northwest Montana, along with other newly tony areas of the state like Bozeman and the Paradise Valley, has transformed the country since frontier days: New money moves in, older homes get bulldozed.”

Where: It’s a classic dilemma, fight or flight. Launch new income streams to pay excess taxes or move and take your business with you.

So, how does it work?

Let’s start with an example.

Travel regions.

Having enjoyed winter and summer vacations in the Eastern Sierra Mountain region it’s hard to ignore the draw to mountain resorts in our upcoming “Guide for Leaving California.”

So, it’s only natural that we’d profile the Rocky Mountain Region for all of those quality-of-life outdoor activities.

Like skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and
road and mountain biking,
hiking,
camping,
kayaking,
horseback riding, and
whitewater rafting in the summer.

That means, of course, we focus on the four-state region which includes

Colorado,
Idaho,
Wyoming and
Montana.

Montana, in turn, is generally divided into two main regions:

Eastern Montana and Western Montana.

The Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains separates the smaller western portion from the larger eastern portion.

Western Montana is characterized by higher rainfall in some areas, and terrain dominated by mountains, making for picturesque scenery such as that found in Glacier National Park.

Naturally, the Montana board of tourism named the region “Glacier Country” which included the far northwest portions of western Montana.

Glacier National Park and the cities of Missoula, Whitefish, Kalispell, and Cut Bank attract the most visitors in the travel region.

Northwestern Montana has long relied on its natural resources.

Lumber and mining are mainstays of the economy, but those same mountains and forests now draw tourists in great numbers as well.

While Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant beat the Boston Celtics to claim their 2010 NBA Championship, Kim Murphy wrote about Glacier Country in the Los Angeles Times as part of the “New West.”

She profiled Flathead Valley and neighboring Whitefish.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson has spent most summers of the last 30 years at his vacation home on Flathead Lake.

Two other Californians pulled up stakes and “joined” Phil about a decade later – Dudley and Arthur.

They fell in love with the valley as much as Charles and his brother did growing up there.

Dudley, a California transplant moved from Woodland Hills to Whitefish in 1995.

Arthur inherited an old three-bedroom house on Flathead Lake from his parents and moved there from Chino to retire in 1998.

So, they’re practically native High Country Eagles.

And, as such, they’ve witnessed two decades worth of change in the valley.

Flathead Valley is famous for Flathead Lake and two ski resorts –

Whitefish Mountain Resort (known formerly as Big Mountain) and
Blacktail Mountain.

Whitefish is a quaint and cozy resort town in the Flathead Valley.

An eclectic community that offers year round entertainment.

The abundant Rocky Mountain Region attractions that easily come to mind-

backcountry skiing,
snowboarding,
snowmobiling,
horseback riding,
water sports,
hiking,
Winter Fun
zip-lining,
theater,
art festivals,
music venues and a
vibrant night life.

Dotted with clean alpine lakes and streams, and a wide array of amenities, Whitefish and the surrounding valley, is a great place to serve as a base camp into Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Reserve.

The whole valley was created by millions of years of dramatic glacial activity.

But in 2010 a different story emerged.

One that captured the transformation from an innovation growth community with High Country Eagles to a destination resort filling up with Wireless Resorters.

One like when the sleepy old Cabo San Lucas fishing beach grew into the kind of resort Rafael’s family wanted to exit in favor of the pristine white beaches of Cuba.

Murphy wrote,

“What is happening in northwest Montana, along with other newly tony areas of the state like Bozeman and the Paradise Valley, has transformed the country since frontier days:

New money moves in, older homes get bulldozed.”

Celebrities picked up properties including

Kiefer Sutherland,
Julia Roberts,
John Lithgow,
Emilio Estevez and
Charlie Sheen.

“We saw an influx 15 years ago of the Hollywood elite, celebrities and athletes.

People have already been selling their homes because they can’t afford to pay the taxes, and that has been happening since the assessments in 2002.”

They sold out and started moving away about seven or eight years ago, and the real money started moving in right after that.

“Though the out-of-state millionaires probably won’t even think about their tax bills, those who have considered the Flathead home for much of their lives now face the prospect of mortgaging to pay the taxes — if they can — or moving.”

Long-time residents like Charles and his brother, who lived there since way before Phil Jackson bought his lakeside retreat, thought they had seen it all.

“Charles already knew that property values in the Flathead — a new romping ground for Hollywood celebrities, sports stars and international CEOs — far exceeded what they were when he graduated from High School.”

“His 70-year-old house in the tax appraisal in 2002 was worth a stunning $553,900, thanks to its location right on the lake.”

Montana Department of Revenue says Charles’ property is worth $2.64

million.

His brother’s cabin?

Because it sits on 4 acres, is worth $4.2 million.

Charles, who recently retired as president of the Credit Union at the age of 70, just wrote a check for $9,200 for this year’s property taxes.

His brother faces an annual tax bill of $30,462, which exceeds his entire annual income.

Charles can be forgiven if he sometimes feels like roadkill on the highway to the “New West.”

“Charles paid $35,000 for the house in 1967, raised his two boys there, and until lately figured he’d probably die in the same tidy house with the metal awning over the porch, the collection of souvenir spoons and beer steins hanging like sweet memories in the small kitchen.”

Fears of becoming the next Vail, Colorado, don’t sit well, as celebrities and new money move in, forcing property values up and longtime residents out.

“If year-round residents will disappear Whitefish will become another Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or Vail, Colorado, catering to tourists and part-time homeowners – turning into a facade like one big Disneyland.”

Is there a relationship between what you now own on taxes and your ability to pay?

Nope.

Not even.

“They tell us, ‘You’re sitting on a couple million dollars; why don’t you sell it?’

But this is where I raised my children.

It’s not for sale.

It’s my home.”

They don’t have any choices.

“What we’re faced with is making a decision.

If you’re living in a state that doesn’t care about their people, and are willing to force out the longtime homeowners, is this really where you want to be?”

It’s a classic dilemma, fight or flight.

Launch new income streams to pay excess taxes or move and take your business with you.

But, where?

Steps:

(8) Sit down with your spouse, partner or friends and write up your bucket list of places.

An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.

August 7, 2017November 8, 2017

Migration

June 19, 2017August 15, 2019

Category: Trends

Mammoth Lakes: From Hardships to Hope

Then in June, management at Mammoth Mountain, the resort that dominates the town, trimmed staff, cut salaries and announced the shuttering of its June Mountain ski operation.

By the Winter of 2013 -2014 the first Premier Resort lifestyle segment flew into the scene – midlife families on the fast-track taking advantage of the real estate deals.

Chains that Bind – Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and No Snow

It verified the drip, drip, of snow melting and sliding off brown wood shingles would not turn into ice cycles any time soon.

But one year, the highway patrol flagged you down at a blinking yellow light to check out your chains with one of those abnormally long flashlights they always carry.

Mammoth

To top it all off for the winter 1976 – 1977 ski season Mother Nature decided to dump only 94 inches making the disaster the worst in Mammoth’s history.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area was sold to Starwood Capital Group in a deal that valued Mammoth at $365 million- a far cry from the $135,000 he borrowed in 1953 to build the first lift.

Life After the Great Recession

“Local news for (fill in a town on your bucket list, or in your itinerary) continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.”

For couples and parents, you might find the following quote from city-data a deal breaker:

Wild

“Colorado Wild works as a part of the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, a coalition conservation organizations dedicated to protecting Colorado’s public lands, air, water, and wildlife habitat.”

Ski Resorts Ranked from sucks to top of the class: Sun Valley, Copper Mountain, Aspen.

Development

“Does anyone out there remember when the city of Whitefish had culture? Reminisce beer barters in the streets? Can you recall dancing to music in the parks? Chili cook-offs? Is there any recollection of those …?”

Natural beauty or high-end development: Piano Creek Ranch, Wolf Creek Village, the Yellowstone Club and Tamarack Resort.

Resort

Rafael told me on one of our earlier trips that they had grown tired of Hawaii, where they had run a restaurant for years.

“When is this real estate bubble going to pop?”

Trapped

“What is happening in northwest Montana, along with other newly tony areas of the state like Bozeman and the Paradise Valley, has transformed the country since frontier days: New money moves in, older homes get bulldozed.”

Where: It’s a classic dilemma, fight or flight. Launch new income streams to pay excess taxes or move and take your business with you.

Migration

Artists – Choosing Your Own Path

Then in June, management at Mammoth Mountain, the resort that dominates the town, trimmed staff, cut salaries and announced the shuttering of its June Mountain ski operation.

By the Winter of 2013 -2014 the first Premier Resort lifestyle segment flew into the scene – midlife families on the fast-track taking advantage of the real estate deals.

Share this:

It verified the drip, drip, of snow melting and sliding off brown wood shingles would not turn into ice cycles any time soon.

But one year, the highway patrol flagged you down at a blinking yellow light to check out your chains with one of those abnormally long flashlights they always carry.

Share this:

To top it all off for the winter 1976 – 1977 ski season Mother Nature decided to dump only 94 inches making the disaster the worst in Mammoth’s history.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area was sold to Starwood Capital Group in a deal that valued Mammoth at $365 million- a far cry from the $135,000 he borrowed in 1953 to build the first lift.

Share this:

“Local news for (fill in a town on your bucket list, or in your itinerary) continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.”

For couples and parents, you might find the following quote from city-data a deal breaker:

Share this:

“Colorado Wild works as a part of the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, a coalition conservation organizations dedicated to protecting Colorado’s public lands, air, water, and wildlife habitat.”

Ski Resorts Ranked from sucks to top of the class: Sun Valley, Copper Mountain, Aspen.

Share this:

“Does anyone out there remember when the city of Whitefish had culture? Reminisce beer barters in the streets? Can you recall dancing to music in the parks? Chili cook-offs? Is there any recollection of those …?”

Natural beauty or high-end development: Piano Creek Ranch, Wolf Creek Village, the Yellowstone Club and Tamarack Resort.

Share this:

Rafael told me on one of our earlier trips that they had grown tired of Hawaii, where they had run a restaurant for years.

“When is this real estate bubble going to pop?”

Share this:

“What is happening in northwest Montana, along with other newly tony areas of the state like Bozeman and the Paradise Valley, has transformed the country since frontier days: New money moves in, older homes get bulldozed.”

Where: It’s a classic dilemma, fight or flight. Launch new income streams to pay excess taxes or move and take your business with you.

Share this: