Members listen to Butternut Basin presentation before voting to sell Blandford Ski Area Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
BLANDFORD – Before a standing room only crowd of members and friends, the Springfield Ski Club held a special meeting of current membership on Tuesday to vote on whether to move forward with the sale of Blandford Ski Area to Butternut Basin. After hearing from Mike Gagnon, president of the ski club and Jeff Murdock, owner of Butternut Basin, 286 members, including proxy ballots of those not able to attend, were in favor of the sale. The vote was well over the two-thirds of the 338 current members required to move forward.
Gagnon thanked the members for attending and said the meeting was paramount to the future of the Blandford Ski Area. “We’re in dire straits, and needed to take action for the long haul of the Ski Area,” Gagnon said. He went on to say that the Board of Directors of the Springfield Ski Club was approached by Butternut, and voted to entertain the sale with a letter of intent, so they could do their due diligence.
The Board then sent a letter to the membership within the 21-day notification period required by Massachusetts General Law for 501(c)3 non-profits, with guidance from their attorney David Park in following the club’s bylaws.
Gagnon said the monetary transaction for the sale will be negligible. “Nobody will be walking out with money,” he said, later clarifying that the sale of all of the assets will be made with the understanding that all of the club’s liabilities, mortgage and loans will be covered. “So essentially we walk away without having to incur liabilities in the future,” he said.
Butternut Basin general manager Dick McCann, with owners Reggie and Jeff Murdock. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Gagnon then introduced Murdock and Dick McCann, general manager of the Butternut Basin, who will be taking a leadership role along with Murdock at Blandford Ski Area. McCann, who is originally from Westfield, said he lives about one mile away from Blandford Ski Area.
“We’re happy to be here tonight,” Murdock said. He said Butternut Basin, which was started by his father, has been skiing people for 65 years. “Dad cut the trails, and Mom did the books,” he said.
Murdock said his father’s vision of a family ski area, not super commercial and pretty down home is what he tried to preserve 20 years ago when he took over, and what he sees for Blandford Ski Area. He said he toured the area with members of the Board, but it was when he took the 4-wheeler up on the hill, that he was hooked.
“This is a great mountain; trails are terrific. It’s unique. Butternut and Blandford are old-fashioned in that way,” Murdock said, before giving the floor to McCann.
“It’s like coming home for me,” said McCann, adding that his father first brought him there in around 1952 when they became members. He said he grew up skiing, racing, and work partying there. “It developed in me the love I have for the ski industry. Full circle, I’m coming back,” he said.
Murdock said ownership will pass, but it will remain the home of the Springfield Ski Club.
“Butternut stands ready to make sure that will happen,” he said.
Getting down to specific plans, Murdock said his first year focus will be to prepare and upgrade the snowmaking on the mountain. Second will be the safety of the lifts, “a primary focus of ours in the business,” he said. Third will be grooming, for which Murdock said they could put in a groomer tomorrow. “We have resources. We’re prepared to put some muscle into it. There’s a long list of things to do,” he added. He also said plans for what they have to do will require a $1 million investment, one-third of which they will spend the first year on snowmaking upgrades.
Springfield Ski Club treasurer Kevin Ryan and president Mike Gagnon, who said he felt “relieved” after the vote. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Both Murdock and McCann said the place has to open this season. One immediate change will be a new pricing structure. He said essentially they will promote a $199 adult season pass the first year, with other category prices offered for junior, child, college and senior skiiers. In addition, the new pass will allow Blandford members to ski at Ski Butternut and Otis Ridge, also owned by the Murdocks, on non-holiday weekends at 50% off, and on non-holiday weekdays for $15.
Murdock said another change will be in hiring. He said currently, Blandford Ski Area runs on 5 or 6 full-time positions. They will open with 100.
In response to several questions, Murdock said they intend to use the people who are at Blandford. He said it will continue to be the Blandford Ski School and Blandford Ski Patrol. While he and McCann would be leading the change, he said they would call a meeting of people who want to be involved. “We will find leadership from here or elsewhere to run Blandford Ski Area,” he said.
Following more questions, Gagnon asked for a show of hands of people in the room who wanted to proceed with the vote. The room responded with uplifted hands. He then asked for a show of hands for people who did not want to proceed, and not a single one was raised.
Following the count, Gagnon said he was feeling relieved. “It’s been a long process for us, recognizing the state of affairs. This was necessary to sustain the existence of the Blandford Ski Area,” Gagnon said.
Springfield Ski Club treasurer Kevin Ryan said that he was hopeful that the purchase and sale agreement could be completed sometime in August.
“We’re excited. It’s an exciting privilege to be able to do this. We will do our best,” said Murdock. He added that they have a ton of work to do just getting the place up and rolling with some changes. “We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again,” Murdock said.
