Trending
ULYSSES - There is hope for Denton Hill Ski Resort to come back to life with the recent announcement by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that an agreement between it and Denton Go, LLC, has been made for the local corporation to operate as concessionaires for the former downhill ski resort as a four-season resort.
Denton has been closed for the past 10 years, since the winter of 2014 following the end of a ski concession agreement that had been in place for more than 50 years, according to DCNR press Secretary Wesley Robinson.
Located on the 700-acre Denton Hill State Park along Route 6 in Ulysses Township, Potter County, the park is in the Route 6 Heritage Corridor and in the Pennsylvania Wilds. It was developed by DCNR as a specialized ski area in the early 1950s.
Robinson said DCNR plans to invest $10 million out of its operating budget to modernize the property and add features for the planned resort, including renovations to the long vacant lodge.
Denton Go will also invest in the improvements, Robinson said.
After a feasibility study in January 2016, DCNR committed to move forward with a master planning process to expand recreational opportunities in all four seasons by increasing funds needed to repair infrastructure and enhance the park.
DCNR is currently working on a 35-year lease agreement with Denton Go, LLC, led by locals, Todd Brown, Jason Holmberg and Scott Carts, all of Potter County.
Once agreement is hammered out with Denton Go, the design work will be bid in the spring of 2024, Robinson said.
"The plan for the park is four seasons of recreation and to give people most importantly downhill skiing, which seems to be what people want to see come back the most," he said.
"We are hoping for site work to begin in 2024. We are committed to make this work," he added.
In a recent interview, Brown said all three partners went skiing at Denton with their families and wanted to see the resort come back so they bid on it when the state put out RPPs earlier this year.
"Scott was a partner with a former concessionaire there, so it was not a foreign concept to us. Back in 2013-14 we tried to keep it going but it didn't come to fruition at that time," Brown said.
Brown, who with Holmberg runs a business in Potter County said he felt the state "just needed to have one relationship end to have another one started, so they could do the master plan."
"In hindsight the past business didn't work out well because it was only a ski season resort and I think the state wanted to evaluate its possibilities as a four-season resort. I think DCNR knew that in order for it to work, it has to be a four season. We can embrace that," he said.
Among the many uses for the park discussed by the three partners is as an addition to the dark skies tourism industry.
Cherry Springs state park attracts tourists to see the dark skies in increasing numbers every year.
"One of our goals was to include that as well, use a chairlift to get people up to see the dark skies, maybe as an intro base to dark skies viewing. Maybe we can relieve some of that burden from Cherry Springs which is sold out," he said.
There are also some lodges the trio want to get up and running again, maybe open up a small RV park, he said, citing its convenient location along Route 6.
"We do see the opportunity to grow from the PA Wilds region providing one more venue to bring people in. There would be mountain biking, hiking, a tubing park, dark skies viewing, festivals, bow hunting, archery. Last year we ended up renting the Lumberman's Museum for a graduation party. We can do that at Denton Hill. We just have to be patient," Brown said.
Though the park will not be ready in time for the upcoming ski season, Brown said in the next six to nine months he hopes to be able to get "boots on the ground" and move forward.
One thing they will need to evaluate is the lodge itself, "to see if we can use it in its current condition, as it hasn't been certified or inspected in years. The triple chair chair lift will also need some TLC, he added.
The three men are all close friends, according to Brown.
"I have known both my partners for 20-plus years and Scott's grandfather Cliff Carts, a forester, was one of the original founders of Ski Denton. Scott is also a private forester," Brown said.
"Scott has taken us on some tours up there. And it is just as beautiful as the hill itself. It has a spectacular view and people don't get to see that unless they hike it," he said.
DCNR is also more open to ATVs and UTVs, to allow that segment to grow too, with dedicated trails and loops for riders, Brown added.
"I think they understand the value of this huge segment of tourism and want to try to find the balance in working with that," he said.
"I think the good news is that they partnered with us before the details are worked out. I understand the time frame with the state. That's what I remind myself, if I waited this long, I can wait a few more months," he added.