ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. — HoliMont, North America’s largest private ski area, is planning $472,388 in projects and improvements in 2015-16.
HoliMont general manager David Riley presented an application and details to the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). HoliMont is seeking sales tax abatement of $37,791, Riley said.
The lion’s share of the funding will go toward generator upgrades, a new grooming machine, new wheeled vehicles for summer maintenance and snowmaking equipment, Riley said.
Another $110,020 in land-related costs are forecast, as are $33,152 in building-related costs and $2,500 in furniture costs, Riley said.
One project will see the beginners’ slopes Chipmunk and Rabbits Run moved to the Westmont Ridge Project. Next year, they will move the lifts and snowmaking equipment, Riley said. This will allow the resort to expand its “terrain-based learning,” he said.
The goal is to make the resort more attractive to millennials, who ski less often than this generation, Riley said. Without the fear of falling, HoliMont hopes to convert new skiers to the industry.
While the ski school currently teaches terrain-based learning, the terrain at Westmont Ridge is not as steep and is better for that type of instruction, officials said.
HoliMont will add snow guns to its main Exhibition slope, Riley said. With nine new tower locations, the resort will be able to cover more of Exhibition for an earlier opening. In previous years, snow guns from other slopes were often used, leaving them with less coverage.
Westmont Ridge has sold 20 of its 31 home sites, and construction has begun on one, Riley said. The first stage of what will be a total of 72 condos should start in the spring and will go on for quite a few years, he added.
Corey Wiktor, executive director of the county’s IDA, said the tourism aspect and the multiplier of tourists’ dollars generated by Ellicottville ski resorts in the county is the main reason the IDA continues to provide assistance to the industry.
“They are a very important piece of the economy,” Wiktor said. “We’re fortunate to have them.”
