This press release was just issued by Mammoth Mountain and CEO Rusty Gregory:
CEO Rusty Gregory said, “Cessation of operations will help the company dedicate its focus to a new future for June Mountain.”
MAMMOTH LAKES, CA – Rusty Gregory, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Chairman and CEO, announced today the company will not operate June Mountain this summer and for the upcoming 2012-13 winter season. “June has operated at an annual deficit each year since its purchase in 1986,” said Gregory. “It is time to invest some of this subsidy into the analysis and planning required to position the resort for a sustainable future, then secure the approvals and financing required to create it.”
Mammoth purchased June Mountain in 1986 with the idea of significantly increasing the size of the resort by building new facilities, extending new runs to the June Lake Village, and fostering additional developed ski areas along the San Joaquin Ridge, resulting in a connection between Mammoth and June Mountains. For a number of reasons, these plans were never realized and June Mountain has, in turn, suffered from an identity crisis that has both stifled its ability to achieve its full potential and required substantial financial subsidy from Mammoth on an annual basis. Cessation of operations will help the company dedicate its focus to a new future for June Mountain. Mammoth will be working with its partner the U.S. Forest Service to reach the best possible result in this endeavor.
In the weeks to come, Mammoth will be working to determine if and to what extent it can absorb June’s year round workforce.
Mammoth Mountain will continue to offer world-class skiing, snowboarding and summer activities for locals and visitors to the region.
Mammoth Mountain has operated continuously under permit from the U.S. Forest Service since 1954, and operated both resorts for the past 26 years. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area also owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, food and beverage and retail including Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Woolly’s Adventure Summit, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village at Mammoth, and Sierra Star Golf Course.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Like a presidential candidate today, Gregory’s actions are the same as outsourcing.
Money = Power
And the weakest amongst us worship both, convinced this is “The American Way”
These people will never tell you how the rich got even richer during the Great Depression on the backs of the little people.
Rusty Gregory needs to be fired and held accountable for his actions. he has wanted to do this for a long time. One doesn’t just pull the rug under a entire town without notice. The financials regarding the loss of money needs to be questioned as well. I hope and pray the town of June puts up a fight. Don’t be fooled into thinking this guy is honorable. he is a snake and fraud. I paid for a season pass for two mountains I should be able to ride two mountains. I am over people saying June was nice quite and uncrowded too. While June Mountain isn’t Mammoth nor does it attract the International crowds it is hardly quiet. On a good ski day the place is jam packed the parking lot is full and the mountain is humming with business.
Rusty can do what he wants within the bounderies of our laws.
Quit crying and get a life
June Mountain loses 1.5 dollars million dollars a year. Mammoth Mountain’s buisness is down and they recently laid off many long term employees. No competent business CEO would continue to pour money into a non money maker like June Mountain in times like these. Tough decisions have to be made.
It is sad and tragic for June Lake but Mammoth Mountain is in survival mode now. These are the time we live in. It is the new normal.
This is horrible news for the county and people in it! These people are kind, proud and hard working. I know there are innovative people out there who could think of other ways to help bring tourists in. Hopefully the people who have come for years will keep coming and staying in June to help and show their loyalty. Good luck and God bless!
Sorry for the run on on my last comment, I’m just passionate about theses two communities, 🙂
With money getting tighter and tighter, the modern ski crowd will be made up of the ultra-rich.
The ultra-rich want more choices: restaurants, lodging, bars, entertainment …
Come on. You really didn’t see this coming?
Econ 101, there’s some real truth to what you’re saying but the younger crowd is still showing resolve. The well off come up and buy their condo’s but the kids seem to be the one enjoying them. Development is a good thing for the most part as long as it’s not over done (lots of question and comments for that line). The town and MMSA need to continue their local and world wide marketing because this place is special enough to deserve it.
On another note, I couldn’t imagine being in Rusty’s shoes! He’s done a very good job with the mountain (not many would want to walk in his shoes in a down or tough time), had to make very difficult decisions as the face of MMSA knowing the backlash that was going to come back at him. I give him a tremendous amount of respect for that (and no, I don’t personally know him I just respect him and his job). For those that live in So Cal, this is still the best skiing this side of the Rockies, the best snow and the closest proximity to So Cal. Life will be good as long as the experience continues to be a positive one. June Mountain will bounce back stronger than ever once the logistics are worked out. Unless of course the JM community decides that they like not having the mountain open. If you build they will come! But that seems to be part of the challenge. It’s too beautiful not be be used and besides othe than the Big Bear or Lake Tahoe area, where can you ski and have a beautiful view of the lakes basin?
Good post SF I am not a Rusty fan myself, but i like the positive comment about June recovering from this, and it will .. just seems sad to me that Mammoth didn’t put more effort in to June, a lot of money was spent on MMSA stuff, of course MMSA has always been the shining star .. June was the step child. It will make it back, it might be a long road, but it will.
“If you build they will come! ”
Do you know that the occupancy rate in Mammoth Lakes is less than 50% year over year and this year it has been in the low 40% to high 30%?
So what we have is a town covered by empty condos and McMansions. That’s not an attractive town. Maybe people don’t come here because it has the ambiance of downtown Norco?
Condos don’t make a town a desirable place to visit. The people who live there do. The question is how do you get more people to live in Mammoth Lakes if nobody wants to live there except the people who depend on other peoples money to survive?
The challenge for Mammoth is that it’s pretty much just a ski town! Mammoth Mountain does a great job of selling the mountain but there needs to be other activities sold like corporate events, Team Building venues and events, etc. If we worked harder on those types of activities and had the proper facilities, this town would be way more than one dimensional during each season. June could do the same and have something else to sell.
SierraFan –
Mammoth has tremendously successful events like Bluesapalooza, RibFest, top-notch theatre, Jazz Jubilee, Motocross, Food & Wine festivals, Villagefest, Arts & Craft Festivals, Shakespeare in the woods … and much more, but for some odd reason are all overlooked on most of the websites that only promote, outdoor sports and fishing.
This oversight has always been a mystery to me.
What about Vail Resorts? Or is this too close to home? It’s a stretch but they seem to have done a great job in the Tahoe area. The lift tickets are reasonable, they advertise like crazy, they love the ski business, etc. I know many aren’t fond of big business but with a company that’s really about the experience can do wonders in the area. Heck, maybe they can come in and buy the big mountain! It sure couldn’t do any worse!
This is good news, Rusty never gave a #hit about June. Time to form a real group to buy and run the place.
The “strip and fli”p equity firm strikes again. June receives the Bain Capital treatment from Starwood. Just wait till Mammoth hemorrhages some more jobs. Make MMSA look profitable for a year, and then it’s time to sell.
Consider the following from Starwood Capital website:
“It is the diversity and depth of our talent pool that enables us to always act quickly and employ creative solutions to a variety of market opportunities on behalf of our investors.”
Time for June and Mammoth to diversify its talent pool, because if you’re relying on an equity firm to chart the course of your community, you’re in for an ugly ride.
It could quite possibly be good news…maybe a group that actually cares about a real mountain lifestyle and snow sports(Steve Klassen and Jake Burton) will increase the desire to make it shine like the genuine gem that we all know it is!…instead of some starwood capitol ceo’s( and Rusty) that just care about the bottom line$
That would be great! What about that cute little redhead snowboarder Sean White, I bet he has some $$.
The ripple effect that is going to occur because of this will be horrible. The sleepy town of June Lake will not become a ghost town.
Now we can add June Lake residents and those who love to ski at June for its family atmosphere to the list of people Rusty has screwed as of late…
So surprised and saddened. I know alot of people that prefer to ski June rather than Mammoth. because it is quieter, less tourists and just a nice place to ski. This is horrible news.
I am one of those that prefers june for all the same reasons! Plus the added one of the extreme inflated costs of everything in and around the area! The cost of everything is almost laughable and the distinct reason why most mono county locals do not visit the area. You almost have to take out a small loan to do anything there! Very sad and a very sad day for june!! Bummer!
Me too! Mammoth is way too much going on. June was perfect! So Bummed out.
Think about what you just said, quieter and less tourists. Do you people really know what you want? So many move from the hustle and bustle of the city to have their little slice of quiet heaven and don’t want to share it. Now you can have all the quiet you want. Don’t complain about not having the mountain because it needed the tourists to survive.
Harsh
We’re crying for the loss of the best little mountain on earth, winter and summer. 🙁
Our hearts go out to June Lake residents, June Mountain employees and all of Mono County for this terrible loss.
Hoping that MMSA can make a go of JM again in future winters.
B. Richter
The problem is MMSA never really made a true go at it…ask Carl Williams how he feels?…no effort = no results