Company Drops Bid For Schweitzer

One of the bidders for Sandpoint’s Schweitzer Mountain Resort apparently has taken its offer from the table after reconsidering its plans for expansion.

Telluride Ski and Golf Co. said in a statement Monday that the company’s plans to pursue Schweitzer and a Utah ski resort have been dropped.

“The formula for Telluride’s success has always been to go against the grain,” said Telluride spokesman Mike Shimkonis.

Telluride had been one of three potential buyers for the ailing ski resort. Spokane’s Goodale & Barbieri Cos. and Seattle-based Harbor Properties Inc. also are interested in owning Schweitzer. It’s asking price reportedly is above the $27 million in debt the mountain’s owners, Sandpoint’s Brown family, owe to various creditors.

Ford Elsaesser, Sandpoint attorney and court-appointed receiver for Schweitzer, said he could not comment on the report.

Telluride also had pursued Wolf Mountain in Utah. The company will sell much of its stake in the Kirkwood, Calif., ski resort, and refocus its efforts on expanding its namesake resort.

Other Colorado ski giants such as Vail have sold stock to finance the purchase of other ski resorts. Telluride considered a stock offering to do the same, but owner Ron Allred reconsidered, according to the Telluride spokesman.

, DataTimes