From The Pocono Record
By Andrew Scott
Pocono Record Writer
Succeeding so far in the towing and motorcycle dealership businesses, Jim and Linda Schlier are now trying their hand at the resort business. The Schliers on Monday bought Alpine Resort in Price Township from previous owner Kevin Fabiano for $412,500.
“It was a steal,” said Michael Baxter Sr. of Michael Baxter & Associates in Stroudsburg, who worked with son Michael Baxter Jr. and fellow associate Deron Erney on the sale. “Once our company was brought on board to handle the sale, it took a couple of months to work out all the details and finalize everything, but everyone walked away happy in the end.”
Including hills that had been meant for winter ski slope use, the 97-acre property sits along the western side of Route 447, surrounded by the secluded woods of Price Township. The Schliers, who own Schlier’s Towing based in Tannersville and Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson in Snydersville, plan to make it a destination resort without the skiing.
“It wasn’t economically feasible for the previous owner to maintain and keep the skiing open, given the recent warm winters we’ve had,” Jim Schlier said Tuesday at the resort property. “So, we plan to sell two of the three ski lifts and keep one.”
Linda Schlier said, “Other than removing the two ski lifts and keeping this a destination resort, we’re not yet 100 percent sure what we plan to do.”
Jim Schlier mentioned the idea of possibly catering to motorcyclists, since the couple owns the Harley-Davidson dealership, but this remains to be seen.
The Schliers consider the purchase a good one, noting the aesthetic exterior and interior features of the 23,000-square-foot building that houses a bar. In its 40-plus-year history, the resort has hosted weddings, the annual Latin Fest and other events, said Michael Baxter Jr.
Fabiano and his son bought the property in early 2014. He had plans to invest millions of dollars in upgrading the property and having repairs done to the bridge accessing the property from Route 447.
When Charles Poalillo Jr. owned the property prior to Fabiano buying it, residents of the neighboring Timber Hill community had been using Timber Hill Road to access and cut across Alpine’s unpaved parking area to the bridge onto Route 447.
After buying the property, Fabiano placed boulders at the bottom of Timber Hill Road to block access while he renovated the property. His intent was to reopen access if the Timber Hill Community Association would build a road to connect to the Route 447 bridge without cutting across the property.
The Schliers said Tuesday that the community association still has access from Timber Hill Road blocked. There was no indication the community association had been in contact with the Schliers to discuss whether access will remain blocked.
By March 2016, the resort was still in business, despite a slow ski season. However, there was a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to Poalillo having been in arrears on the resort’s utility bill, according to Fabiano’s attorney, though Fabiano said he hadn’t been the one to file for Chapter 11.
After an online auction of several major items was held late last year to help the financially troubled resort, Fabiano had the property listed for sale by January, with the initial starting bid at $750,000.
By Andrew Scott
Pocono Record Writer
Photo: NYSkiForums
Succeeding so far in the towing and motorcycle dealership businesses, Jim and Linda Schlier are now trying their hand at the resort business. The Schliers on Monday bought Alpine Resort in Price Township from previous owner Kevin Fabiano for $412,500.
“It was a steal,” said Michael Baxter Sr. of Michael Baxter & Associates in Stroudsburg, who worked with son Michael Baxter Jr. and fellow associate Deron Erney on the sale. “Once our company was brought on board to handle the sale, it took a couple of months to work out all the details and finalize everything, but everyone walked away happy in the end.”
“It wasn’t economically feasible for the previous owner to maintain and keep the skiing open, given the recent warm winters we’ve had,” Jim Schlier said Tuesday at the resort property. “So, we plan to sell two of the three ski lifts and keep one.”
Linda Schlier said, “Other than removing the two ski lifts and keeping this a destination resort, we’re not yet 100 percent sure what we plan to do.”
Jim Schlier mentioned the idea of possibly catering to motorcyclists, since the couple owns the Harley-Davidson dealership, but this remains to be seen.
The Schliers consider the purchase a good one, noting the aesthetic exterior and interior features of the 23,000-square-foot building that houses a bar. In its 40-plus-year history, the resort has hosted weddings, the annual Latin Fest and other events, said Michael Baxter Jr.
Fabiano and his son bought the property in early 2014. He had plans to invest millions of dollars in upgrading the property and having repairs done to the bridge accessing the property from Route 447.
After buying the property, Fabiano placed boulders at the bottom of Timber Hill Road to block access while he renovated the property. His intent was to reopen access if the Timber Hill Community Association would build a road to connect to the Route 447 bridge without cutting across the property.
The Schliers said Tuesday that the community association still has access from Timber Hill Road blocked. There was no indication the community association had been in contact with the Schliers to discuss whether access will remain blocked.
By March 2016, the resort was still in business, despite a slow ski season. However, there was a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to Poalillo having been in arrears on the resort’s utility bill, according to Fabiano’s attorney, though Fabiano said he hadn’t been the one to file for Chapter 11.
After an online auction of several major items was held late last year to help the financially troubled resort, Fabiano had the property listed for sale by January, with the initial starting bid at $750,000.