For June Lake, the past year brought home brutal realities with the closure of June Mountain. But, today, June Mountain is back, and skiing will resume with plans for more marketing, more good deals and more facilities ahead.
It was the summer of 2012 when Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory announced that June Mountain would close immediately. He later explained that company financial issues related to loans and cash flow demanded serious cutbacks. At that point, Gregory said June Mountain was losing $1.5 million per year.
Since then, June Lake residents, Mono County officials and Ski Area officials have worked on ways to bring June back. They latched onto a better image of a family-friendly ski area with kids 12 and under skiing and riding for free all season long. Ski Area officials said June Mountain would operate seven days per week and will offer first time beginner packages for substantial discounts. The Mammoth Mountain Pass Holders will ski June for free.
CEO Gregory had also stated publicly that his new management team would focus on June Mountain along with Mammoth. For opening day, June Mountain planned an 8:30am opening day ceremony on Chair 2, an 11am toast with June Mountain General Manager Carl Williams and an 11:30 bonfire lighting.
Snowfall so far this year has remained slim but enough natural snow fell to open June Mountain. Next year, CEO Gregory said plans include snowmaking equipment and upgrades to Chair 1.
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A debate about drinking is not what my post was about. Its about June Mountains success. Besides, there are millions that drink that dont have a problem w/ it.
Alcohol is poison that kills and hurts millions of people every minute of every day. =
RU serious? I have never had any alcohol in me while I ride/ski. So you have a problem w/ people hanging out at the lodge bar after skiing?Do you have a problem w/ bars? Have you ever been on a ski vacation? Apre skiing-Hanging out and socializing and meeting people is a ritual that’s been going on for 100’s of years. It doesn’t mean everyone is getting hammered. Maybe it does for you. Maybe you have a problem w/ the drink, I don’t know. I don’t care. But I do care about June succeeding.My comment about locals was aimed at the locals that have mid week days off and like to hang out up there in the afternoon, so relax…… You completely missed my point. The bar is a HUGE revenue source for any ski area. Especially for a ski area like June that was closed last season because of it lack of revenue enhancing.Get my point now?
Just so all of you future June Mountain visitors know…..I was told by the bartender at June today that there is no alcohol being sold Monday thru Thursday-only Fri,Sat,Sun.-beer and wine only until mid January IF they get a new license[there is only a finite number available]. The reason is that the good folks on the 4th floor decided to transfer the June Mountain liquor license to The Underground Bar in the village.Why in Gods name would they take the one thing that makes money away from June?For years we have always heard about how ‘we need to bring more skiers up during mid week’. The mid week between Christmas and New year is the busiest time of the season at for any ski area.There are going to be a whole bunch of angry visitors coming soon.Please call MMSA and let them know how disappointed your are. It seems pretty rinky dink and it seems once again that they are setting June up to fail. its BYOB at June if you are a local and have mid week days off, I guess that isnt so bad because Bud and Coors is 7.50/bottle.
RU Kidding — Does this mean you can’t have any fun without alcohol? Must be a pretty boring sport. If I were a LOCAL and I was categorized above (its BYOB at June if you are a local) as needing a crutch to ski, I may take offense to it.
Wasn’t the closure announcement the summer before last? June has already been closed for one ski season….
Yes, that’s right.
BK
The use of last, next and this often confuses me. Summer 2013 is last because it is in past, yet summer 2012 can be called last because it was last year. Even worse for winter because it is in two years. Then there is variation on when we think season starts. Does next winter start on Dec. 21 or in 2014? Are we in this winter or this fall? I love English. So many ambiguities, no wonder we have so many lawyers.
I’d say Rusty’s into another money losing year at June.
Snowmaking is the only way June will survive year after year.
It’s a must that J7 get open ASAP
Congratulations to the June Lake community and to MMSA. MMSA has lived up to their end of the bargain and has done everything that has been promised thus far. On day #1 anyway, the service and vibe at the mountain is considerably different, for the better. Looking forward to the snowmaking and new chair 1. Congratulations to all that did their part in making this happen. A sucessful June mountain is a great thing for the entire region. Here’s to a sustained effort and LOTS OF SNOW!!!!
How much service and vibe could actually be different?
There is one run open!!!! Enough of the marketing snow jobs !
Dear Curious, OK, you got me. From my vehicle to the ticket counter the vibe and service were different. We had 2 people in bright green jackets approach us and ask if we needed assistance. We had the friendly Walmart type guy great us and open the door when we arrived. We were offered hot chocolate. There were June Mountain wagons available to transport your equipment if needed. Like I said in my post, that was only day #1, and I am looking forward to snowmaking, a new chair one, and a sustained effort. Absolutely not a “marketing snowjob” by me. Just acknowledging a difference from previous seasons and giving a little credit where credit is due. Trying not to be negative 100% of the time.
Michael,
I’m sorry, I thought maybe you were massaging Rusty’s new management team tentacles?
Yes, “snow job” and “tentacles” are meant as metaphors.
Apology accepted. Those would be the last things on my list to be massaging.
I’ve noticed a nice change at Mammoth also so far this year. When my pass failed to work a few weeks ago, it was taken care of at the lift. I was sent off to ski a run and a new pass was waiting when I returned. The operators seem genuinely friendly and enthusiastic. Friends of mine had a pleasant experience at a sporting good store that in years past was staffed by (IMHO) arrogant twerps. If there is a new emphasis on a great customer experience at the mountain and environs, I say keep it up!
Snowmaking is appearing to be a critical factor in the success of June Mountain
Very little snow making systems …the last storm blew the snow we did get away…..ch 2 is open