June Mountain has been losing money for the past six or seven years, according to MMSA CEO Rusty Gregory.
Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory will face the people of June Lake tonight in a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors held to discuss the closure of June Mountain Ski Area.
On June 20th, Gregory announced that June Mountain would close immediately and remain closed next ski season. In days after that news, Gregory said that June Mountain had continued to lose $1.5 million per year. It was a loss Mammoth Mountain could not afford, he said. Gregory also made it clear that he has no plans to sell June Mountain.
After the startling news of closure, residents in the area began to speculate on who might buy June and make it a go. Gregory said no one could right now. He described the drop in skier visits to June Mountain from 100,000 down to around 45,000. He said the last six or seven years have seen deficits at June.
In earlier years, Gregory had talked to the June Lake community about the need for a bigger bed base to attract more visitors and the need for more amenities. These plans never took place.
The CEO said that he will meet with the Forest Service to develop a “sustainable vision” for June Mountain’s future. Inyo Forest Public Information Officer Nancy Upham had said toward the end of June that “The Forest Service dos not take this decision by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area lightly, and we will work with the Mountain officials regarding the terms of their permit.” Upham said the Forest Service is interested in a “long-term sustainable operation.”
A special meeting of the Mono Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday at 7pm at the June Lake Community Center at 90 West Granite Avenue.
You know if I had the money I would buy June and keep it open forever. (IF being the key word.) I’ve been skiing and snowboarding there for about 30 years now and I would bring back the snowboard comps and open it up to mountain biking in the summer… Read more »
June does not have runs that are anywhere near what one might call exhilirating or challenging. It’s understandable how Gregory wants to maintain a Luxury Adventure experience for The Mountain. As money dries up, those that have it want it all: luxury accomodations, choice of multiple restaurants, theatre, movies, art,… Read more »
I was in attendance to last night’s meeting. The only solution offered to June’s woes was a Native American lady who suggested the mountain open up negotiations with the Paiute or other tribe (who have money) and put up a casino to draw people to the area. Slots and Slopes… Read more »
they should just sell June as Mammoth just doesn’t support June as a whole.. Basically mammoth is like Starbucks and June is like Stella Brew or Trout Town Joes. So why market June mountain when Gregory would rather have everyone stay in Mammoth and ride Mammoth you know ASPEN OF… Read more »
Maybe if they would have different lift ticket prices for each mtn. More would make the drive to June. At least it would be a start
June has been advertised as a family resort, easy runs, etc. except that first you have to get up the Face, and Rusty and Mammoth have done absolutely nothing to upgrade that situation. An ancient center pole chair where you can’t even hold onto the kids to help them get… Read more »
Oh stop. Its not that bad…I know lots of kids/familys that love that chair…plus they put a cross bar on it 2 seasons ago
Depends how little the kids are and how much experience they have.
esfotoguy,
I think her point was that they’re pretty much not investing in June… at all! They should have replaced that old lift with something that doesn’t look like it’s 100 years old.
If MMSA can’t run June at a profit the sell it to somebody else. Maybe they can show Mammoth how to run a resort. By closing June and holding onto an desserted ski resort is very monoplistic. Rusty going to speak about June and talk to residence will not change… Read more »
This meeting is just a PR deal. What does Gregory care? He could very well say: “Look, the citizens should be paying for the empty seats on the plane – not the mountain. My partners and I would rather fly than drive to L.A. The ski industry doesn’t look good… Read more »
Ok, it’s been over a week…can our elected officials get some real information out there…What exactly does the USFS permit say? That is the key point here. The County has legal staff to interpret it. The best alternative here is for Mammoth Mtn to sell the rights to skiing on… Read more »
The Forest Service is interested in a “long-term sustainable operation?” Then why does the USFS Permit for June Mountain require that the the resort close by April15 of every year regardless of snow conditions? A couple of years ago some of the best snow storms occurred after April 15; there… Read more »
Local, April 15 closure has been required due to spring deer migration in that area.
I don’t know how it became “common knowledge” that the USFS dictates opening and closing dates, but I believe it to be false. If you research this I believe you will find that the Forest Service permit does not actually restrict the opening and closing dates for June Mountain. I… Read more »
I’ll give Rusty credit for having guts, no sense of right and wrong, but guts for walking into the lions den. I hope June Lake eats him up.
I already have. He does not listen very well.
There’s a saying on the fire department about the Monday Morning Quarterbacks….”Anyone can be a general in a time of peace.” Ol’ enoughalready talks a tough game but when it comes to the decisions CEO’s like Gregory are paid to make….he doesn’t have any answers other then snide remarks hidden… Read more »
Rusty’s going to June. In his own skin and name. Not sure I like everything he does but he’s there, front and center. How about you “Enough”? Why don’t you go and talk smack to his face?
Its a great time to develope a “sustainable vision”. Like I’ve stated before – always behind the eight ball, always playing catch up. I’m sure Rusty’s presents at the meeting will give it a real personal touch. Shed a few tears for them. Play it up. Don’t forget your smoke… Read more »