snoloco
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2021
Since we have the thread for ORDA's biggest mistakes, it's only fair to also start one about the best things ORDA has done well. This will only be chain-wide, and not resort-specific.
Buying Belleayre: Many were skeptical of ORDA expanding their geographic footprint beyond their mission statement, but it couldn't have worked out better for Belleayre and ORDA. After years of languishing under DEC ownership, Belleayre has finally hit their stride. In 10 years, ORDA has given Belleayre a gondola, a new quad, a new lodge, and has more than doubled their snowmaking capacity. It worked. What was once a third rate ski area that the DEC had to give away access to, is now pulling record revenue. It's also mutually beneficial to Gore and Whiteface, as ORDA's Ski 3 pass product is much more competitive than when it was just Gore and Whiteface.
Keeping Lift Ticket Prices Reasonable: Let's face it. Skiing is ridiculously expensive, especially if you don't have a mega pass. But if you don't have a mega pass, you can ski at the ORDA mountains without totally breaking the bank. They also discount tickets pretty deeply midweek and early and late season. This keeps skiing more affordable to a wider demographic, at a lower commitment.
Automated Snowmaking: All 3 ORDA mountains have invested in automated or semi-automated snowmaking technology, to allow for more efficient utilization, even without an increase in actual snowmaking capacity.
Terrain Expansions: Snowmaking problems aside, ORDA has added more terrain in the past 20 years than almost anyone, and that in itself is enough for this list.
Preservation of Olympic Venues: Ever heard of Olympic venues languishing after the games leave? Not in Lake Placid. ORDA has done an excellent job preserving them, and continuing to utilize them to this day. Not many Olympic host cities can say that.
Anyone else have anything to add?
Buying Belleayre: Many were skeptical of ORDA expanding their geographic footprint beyond their mission statement, but it couldn't have worked out better for Belleayre and ORDA. After years of languishing under DEC ownership, Belleayre has finally hit their stride. In 10 years, ORDA has given Belleayre a gondola, a new quad, a new lodge, and has more than doubled their snowmaking capacity. It worked. What was once a third rate ski area that the DEC had to give away access to, is now pulling record revenue. It's also mutually beneficial to Gore and Whiteface, as ORDA's Ski 3 pass product is much more competitive than when it was just Gore and Whiteface.
Keeping Lift Ticket Prices Reasonable: Let's face it. Skiing is ridiculously expensive, especially if you don't have a mega pass. But if you don't have a mega pass, you can ski at the ORDA mountains without totally breaking the bank. They also discount tickets pretty deeply midweek and early and late season. This keeps skiing more affordable to a wider demographic, at a lower commitment.
Automated Snowmaking: All 3 ORDA mountains have invested in automated or semi-automated snowmaking technology, to allow for more efficient utilization, even without an increase in actual snowmaking capacity.
Terrain Expansions: Snowmaking problems aside, ORDA has added more terrain in the past 20 years than almost anyone, and that in itself is enough for this list.
Preservation of Olympic Venues: Ever heard of Olympic venues languishing after the games leave? Not in Lake Placid. ORDA has done an excellent job preserving them, and continuing to utilize them to this day. Not many Olympic host cities can say that.
Anyone else have anything to add?
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