Industry News
If you’ve got a few spare pennies, and have always dreamed of running your own ski-resort, then look no further. The largest ski resort in eastern Canada, Marble Mountain, is currently looking for a buyer or investor to take on the day-to-day operations to keep the resort alive.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government wants private money involved in the Marble Mountain Ski Resort, and it says all options are on the table, including selling, reports CBC.ca. The province issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) Friday, looking for private operators interested in developing, managing, or owning the ski hill in Steady Brook.
“Government probably are not the best managers of a ski hill,” Finance Minister Tom Osborne told reporters Friday morning in St. John’s.
Osborne said the province simply does not have the money to improve or expand Marble’s operations to make it profitable, like running year-round, adding concessions and accommodations. He did promise though that Marble would continue to operate as a ski resort no matter the level of private sector involvement, and that any deal would include that stipulation:
“Government can’t operate it viably but there is potential, huge potential to be able to operate that ski hill viably,” he said. “This will always operate as a ski hill and if there is any desire to try and repurpose the ski hill, government takes it back for the people of the province,” he added.
Epic backcountry skiing, snow-mobile trails, and heli-skiing are all on their doorstep, and the area is awaiting development for a cross-country/mountain bike park to serve the avid summer bike community. Marble Mountain has a phenomenal ski lodge built for the 1998 Canada Games, 5 lifts (one only 3-years old) and a loyal skier base.
Marble Mountain is located in the Long Range Mountains which run all the way up the west coast of Newfoundland and are an extension of the Appalachian Mountain chain. There is fantastic backcountry skiing in both the Blow Me Down Mountains and up in Gros Moraine National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Park. Heli-skiing is also possible through a local helicopter company.
The deadline for proposals is August 3.
