Is Marble Mountain ski resort a failure or an investment opportunity?

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is looking for potential private buyers for the Marble Mountain ski resort on Newfoundland's west coast — but the owner of a nearby hotel isn't optimistic about the ski hill's potential financial success. 

Joe Dicks, who owns Marble Inn Resort in Steady Brook, made a proposal last time the government put the resort up for sale but said his proposal fell flat. 

"I was expecting more process involved," said Dicks, "but it really just went away as a nothing issue after a while, even though we had submitted something." 

Marble Mountain isn't a priority for the government, said Dicks.

On the west coast, "we still believe that [it can] be a great recreational facility," he said. "We do believe that it can create good, meaningful employment and good meaningful rates of pay, and that would be good for the region as an economic generator."

However, Dicks is not interested in making another proposal this time, because over the past 10 years, "they've created a lot of economic risk." 

For example, he said, the aging infrastructure and old equipment, which has needed repairs in recent years, have implications for the purchase price or lease value. 

Dicks says the government is going to need to put in a bit more effort to repair the resort so that it sells. 

"I believe that it could be a profitable operation," said Dicks. "The government's going to have to bend a little because they have created the economic risk associated with Marble.… An entrepreneur would have to bring it back from a trough that's been created by others."

Investment opportunity?

Tourism Minister Steve Crocker says the resort, despite being up for sale, is not failing.

Crocker says there is increasing interest in summertime activities like mountain biking and chairlift rides, and there is more interest in the cruise industry.

"There's tremendous opportunity," said Crocker.

WATCH | The CBC's Colleen Connors has the latest as the government tries to move Marble Mountain: 

A familiar for sale sign: Marble Mountain seeks new buyer

3 months ago

Duration 2:51

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is once again trying to unload Marble Mountain Ski Resort. Until it finds a private buyer, taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars a year in operational costs. As the CBC’s Colleen Connors reports, this isn’t the first time the province has tried to sell the hill.

He also says the resort contributes to the west coast economy by being open during all four seasons and employing up to 150 people at peak operation. 

"I would argue that Marble brings a substantial return to the people of the west coast and the province from GDP."

Crocker also said efforts have been made to address the resort's aging infrastructure. 

"We know what those issues are, absolutely. We've invested in snow-making equipment, and we've invested in groomers over the last number of years. We've also invested in repairs to the deck," said Crocker. 

"Not massive repairs, but we have been putting capital repairs into the lodge, into the villa and other places around the hill."

He said the goal of the government's request for expressions of interest is to see if there is a buyer or long-term renter available, so the department "can see what the options are and see what the interest is."

"That would lead to what our next steps are."  

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