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Leelanau News updated Wednesday February 8, 2012
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Great Indoor Folk Festival ~ Feb 12, 2012
The 4th Annual Great Indoor Folk Festival takes place this Sunday, February 12 in Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons. The festival runs from noon to 5:30, and it is family-friendly and free, though you're encouraged to donate through "busker buckets."

There will be 6 different stages with over 50 musicians on seven different stages.   read more »

Coming Events (add your own!)
Empire Winterfest (Feb 11), ÊTraverse City Winter Microbrew Festival (Feb 11), Glen Arbor Winterfest (Feb 18), ÊSleeping Bear Snowshoe Hikes (Every Saturday). Check the Leelanau Calendar.

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February 7, 2008

Brad Lutz & Sugar Loaf

Filed under: Leelanau,michigan,omena,skiing,sugar loaf,winter — Andrew McFarlane @ 3:11 pm

View from Devils ElbowThe Enterprise has a little more about Sugar Loaf in this week's paper, but since they haven't posted it, I thought I'd link to this article about Sugar Loaf suitors and Omena residents Brad & Linda Lutz from last week.

I should also link over to the Traverse City Record-Eagle, whose editors say Brad has a steep hill to climb and though:

It's easy to imagine Brad Lutz as just another Sugar Loaf victim in waiting. He's never done this before and he is treading where others have failed.

But a lot of people also wrote off Ray Minervini, the developer who took over the Grand Traverse Commons and, step by step, has revitalized parts of the former state hospital grounds.

3 Comments »

  1. Considering the nature and amount of work that will be necessary to get the resort up and running again, work on the hill itself will most likely have to begin as soon as the snow's gone. Looks like Brad isn't afraid of the long slog that this might turn into. Then again, as the old saying goes, the best runs are those you work the hardest to get to.

    As soon as Brad announces a job fair or wants to host anything for prospective staff for the resort, I plan on being there. I had several years at the resort and would like very much to be a part of its revival.

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    Comment by Karl Kitchen — February 8, 2008 @ 9:55 am

  2. Being in the snowsports industry for about 13years I've seen a lot of different plans, what works & what doesn't. Just by the nature of our economy, the weather & general liabilities, I think a modest/safe approach is the best. Brad will have a lot of engineering costs/work, insurance for ski areas is brutal & the fact that most everything needs to be replaced (check http://www.saminfo.com for classifieds). However, it's sometimes better to start from scratch, doing it step by step is better than trying to fix or re-engineer the whole place. The companies that I see that are successful(show a profit)are diverse(softgoods,food) & try to be a year round business(mtn biking,golf,hiking or a narcon drug rehab clinic...lol) instead of just 1 season business or who focus on the appearance of success.

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    Comment by lex — February 11, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

  3. Well, taar.com is listing sugarloaf for sale...for the pocket change amount of 5.7million...I'm just a little short by a few zeros. Wonder if this is to put pressure on Mr. Lutz or the deal is off.

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    Comment by lex — February 26, 2008 @ 4:16 pm

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