Closing delayed. Telemark Resort deal, Birkebeiner ski race back in limbo
A deal to secure the future of the Telemark Resort in Cable has stalled once again, creating uncertainty for organizers of the American Birkebeiner ski race and residents counting on jobs and income from Telemark.
The closing scheduled for Friday was postponed indefinitely, and the parties are back to negotiating, according to sources involved in the deal.
“I am hoping that great minds will prevail over the next two or three or four days and the closing scheduled for Friday was just an April Fool, and we will close in the next four or five days as planned,” said Dick Short.
Short, a developer from Missouri, controls the property via the mortgage he holds on the lodge and roughly 1,000 acres that surrounds it.
The current owners, the Telemark Interval Owners Association, closed the lodge in the fall and voted to surrender the property to Short via a friendly foreclosure.
Meanwhile, the Telemark Partners LLC, has been negotiating to buy Telemark and renovate it into an Olympic-level training center.
That’s the deal that stumbled on Friday, creating another twist in the 64-year history of the iconic lodge, home of the country's largest cross-country ski race. For now, Telemark is closed.
Mike Kocon, the president of the TIOA Board of Directors, said the purchase agreement presented to his group wasn’t acceptable.
“We need to have that purchase agreement rewritten, and it’s just taken some time,” Kocon said. “I’m optimistic that we’re going to get this done."
Birkie options:
For the Birkebeiner, sooner would be better than later.
Anticipating a record 9,000 skiers for the races in 2012, the Birkebeiner needs to secure permission to use the Telemark lodge and the sections of Birkebeiner trail that crosses Telemark land.
Without that in place, organizers would have to pursue an alternate course option, possibly starting at Highway OO outside of Seeley, said Ned Zuelsdorff, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.
“We can’t be waiting months for an agreement to roll around,” Zuelsdorff said Monday.
“I don’t think we have any desire to leave Telemark,” he said. “The question is can we reach an agreement with whoever is in control of the property in the near future.
“I think we need an agreement within weeks.”
James Bolen, the executive director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, said Telemark’s survival depends on all parties committing to contribute.
“Telemark is a storied property with great potential,” he said in an email.
“Unfortunately, it has fallen into a state of repair that will require a new owner to commit millions of dollars to make it competitive again.
“If such an owner could be found, I firmly believe the potential for a profitable business is there. The property has so much to offer and an entrepreneur would have the ability to highlight those assets and turn them into significant revenue.
“The sale price is not the issue. The monies need to renovate the facility are.
“Unfortunately, most people have been looking for what they can take from Telemark not what they can give to it. No-one appears willing to negotiate in good faith. All sides are looking for what they will get once the facility re-opens but remain unwilling to 'give' or commit to financially assisting with expenses.”
Telemark Lodge. Photo by Tom Held
10 Comments for "Closing delayed. Telemark Resort deal, Birkebeiner ski race back in limbo"
What really was a surprise is the idea that the ABSF is seriously considering starting the race at OO. They talked about it this year when the owner tried to hold them up with a per skier fee. They switched the start of the Birkie Tour from Telemark to OO not because of the cold but to prove to the owner that they didn't need Telemark. And I know that there is great pressure to end the race in Hayward. But the reality of starting 9,000 skiers from OO. I just can't imagine it.
To me, it would make more sense to start in Hayward like in the old days. Ski north to the High Point water stop on the Birkie and Birkie classic trails and back to OO on the Birkie trail. Much like in the long race at the pre-Birkie. You get your distance. You spread the finishers out enough so that the busses can get them out of Seeley without too much trouble. Then bus them back to Hayward for post race beers. It wouldn't be the same as finishing on Main street but the chaos of trying to start 9,000 skiers at OO would be avoided.
Not to mention starting the race going down the hill that normally climbs up to OO followed by a downhill at Tourettes. The carnage would be incredible.
earthmoover Apr 04, 2011 3:03 PM
Who needs Telemark?
BigRed1 Apr 04, 2011 3:48 PM
Trailpatrol Apr 04, 2011 6:22 PM
ChicagoRunTimes Apr 04, 2011 7:52 PM
pojo440 Apr 04, 2011 9:31 PM
nordicdon Apr 05, 2011 4:05 AM
The Fat Tire Festival took care of their problem. The ransom that the Telemark owner demanded of the Birkie (and all other events) was a per entrant fee of $10. For the Birkie, and considering all events, that would have been $90,000 which they didn't have. So they started the Birkie Tour at OO. Threatened to do the same with the Birkie and then negotiated a better rate.
The Fat Tire Festival raised their entry fee this year $10. That number isn't a coincidence. It's the number that allows them to use the Telemark property for their race.
The ABSF is actively looking at property in the Cable area that would allow them to cut Telemark out of the equation. Last Winter, they offered to buy 300 acres from the owners and were turned down. That would have allowed them to bypass the Telemark trails and another recalcitrant land owner on the way to the power lines (that's why you can only ski the section by the start one day per year). Apparently, there's some land by the golf course club house that would allow them to do the same thing. Getting control of it at a reasonable price is the problem.
Again, the locals are hopeful but I don't think anyone up there is counting on Telemark being a going concern ever again.
earthmoover Apr 05, 2011 8:53 AM
greed. myself and others have poured a lot of money into that place with
support of the birkie and what do we get a higher registration fee every
year, (80-90 for early regist) my condo went up 100 plus bucks. Its a
great race, i enjoy the course and people , but it is getting a little steep.
I like the idea of the birkie seeking out alternative land and trying to link
up with the classic trail by powerlines. It is important to keep the classic
trail seperate. Stop being blackmailed . Its obvious this hotel can't really
stand on its own , its extremely hard to make any profit when its in the
middle of no where. If it had a larger and functioning downhill area it may
work but there isn't enough events to sustain such a large place.
Don't be held hostage birkie and slow the rate increases down please.
gunde S Apr 05, 2011 8:06 PM
BergenRaceWings Apr 06, 2011 9:17 AM
Gary Crandall Apr 08, 2011 7:55 PM