Will New York State step in to save Swain Resort?
Published: August 14, 2009, 12:30 am
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An Allegany County ski resort that was facing closure because of the economy may have found new life, as the owners of a Pennsylvania resort have agreed to lease it and maintain it until they are able to buy it.
But that’s apparently dependent on whether they get government tax incentives and other assistance to make the deal work.
The owners of Swain Recreation Center LLC, which runs the Swain Resort, have agreed to lease the troubled property to the operators of Ski Denton in Coudersport, Pa.
Ski Denton owners Scott and Jodi Carts and Shawn and Celeste Schoonover will continue ski operations at Swain, with plans to buy it “as soon as feasibly possible” and then transform it into a four-season family destination, according to a press release announcing the agreement. Ski Denton is 65 miles south of Swain, which is in the town of Grove.
The agreement could save one of the oldest continuously operating ski areas in the state, which has been in business for 62 years but faced certain closure if a sale could not be achieved.
“We at Ski Denton are very pleased with this agreement and are eager to help play an important role in keeping the Allegany County economy viable,” Scott Carts said in the release.
“This agreement makes great business sense and we cannot wait to get to work with the staff to grow and improve Swain.”
Swain is currently run by Ski and Snowboard Area Management LLC. Owners Philip Saunders and David Flaum said in April that, because of economic concerns, they would close Swain if they could not find a buyer or reach a “suitable operating agreement” by Aug. 15.
In the release, Saunders praised the Ski Denton partners as “a young, industrious, and capable group of experienced ski center owner-operators,” but cautioned that the effort to save Swain will only succeed with government help. He noted that the lease plan is only a short-term solution.
“This will only be a success with the support and backing of government at the local, county and state level,” Saunders said. “To finalize the purchase and survive in the long run, the various government entities need to team up and step forward with needed financial backing and tax incentives to make this work.”
Officials of the Town of Grove and Allegany County echoed support for the new venture, and said they would work with the new owners, but there was no indication that the state would concur. Saunders noted that the resort has benefited from Empire Zone tax incentives and more than $4 million in infrastructure investments over the past decade.
“Swain is the largest tourist attraction in the county, and we look forward to helping the new operators promote the great recreational experiences Swain provides,” Allegany County Legislature Chairman Curtis Crandall said.
“We believe the new operators represent a new vision for the ski center and we plan to work with them to achieve success for both the ski center and the town,” said Grove Town Supervisor Mike Johnsen.
Swain has a long history in New York, and was the first ski resort in the state to feature a quadruple chair lift. The owners have upgraded snowmaking capability in recent years to cover 90 percent of the resort’s 102 acres of ski and snowboard trails.
The resort employs as many as 350 at peak time during the winter, and officials indicated that should remain stable or even grow with the new plans for the resort. Season passes that have already been purchased and school ski club contracts already in effect will still be honored.
Carts said in the release that he thinks the combination of Denton and Swain will give skiers the “best of both worlds,” as Denton offers “the most technical and difficult terrain in all of Pennsylvania and Western New York,” while Swain offers moderate and beginner terrain, as well as a lodge.
Future plans also call for adding overnight accommodations to Swain to “create a family affordable ski destination,” he said. The new operators also plan to host additional summer and fall festivals, while increasing the wedding and conference business.
jepstein@buffnews.com
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