Events Continued - The Lake-Front Magazine
Events Continued - The Lake-Front Magazine
Events Continued - The Lake-Front Magazine
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Feature Story<br />
Wisp Resort Better than Ever!<br />
New Ownership & Existing Management<br />
provide Stability and Consistency<br />
After fourteen months in Chapter 11, Wisp Resort emerged from bankruptcy<br />
protection in late December with a new ownership structure and an infusion of<br />
capital and experience. Salt <strong>Lake</strong> City, Utah based Everbright Pacific, an affiliate<br />
of Pacific Group, has taken over as the new operator of the resort. Pacific Group<br />
partnered with a publicly traded real<br />
estate investor on the transaction.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sale was finalized just in time<br />
for the Christmas holidays to arrive<br />
and for the ski season to kick off in<br />
earnest.<br />
<strong>The</strong> vast majority of the Wisp<br />
management team will remain<br />
in their current positions with<br />
longtime Wisp Resort veteran<br />
Jerry Geisler assuming the reins<br />
of General Manager. This smooth<br />
transition will provide successful<br />
and experienced management for<br />
the resort going forward. Pacific Group will bring its operations and development<br />
experience from ski and golf resorts in New England, Canada, and throughout the<br />
West to help Wisp Resort as it expands its on-mountain services and associated<br />
amenities.<br />
“To be able to emerge from bankruptcy with a healthy financial situation presents<br />
lots of opportunities for us,” explained Geisler. “<strong>The</strong> way our team has worked<br />
together through a very difficult economic situation has been a strong testament<br />
to the culture here. With the additional support from Pacific Group, we are back<br />
on track towards our goal of providing our guests with the best mountain resort<br />
experience in the Mid-Atlantic region.”<br />
Geisler noted that the resort is in the midst of working on plans for improving<br />
the resort beginning this summer. In the meantime, some first steps towards<br />
improvements have already been implemented such as providing ski and snowboard<br />
rentals at the top of the mountain on busy weekends in the building that houses<br />
the Pumphouse Café. Food service has also been expanded at that location. Both<br />
changes have helped relieve some congestion in the Main Lodge on busy holidays<br />
and weekends. Geisler noted, “By eliminating the shuttle ride back down the<br />
mountain to the base for rentals and lift tickets, our guests get more time on the<br />
snow and have a much better experience.”<br />
Wisp Resort is continuing its full offerings in skiing and snowboarding as well<br />
6 -<strong>The</strong> <strong>Lake</strong>-<strong>Front</strong> TM - March, 2013<br />
<strong>Continued</strong>.....