Snow Park NZ Closes to the Public for 2013
SNOW PARK NZ CLOSES TO THE PUBLIC FOR 2013
Snow Park NZ General Manager Sam Lee has released information for the upcoming 2013 Winter. Snow Park NZ returned to the Lee family to operate on April 1st 2013 and they have been tight lipped about what the plans are for 2013.
“We can now reveal that the plan for 2013 is that we will not be opening on a regular basis to the public.”
Said Sam Lee, General Manager. “We had hoped we could get on our feet sooner but we needed more time than we have had”.
Best efforts have been hampered by the volume of work and capital required. The team have made the decision to pause and get their bearings, and approach the future of Snow Park responsibly to their customers and trading partners.
“We have worked hard to underwrite the season and provide the Snow Park we have all come to know and love, but time has been against us from the start.” Said Lee. “This is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, with the level of functioning assets, I know we cannot provide the World Class terrain we have become known for”.
Snow Park NZ is prepared to stay closed for the 2013 winter as it plans to restructure itself moving forward.
“While this is bad news for the 2013 winter, its about the long term success of the brand, venue and assets. As a family we are passionate about the industry and Snow Park, but we have to be socially and fiscally responsible to our customers and our partners.”
They have not ruled out operating on an ad-hoc basis and plans for this will be released when there is more certainty about what will be provided. They will still be running their accommodation and be available for events and functions.
Our friends at Cardrona have extended their Late Bird Season Pass offer of $769 for Snowpark customers. This offer can only be claimed over the phone or in person at the Cardrona office in Wanaka.
At least Snow Park’s back with the Lee family. Hopefully that will put an end to the shitfight, and they can move forward unhindered.
At least they are being honest and not just doing a cash grab from anyone that would go this season based on false promises
Chucky would you care elaborate on the shitfight, interested to know.
The usual story, Mike - as soon as Snow Park became a ‘business’ instead of project of passion, things started to fall apart. Basically, not too long after the Lee family took on the Synnott family as business partners, shit started to get real.
Snow Park’s on farmland that’s been owned by the Lee family for generations. Sam Lee started Snow Park around 4 years after his Mum started Snow Farm (cross-country skiing area). If it hadn’t been for a T-bar they had at Snow Farm going to waste (they’re a tad redundant for cross-country skiing), Snow Park may never have happened. Sam stayed on as operations manager when the Synnott family got involved in early 2010 - but resigned in 2011, due to the “deterioration of their professional relationship” and “a difference in values” with the Synotts. Thankfully, Sam kept his shares in the business. The Synnott family’s three year business lease arrangement expired at the end of March this year, and Sam stepped straight back in.
Incidentally, Sam’s Dad started Cardrona in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
The usual story, Mike - as soon as Snow Park became a ‘business’ instead of project of passion, things started to fall apart. Basically, not too long after the Lee family took on the Synnott family as business partners, shit started to get real.
Snow Park’s on farmland that’s been owned by the Lee family for generations. Sam Lee started Snow Park around 4 years after his Mum started Snow Farm (cross-country skiing area). If it hadn’t been for a T-bar they had at Snow Farm going to waste (they’re a tad redundant for cross-country skiing), Snow Park may never have happened. Sam stayed on as operations manager when the Synnott family got involved in early 2010 - but resigned in 2011, due to the “deterioration of their professional relationship” and “a difference in values” with the Synotts. Thankfully, Sam kept his shares in the business. The Synnott family’s three year business lease arrangement expired at the end of March this year, and Sam stepped straight back in.
Incidentally, Sam’s Dad started Cardrona in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
Im glad we’ve got your wealth of knowledge to keep us informed and sharp on whats happened/happening in the world of snow chucky 
I did some reading on my own and got most of the story, couldn’t really work out the animosity between the owners and the managers so thanks for filling in the blanks Chucky.
I wonder if this means that if an event is scheduled (by a company like Volcum or Billabong) that features will be built?
Just imagine being able to turn up at SnowPark, after an event, with your mates and be able to hike it for a few days and have it to yourself!
No can do, they have the place locked. Private property.
So you would need to know the family to gain access to a private resort.
:slipsintodreamstateaboutprivateresort:
or have a shit load of cash
Or sneak in at daybreak for a few sneaky runs
not sure if any ones seen this yet, but snow park has now been sold
http://www.snowparknz.com/latest-news/snow-park-nz-sold-to-southern-hemisphere-proving-grounds/
What the actual f**k!
This deeply saddens me, the kind of sad that makes you want to rip chunks off whom ever is responsible for this outrage 