Powder Mag video on McCoy and Mammoth

Powder magazine has produced a 4-part video series on mcCoy, Mammoth, and municipal bankruptcy.

Part 1 has been released this week

http://www.powdermag.com/the-town/

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 9:14:19 PM UTC-4, Richard Henry wrote:
Powder magazine has produced a 4-part video series on mcCoy, Mammoth, and municipal bankruptcy.

Part 1 has been released this week

http://www.powdermag.com/the-town/

Odd-sounding piano chords in the intro - are they augmented or diminished or something?

I liked the place, though it's very hard to get to. Stayed at the Mammoth Mountain Inn or whatever it's called, on the mountain. Friendly people. I think of it as the world's largest "local's hill". I hope it doesn't change. I think it will be hard to make it a true "destination resort", given its sketchy air connection, and its large ground distance from major airports.

Dave

On 8/28/13 6:48 PM, Dave Stallard wrote:
I liked the place, though it's very hard to get to. Stayed at the Mammoth Mountain Inn or whatever it's called, on the mountain. Friendly people. I think of it as the world's largest "local's hill". I hope it doesn't change. I think it will be hard to make it a true "destination resort", given its sketchy air connection, and its large ground distance from major airports.

I think they're idiots - they want to be a "destination" resort as an
ego boost. They are the local big mountain for LA - what's the
population of Southern California - 30,000,000 - and for an angeleno
it's not even a big drive. They have no customer numbers problem;
they've just been insulting their regular customer base while chasing
the will-o-the-wisp. Now they've bankrupted their town with airport
demands. Your kids aren't you, but you hope they learn from you. Dave
McCoy's kids apparently didn't.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 8:42:18 PM UTC-6, lal_truckee wrote:

Who gives a ****? It's a snowboarding ********. Used to have good skiing. You just had to get there during the week. Now? **** it. Let them wallow in the ghetto culture.

On 08/28/2013 08:04 PM, pigo wrote:

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 8:42:18 PM UTC-6, lal_truckee wrote:

Who gives a ****? It's a snowboarding ********. Used to have good
skiing. You just had to get there during the week. Now? **** it. Let
them wallow in the ghetto culture.

Like Mountain High down here.

Elaine and I were thinking of hitting Mammoth (or maybe June) for the
first time this year. Rent a car down here, stay in a cheap motel. Any
recommendations?

--
Cheers, Bev
================================================== ====
All the toilets were stolen out of the police station.
The police have nothing to go on.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:31:42 PM UTC-7, The Real Bev wrote:
On 08/28/2013 08:04 PM, pigo wrote:



On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 8:42:18 PM UTC-6, lal_truckee wrote:



Who gives a ****? It's a snowboarding ********. Used to have good

skiing. You just had to get there during the week. Now? **** it. Let

them wallow in the ghetto culture.



Like Mountain High down here.



Elaine and I were thinking of hitting Mammoth (or maybe June) for the

first time this year. Rent a car down here, stay in a cheap motel. Any

recommendations?



--

Cheers, Bev

================================================== ====

All the toilets were stolen out of the police station.

The police have nothing to go on.

Quality Inn or Econolodge - $70-90/night
Motel 6 a little cheaper, but it's M6

Cheapest gas is Costco in Victorville, Indian Casino in Ft Independence, in Bishop the Indian Casino or Safeway if you have gas points.

Digital 395 was just linked into Mammoth Lakes from the world, so internet speeds are now up to rational standards.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 10:42:18 PM UTC-4, lal_truckee wrote:

I think they're idiots - they want to be a "destination" resort as an
ego boost. They are the local big mountain for LA - what's the
population of Southern California - 30,000,000 - and for an angeleno
it's not even a big drive. They have no customer numbers problem;
they've just been insulting their regular customer base while chasing
the will-o-the-wisp. Now they've bankrupted their town with airport
demands. Your kids aren't you, but you hope they learn from you. Dave
McCoy's kids apparently didn't.

Not sure how his kids are involved here - didn't he sell to Intrawest because his kids weren't interested in taking over? And isn't it Intrawest that is driving this attempt at expansion? Maybe there's something I'm missing here...

Dave

On 8/28/13 11:31 PM, The Real Bev wrote:

Like Mountain High down here.

NOT like Mountain High.

Elaine and I were thinking of hitting Mammoth (or maybe June) for the
first time this year. Rent a car down here, stay in a cheap motel. Any
recommendations?

Book into Motel 6 NOW (or Henry's equivalents) - you can cancel up to
5pm day of arrival, if nothing's changed in 15 years.

On 8/29/13 6:38 AM, Dave Stallard wrote:
Not sure how his kids are involved here - didn't he sell to Intrawest because his kids weren't interested in taking over? And isn't it Intrawest that is driving this attempt at expansion? Maybe there's something I'm missing here...

They just wanted to spend the money. They are involved in the corporate
Intrawest crapifying of American skiing exactly because "they weren't
interested in taking over."

On Thursday, August 29, 2013 6:38:49 AM UTC-7, Dave Stallard wrote:
On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 10:42:18 PM UTC-4, lal_truckee wrote:



I think they're idiots - they want to be a "destination" resort as an

ego boost. They are the local big mountain for LA - what's the

population of Southern California - 30,000,000 - and for an angeleno

it's not even a big drive. They have no customer numbers problem;

they've just been insulting their regular customer base while chasing

the will-o-the-wisp. Now they've bankrupted their town with airport

demands. Your kids aren't you, but you hope they learn from you. Dave

McCoy's kids apparently didn't.



Not sure how his kids are involved here - didn't he sell to Intrawest because his kids weren't interested in taking over? And isn't it Intrawest that is driving this attempt at expansion? Maybe there's something I'm missing here...



Dave

The video makes the statement that the kids sold their stake to Intrawest and Mom and Pop McCoy kept theirs, which makes sense based on the financial figures I have seen over the years. After thoroughly trashing the traditional feel of Mammoth, Intrawest sold out in a deal that makes the whole operation debt-heavy and beholden to big-city banks. McCoy always ran the operation with a checkbook and a handshake, which left him lift-poor but debt-free.

I can't blame the kids - they changed for minority owners of a business that required them to work full time in order to get their skiing privileges, to mega-wealthy who could afford to ski Mammoth (or wherever) whenever they chose without having to clear parking lots, maintain the inventory of hamburger buns, or man the phones.