Hidden Valley, Wildwood working towards positive development

Hidden Valley Ski Resort General Manager Bill Brandes has plenty of positive things to say about the city of Wildwood these days. It is a far cry from the turmoil of last year, when a request for a snow tube and an expanded parking lot turned into threats of shutting down the popular ski resort.

"I think it's pretty clear that they know Hidden Valley wants to stay in the area and I do believe the majority of the city of Wildwood wants us to be here," Brandes said. 

Last March, Hidden Valley approached the city with a request to add a snow tubing run and an additional 250 parking spaces in order to draw in customers who do not ski. Wildwood responded with a list of 39 complaints about the request. After addressing the entire list of problems and resubmitting the request, the city added two new requirements. Wildwood wanted Hidden Valley to donate 1.65 acres of land for public use or to pay the city more than $251,000 in exchange for the parking lot. The city also wanted the ski resort to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Outraged about the requirements, Tim Boyd, president of Peak Resorts Inc. and owner of Hidden Valley, threatened to close the facility altogether. However, residents turned out in droves in support of the ski resort and a compromise was reached.

Hidden Valley agreed to design a 10-year master plan and create a conservation easement around the ski area. Wildwood agreed to let the ski resort, which pre-dates the incorporation of the city, to skip having to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission for every change so long as the proper building permits are obtained. 

Lost in the process was Hidden Valley's golf course, which closed Nov. 30.

Brandes said spring, which typically would keep the resort busy with golfers, has been fairly quiet, with the exception of a few callers lamenting over the closure. 

"It's different without (the golf course), but the wildlife loves it," Brandes said. "Just recently we've had some baby fawns delivered on the golf course and we had some baby turkeys and geese born here, too."

Movement on the snow tube and parking lot has been slow as well. Both are still on the drawing board with city approval expected before the 2010-11 season. The 10-year plan also is in the development stage. 

"That is not a reflection on the city, it's our design plan," Brandes said. "With the way the economy has been lately, we had to push that back until at least the fall."

The snow tube is expected to offer 10 to 12 lanes, each approximately 12 feet wide. The entire tubing run will be approximately 800 feet in length. The paved parking lot will replace some of the gravel lot that will be lost due to the development of the snow tube. 

"The city has been really cooperative, so this has turned out to really be a win-win situation," Brandes said.