Who owns the iconic Stowe logo, with the big sweeping S? If it is the Mt. Mansfield Co., or whatever the mountain is known as, that could get very interesting around town with a change in ownership.
Obviously there have been rumors of AIG, and now it's successor company selling for at least 35 years. I saw my first prospectus, in I think 1986. Many people did varying degrees of due diligence, and I believe there were some serious discussions, but it never happened.
I know one group that felt that it could not work at close to the bottom line price. As I recall, it was because of the "very limited developmemt potential." Toll House was developed, there were a few houses near Spruce on on the road up to the Big Spruce Chair. I think that the thought was that acquiring more land, and getting permitting done would be very difficult.
Obviously if you look at an aerial view of the whole Spruce side of 108 now versus 1986, they owners figured it out! Did they ever.
But now, I guess my question is how a very opportunistic organization views Stowe, in terms of delivering the returns and upside that their shareholders demand. Particularly as I assume it would command a huge price.
I grew up there. I LOVE the mountain. But to me this is not a true destination resort in scope or scale like the rest of their holdings tend to be. Maybe they have a vision for more of everything up on that footprint of land. I have no clue.
Another factor is truly how big can four seasons be in terms of revenue up at the mountain, and the golf course. I think their normal model is to be as busy, or busier in terms of the summer.
Would not surprise me, and will be interesting to keep an eye on.
In terms of proximity to major cities, don't forget Montreal. Big draw of that crowd to Stowe, even with an unfavorable exchange rate. Has never seemed to matter to them.