June Lake residents, fearful that June Mountain will either not re-open or will fail due to lack of facilities, reached for what they think may be their only leverage – pressure on the Forest Service to make Mammoth Mountain’s land exchange at the Main Lodge contingent on a successful June Mountain. The Mono Supervisors expected to hear from residents on that Tuesday. Letters in the Board packet show that most environmental groups support the land exchange. Citizens want the land trade contingent on the opening of a sustainable June Mountain.
The last item on the Supervisors’ agenda is a request from Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory for a letter in support for the land exchange between the US Forest Service and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. That trade has been in the works for some 15 years. In it, the Forest Service would give the Ski Area acreage at the Main Lodge in exchange for close to 100 acres around Mono Lake that the Ski Area bought from the Cunningham family.
Officials said the item was nearly pulled from the agenda because Mammoth Mountain wanted to wait for additional information. No Ski Area officials were expected at the meeting. Supervisor Tim Alpers said he will set another discussion on this issue at a meeting in April. Alpers said that the item would go forward Tuesday for public input.
The agenda packet includes letters from June Lake residents and local environmental groups. The Mono Lake Committee, Eastern Sierra Land Trust and Friends of the Inyo all support the exchange for land around Mono Lake. The environmental groups say the trade will protect natural resources in the Mono Basin. They say nothing at all about June Mountain or the June Lake community.
One environmental group, however, did support a better June Mountain. The Range of Light, Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club did support the land exchange but said a commitment from Mammoth Mountain regarding June Mountain should “involve substantially more than a vaguely expressed oral or written statement by Mammoth Mountain to do something.” The Club said Mammoth needs to upgrade June or sell it.
Some ten letters from June Lake citizens oppose the Mono Supervisors’ endorsing the Ski Area land trade and plead for support, instead, of an open and improved June Mountain. One resident, Joe Blommer, said the land exchange should be based on the “submittal, approval and public disclosure of Mammoth Mountain’s plan for June Mountain’s sustainability.”
Mammoth Mountain submitted information to show the numerous improvements in the skiing facilities that would be made on the exchanged land. The Mountain also points to a considerable tax benefit for the County, based on Main Lodge improvements.
Officials estimated that this item would come up for public input at around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Blommer and his wife do live in June. Their son goes to Lee Vining schools where they are active in the PTSO and Boosters. They both work either out of town, due to jobs or at home, when home. Yes, his family owns a fabulous candy company. Lets move… Read more »
im gonna buy a submarine to pull all the drunks outa june lake if they build a casino
Sadly Rusty’s land exchange issue I think was only a poor excuse for closing the ski area,
That is why he is not at the meetings.
I think turning June into a municipal ski area is the best to Way.
Save June!
municipal ski area? lets put it up to a vote right now.
Thumbs up = municipal ski area
thumbs down = no municipal ski area
The only reason that the ski area would have to be made into a municipal ski area is that business people have done the math and discovered that June Mountain simply cannot operate at a profit. This means that it would have to be subsidized with taxpayer money. There is… Read more »
Rather than public subsidies I think it could be run for cost.
A balanced profit and loss is all it needs.
=
Reminds me of when they closed the MAMMOTH Motocross track back in the early 2000. Emergency closures limit are 5 years. We are now approaching 10 years and still no Public use after the Race. Come on Mono County Supervisors talk to Armenta about a permit for both recreation facilities… Read more »
I don’t think doomed Dingo .. it may be in for a change of direction .. or change in something lol .. but it will be OK .. as most of the town is not tied to the ski area .. ya know .. people will still live there either… Read more »
….Slots……Ask the residents there if they wanta turn June Lake into a gambling mecca….my guess is their answer would be a resounding no.
Wayne, If the residents are against business ventures that may attract lots of dollars (ie. Casino gambling) then they get what they deserve – a dying community. I realize this may sound cold, but no community has the luxury of being a bit too conservative, when it comes to generating… Read more »
Tribal casinos in California generate nearly 4.8 billion dollars annually. The Native American gaming industry didn’t show the negative tendencies during and after economic crisis of 2007-2009, in contrast to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. After only a year or so, enough money could be generated via casino monies generated… Read more »
Be careful what you ask for. Indian Casinos don’t have to pay State taxes only Federal and I don’t see the Feds wanting to kick anything into June Lake. Take a look at the Palace in Bishop. Do you really want this in June?
I understand the casino in Bishop is growing by leaps and bounds and has become a local tourist destination/stop for the hoards of visitors from the south on their way to Mammoth. Those same visitors would most certainly do the same thing (stop and spend) in beautiful June Lake. Like… Read more »
Gambling and Revenue…..A dying community ?…That is what people have been saying about Bridgeport for ages…and guess what ?….Bridgeport is still alive and well with LOTS to offer tourists.Same with June Lake..still lots to offer visitors.Some ,if not most of their residents don’t want to turn their quaint little town… Read more »
Bridgeport is entirely dependent on its being the county seat of Mono County. Always fearful that someday the taxpayers will get wise and insist on relocating the county seat to where it belongs – closer to the majority of the taxpayers in Mammoth Lakes. Oddly enough, Tim Fesko, who must… Read more »
….Here we go !!
Aww Wayne, you’ve fired up that clown again! Be careful what you write, if you rub the wrong bottle you can summon the wrong genie.
During the Great Depression Wayne, those in power (like today) took advantage of depreciating real estate (like today) then swooped down and bought up all the foreclosures. Buying low and selling high in the real estate market has for decades, made fortunes for many, many Californians. But the tide has… Read more »
Unfortunately, I think June Mountain Ski area is doomed. Sorry everyone.
How about an Indian casino for June Lake?
Pechanga’s in Temecula: World class entertainment, top-notch hotel rooms, fine dining, pool, spa …
Unfortunately you will have those that will whine: “But casinos are run by Indians! … And Indians ain’t even Americans!
wrong!!!! I was the census taker for June Lake in 2010 they had me do it because I’ve lived here that long…. I would remember that name because its the same last name as an old friend. Once again who is this very quoted person?
Esfotoguy, you were not the only census taker in June Lake in 2010. And 13 years is not that long to have lived in a place.
They don’t give you the job because you have lived in the area for a long time. hahaha This is comedy. You get the job because they need someone and you apply!
Folks, Let the swap go through it’s course! Like Karen says, it’s great for many other reason. And think about it… if June doesn’t open or stay open then the Forest Service will try to force the sale to an operator that will turn this piece of heaven into something… Read more »
The June Lake community’s effort to extort a private company into running a ski resort that is not financially viable will not work out well for them. The fact that there are not any investors lining up to purchase June Mountain speaks loudly. A business that can only thrive in… Read more »
Just to clarify: the letter of support for the land exchange written by Eastern Sierra Land Trust was written in 2011, long before the closing of June Mt. and current controversy. In addition, there are properties besides the Cunningham parcel that are included in the exchange. These lands contain many… Read more »
It looks like Friends of Inyo may be reconsidering their support as well
Esfotoguy, you crack me up! You’ve lived here 13 years and you obviously don’t know everyone. Your opinion is just that – “your opinion”. And, everyone else is entitled to theirs.
Like Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Rusty Gregory has gone power-mad. Why not for once call Mr. Potter’s bluff when he threatens to take his ball and go home? Doubtful that he would close the mountain for any reason. This man has way too much power in Mammoth.… Read more »
Your elected officials or stooges as you call them are no match for Mr. Gregory. As the saying goes “Business is Business” It won’t be the first or last time a businessman takes his investments elsewhere. You will never get Mr. Gregory to do anything he doesn’t think is a… Read more »
Mark –
It’s highly doubtful that Rusty Gregory would ever close down the biggest money maker in Mono and Inyo County – Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.
Why the town council bends to his every wish and command is a total mystery?
Also doubtful is fishermen will be the new economy.
I wasn’t thinking Mammoth. I was speaking of keeping June closed, until forced to sell. Of course then there would have to be a buyer too. Perhaps he’d just remove the lifts and return the area to it’s natual state. The town council bends to Rusty’s every move because Rusty… Read more »
Although he is quoted in the local press a lot,I dont see him at town clean ups,We dont see him at chamber meetings, We dont see him at CAC meetings.On the mountain. IWe didnt see him at the snowfest, revitalization events, at the local eating establishments or the meeting w/… Read more »
Why not open your mind and let people in? One of the great strengths of America is the right of free speech. Every one here has that right.
They don’t have to attend social events to earn it. Lighten up.
Benett
Yeah I read what people have to say, I admit I was not so cordial in some past dialogs I had to step back and see my emotions riding herd on the lead horse into battle. I have had to redirect the emotions and … mellow out. I try to… Read more »
Good for you, Big Al. Not everything has to be viewed as going into battle. People get hurt (even killed) with that sort of warfare mindset. Our destructive emotions are down there quite deep and sometimes surface without any awareness of them. I have found that focusing or meditating on… Read more »
Big Al – If you (like so many people) have developed a habit of tuning into certain extreme-right talk-radio programs (ala Rush Limbaugh, 3 straight hours a day, 5 days a week and reruns on weekends) you might also want to try to scale back on that sort of divisive… Read more »
Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news or facts and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers.Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism. By extension, the term yellow journalism is used today as a… Read more »
Blommer and his wife are NIMBY’s that built an expensive home in June a few years ago. Neither one of them are employed by local businesses. Not sure what he does, (CALTRANS?) I think she works out of the house for a company out of LA. Either way, everyone has… Read more »
What is a NIMBY?
Not In My Back Yard.
Their family has a chocolate business from what I understand. Not sure if they own it or parents or what, but the chocolate is AMAZING! Don’t be so scared of a new face in town. It can be a good thing!
13 yrs living here in June Lake,Ive never met Joe Blommer and I dont know anyone that knows him…..Oh well. The folks in June need to stop talking about a new chair 1. With the regulations in this state, the cost, and the regulations w/ the forest service, it would… Read more »
He and his wife have built a house here and live here full time. They are extremely supportive of local businesses. Guess you just haven’t met them yet.
Hey, I know who that Blommer guy, he’s some sort of a mountaineer from what I hear, not sure.
Somebody said he looks like that guy on the Dos Equis commercials LOL Is that true? Said he acted like him too.