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About this Episode
Lost Valley owner Scott Shanaman, general manager John Herrick, and marketing manager Travis Dow take a look back at one of the most successful season's in Lost Valley's 65 year history. Scott shares some details about purchasing the resort 10 years ago and they talk about the upcoming end-of-season Beach Bash on March 29, which includes plenty of fun and wild events for the whole family!
Transcript
Coming to you from the Lidia Media Studios and the heart of Lewiston Auburn, it's Lidia's
lunchbunch.
L.A.'s afternoon morning show with Mark and JC were covering news and events in the
greater L.A. area and talking to the people making a difference in our community.
Feel free to share your comments, questions, or suggestions via email at podcast at Lidia
media.
LLC.com
Today's show is brought to you by Rupert's beverage and redemption when it comes to beer, wine,
and spirits.
Don't botch it, squash it, at four locations in Lewiston Auburn and Oxford.
Learn more at Rupert's beverage.com and remember, the party starts at Rupert's.
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Coming up in just a bit, we'll be joined in studio by Lost Valley owner Scott Shannon,
general manager John Herrick and assistant general manager Travis Dow.
But before we get there, let's take a look at some headlines for Monday, March 16th.
The Lewiston School Committee will hold a budget workshop as part of the City of Lewiston's
fiscal year 2027 budget process.
Residents are encouraged to attend.
The workshop is today at 5.30 p.m. at the Green Ladle on the Lewiston High School campus
at 156 East Ave.
The Auburn Fire Department announced two promotions.
Eric Poland was promoted to the rank of battalion chief.
Poland began his career in 2008 and is now assigned as the shift commander of shift A.
He is also the chief officer responsible for leading the department's special rescue
division.
And Chris Washburn was promoted to captain.
He also began his career with AFD in 2008 and is now the shift captain for shift A.
With America's 250th birthday on the way this summer, the City of Auburn announced that
the first baby born on Saturday, July 4th will receive free Auburn Recreation Department
summer day camp from pre-K through 8th grade.
The City describes it as a heartfelt way to welcome a new little Auburn resident during
a historic year for our nation and our community.
And the City of Lewiston is encouraging residents to stay connected through its notify me service,
updates regarding municipal services, elections, traffic advisories, and more will be sent directly
to your email or phone.
Learn more at LewistonMain.gov.
Now it's time for the weather.
Rain or shine, it's all okay.
Grab your you can start the day.
You don't need perfect skies above.
Hey, just a song and a little rain today with a high of 54 in a low of 35.
Cloudy and windy tomorrow, high of 56 in low of 22 and mostly sunny on Wednesday with highs
in the low 30s in sports Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony hit the go ahead home run and
Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless eighth inning as team USA beat the Dominican
Republic two to one in the world baseball classic semifinals.
The US will face the winner of tonight's Venezuela Italy game and the championship game
tomorrow at 8 p.m.
The Bruins visit the New Jersey doubles tonight at seven.
The Celtics host the Phoenix Suns tonight at 7 30.
The main Nordic dropped a pair of games to the New Hampshire Mountain Kings over the weekend.
The Nords have lost seven straight and will try to write the ship this weekend at home
against the Elmira Aviators.
In the NCAA division three women's basketball suite 16, Bates College's season ended with
a 76 to 59 loss to the undefeated University of Scranton.
The Bobcats conclude their season with a 26 and 4 record, a second Nescag title, a fourth
bid to the sweet 16 and the most wins in program history.
Senior captain Elsa Delario finished her career with 1,375 career points.
The sixth highest total in Bates Women's Basketball history.
The Lewis and Maniac swept Universal Quebec over the weekend, winning six to zero on Friday
in five to three on Saturday.
The Maniacs will visit the New England Wolves on Wednesday afternoon.
That is your news, weather and sports.
And right now it's time for the podcast segment that is sweeping the Twin Cities.
It's time for famous people birthdays.
Let's take a look at FPBs for March the 16th.
We're going to start off with bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, who is 35 years old today.
He's the son of actress Valerie Bertinelli and legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen.
He performed alongside his father and his uncle Alex as the bassist for Van Halen from
2007 to 2020.
After Eddie's death, Wolfgang began to focus on his solo project, Mammoth, in which he
performs all instruments and vocals.
His debut album, Mammoth, WVH, was released in 2021.
Lauren Graham is 59 years old today.
She's best known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore on the Gilmore Girls.
Lauren also played Sarah on parenthood from 2010 to 2015.
Yeah, boy.
Rapper Flavor Flavor.
A public enemy is 67 years old today, JC.
Oh my goodness.
I did that for Pam.
Because you know, Pam is, she's really into the rap.
Yeah.
So I was hoping she was going to be here today to celebrate Flavor Flavor's birthday
and give us a yeah, boy, but I had to do it instead.
Flav is a founding member of public enemy alongside Chuck D, a rap group that
has earned six Grammy Award nominations.
And Flav was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of public
enemy.
And let's not forget his TV career, which included the surreal life, strange love,
and flavor of love.
The guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart is 72 years old today.
She rose to fame alongside her older sister Ann Wilson.
She is also an accomplished singer in her own right, being the lead vocalist in the song
These Dreams, which became Heart's first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Heart in 2013.
Rounding out FPBs from March the 16th is actor Eric Estrada, who is 77 years old today,
widely known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol Officer,
Francis Luellen, Ponce Ponceurello in the television series Chips, which aired from 1977 to 1983.
Those are your FPBs.
Now it's time for some O.T.Ds.
Six years ago in 2020, Kat's won worst picture at the Razzies, along with the worst supporting
actor and supporting actress for James Corden and Rebel Wilson.
You know what always amazes me but the Razzies is a lot of actors and actresses attend to
pick up their awards.
Oh my goodness.
Yeah, just make a joke out of it.
Do they have best pictures there or is it just the worst picture?
I believe everything is the worst.
It's like the opposite of the Oscars.
Everything is just horrible.
Oh boy.
Fourteen years ago in 2012, 21 Jump Street was released starring Jonah Hill in Channing
Tatum as cops who go undercover as high school students.
I want you to take a guess, JC, as to how old Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum were when
they played high school students.
They had to at least be in their 20s.
I don't.
Jonah was 28 and Channing Tatum was 31, playing high school students.
This is going back to our conversation a while ago about bull grown adults playing high schools.
I think it was Greece because yeah, Stocker Channing was like 45 years old when she wasn't
that old, but she might as well have been.
One look at her and you're like, she's in high school?
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
55 years ago in 1971 at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge
Over Trouble Water One, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best
Contemporary Song, Best Arrangement by Accompanying Vocalists, Best Engineered Recording.
Ah, too shabby.
Simon and Garfunkel, they are forced to be reckoned with or they were anyways.
224 years ago in 1802, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was established.
I just looked this up because I was curious, West Point provides a tuition-free education
valued at over $300,000 in exchange for a 5-year active duty service obligation.
Those are your FPBs and OTDs for March the 16th.
Whether you want to sit down meal or a grab and go, Pets Pizza in Auburn offers delicious
sandwiches, pasta, salads, and pizza at family-friendly prices.
Pets Pizza serving the L.A. area since 1985, open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 85
Center Street in Auburn online at PetsAuburn.com.
Hi, it's Donna Harris from Phoenix, No Limits, Karate here with your daily safety tip.
Parents teach your children to never open the door for anyone if home alone.
Let's all do our best to keep our community safe.
Derigo Federal Credit Union is proud to call Lewis and Auburn home, whether you're buying
a house, saving for the future, or growing your business.
We're here for you, right where you live, visit DerigoFCU.com, and feel the difference
of a credit union that truly knows L.A.
We are joined in studio by Lost Valley owner Scott Shannonman.
How are you doing, Scott?
I'm doing great.
Excellent.
Thank you for joining us today.
General Manager John Herrick.
How are you, John?
Hey, I'm doing wonderful.
I'm home and Marketing Manager Travis Dow.
How are you doing, Travis?
Doing great.
Scott, it's your first time on the podcast.
Yeah.
Thanks for having me.
Absolutely.
Well, there was that one time that he came in and gave the only wind in your hair.
Yes.
Oh, yes.
I dropped in for quotes sometime.
Right.
He went legend.
Yes, he did.
He dropped a t-shirt quote and then just walked away.
He walked away, yeah.
Scott, what inspired you and your wife to purchase Lost Valley?
Oh boy, that's a tough question.
I've been in the ski industry all my life,
cut my teeth that shouldle off in the 90s,
continue to have another company that inspects
and maintains ski lifts.
Loss Valley was actually a customer of that company.
I used to joke with the owners.
Hey, if you ever want to sell this place, let me know.
One day, they called my bluff.
And then you're like, what do I do now?
Basically how it happened, yeah.
You're a fighting beaver, too, aren't you?
I am an angry beaver, yes.
From Farmington, the graduate of the ski industry program
at Farmington, Maine, to where it all began, right?
Yes.
So when Loss Valley was put up for sale
and you had an opportunity to purchase it,
was there any hesitation there?
Or were you like, I'm doing this?
There was a lot of hesitation for my wife.
Okay.
She didn't see the diamond in the rough that I saw.
I guess at the time.
So yes, there was a lot of hesitation.
We actually took it over as a management contract
for the first season to keep it going
because I didn't want it to close.
It's very difficult to bring an organization like that
back after it closes, after you lose.
I didn't want to lose the school programs
and all the, what is the bread and butter
of Loss Valley's operation, which is the school programs,
the wreck programs, the racing teams, all that stuff
is our guaranteed revenue and had we close,
we would have lost all that to other areas.
Yeah, it started out as a management contract
and then we had our doubts at first season.
That's for sure, it was not,
it was probably one of the worst seasons
in the last 25 years, the 2015, 2016 ski season.
Otherwise, you're talking about it right?
Yeah, yeah.
10 years.
10 years.
Yeah, we're on 10 years now.
That's great.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
And how's your wife feeling about it now?
Have things smoothed over?
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
She's fine now.
I mean, if I get angry and talk about selling the place
or whatever, then what would we do?
Right.
Right.
Love it.
She did a 180.
She did.
She likes the areas.
She's made a lot of really good friends here
and kids all attended EL here and it's Auburn's been good to us.
Scott, what does Lost Valley mean to this community?
It means quite honestly a whole lot more than I thought it did.
I knew there was a lot of community support around it
when we took the place over,
but honestly, I really had no idea.
I mean, people were just coming up to us
and thanking us for saving the place.
I mean, talking to people that hadn't skied there in 30 years.
There's our core group of skiers here in the community,
but also just people that grew up skiing there.
They no longer ski,
but the grandkids do maybe it.
People still to this day just come up
and thank us 10 years later for resurrecting the place.
So honestly, that probably is the only thing
that kept us going on those first couple seasons.
The first two or three seasons there were a serious battle
that I don't ever want to relive.
Like you said, that first season was the worst snow record.
Oh, it's got on like years, like decades.
It was rain, rain, warm, warm, warm.
70 degrees on Christmas Eve.
Yes.
Bad news.
No, we thought, hey, it can't get much worse.
Right.
You can make it through that.
It's just like a restaurant.
Yeah, if we can make it through that, we can make it through any.
Yeah.
It's like a restaurant making it through COVID.
It's like, it's not gonna get worse than this.
Exactly.
Right.
If you're still standing after that, you are doing well.
Lost Valley is such a valued partner of this community as well.
Was that part of your plan?
And I'm talking specifically about like fundraisers,
the community partnerships that you have formed.
We do a ton of them.
Yeah.
We do a ton of them.
Yeah.
One of the first interviews I had,
I dropped another t-shirt quote that was a,
a ski area should not in and of itself be a charity.
Ski area should exist to support charities.
Yeah.
And we certainly do.
Yeah.
Well, we have wishes in the Valley coming up.
And that's one.
Yes.
Coming up.
I'm familiar with that one.
You are.
Yeah.
And we are as well.
It's awesome.
That is another opportunity for us to work a Saturday.
Yes.
Because we love working Saturdays.
I heard you love that.
Yes.
It's great.
We get to do stuff like this on a Monday.
Right.
Exactly.
Before we get into the beach bash,
which seems like a whole lot of fun.
That is going to be a whole lot of fun.
Let's talk about vets in the Valley,
which just recently happened.
Yes, it did.
Last Saturday, we invited anybody regardless of service
that was a military member to come out and ski for free
with themselves and their immediate family members.
We issued about 130 tickets.
Wow.
So, you know, the feedback that we get from this event
is it's too expensive to ski with my whole family.
It's great.
If I come out and ski with everybody and have fun
with my entire family.
The other benefit we have is we had 14,
this year we had 14 veteran resources vendors there.
Some nonprofits and some branches of the state
and federal government and handing out, you know,
helping veterans navigate through their benefits
and unclaimed benefits, I think.
Last year, I don't know the numbers this year,
but last year it helped claim like,
I want to say like $80,000 in unclaimed benefits
that the guys made.
So, our impression at Laugh Valley
is if we can help one person,
we're doing a great job, right?
One veteran.
We have beach bash coming up.
We do.
On the 29th.
29th.
Yeah.
Whether that is the minute and whether dependent.
Whether dependent.
Yeah.
You reserve the right to move it wherever we think it will be best.
Sure.
But as of today.
As of today.
As of for the time.
March 16th, it's scheduled for March 29th.
What are we talking about when we say beach bash at Laugh Valley?
What's happening?
When you say bash, what do you think of?
I think of a huge party.
Exactly what it is.
It's our send-off for the season.
You know, we have a cardboard box raise.
We do all kinds of events for the kids.
Ollie, Otto.
We do a snowball raise, fundraiser.
We do all kinds of stuff.
And it's an end of year.
Hopefully it's a beautiful day.
That's what we always hope for.
Right.
A nice 50 degree sunny day is what we want.
Right.
Hawaiian shirts.
Get it.
But that's what we want.
The height of it is the pond skim.
Yeah.
Last year, I think we had 110 participants.
It's the biggest event on that day.
And it's a lot of fun to watch those guys.
And gals go into the pond.
It's really...
We've had the pond skim when it's 28 degrees before too.
And it's kind of brutal.
Yeah, it's brutal.
So for folks who may not be aware of what a pond skim is.
Travis, what can you tell us about it?
Yeah, overnight we build a giant.
I'd say like 80 foot long pond in the middle of the base area.
In-ground pool.
Yeah.
Like a joining room.
In-ground pool.
Line it with a liner and fill it with water right out of the...
Lapam brook.
I got some brook.
No, Lapam brook.
Ice cold water.
I know because I get to wear the waiters and usually fish the little kids out there who think they're going to make it across.
33 degree water.
And we know they're not making it across.
They're about halfway there.
Yeah, that's like...
They're not making it.
Usually I'm on the mic and I'm like more speed, more speed, more speed.
And they stay committed though.
They go right in.
They don't even make it halfway across and...
Or less.
Or less.
So do you have like a big net and you just scoop them out?
Nope, we have some beach balls in there.
That's the only flotation devices.
And then when they go under and come back up with a gigantic look of shock on their face.
Gasping for air.
I just pick them up and put them outside.
And they bake it over their parents shivering and smiling and shivering.
And they have memories for a life.
Oh, it's awesome.
It's a lot of fun.
But people make it across too.
Yeah.
That's the ultimate achievement in what they're going for is to practice so that they can make it across.
And once they make it across, that's the crowning glory.
Yeah.
Nobody can ever take that away from you.
Yeah.
Now is this a contest?
Can people win this thing or is this if they make it across there?
No, you make it across.
You're a winner.
Yeah.
We might throw a contest by sunglasses out of them or something.
All right.
It's for fun.
Yeah.
Contest by applause.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, that's where the the bash part, because we set the in-ground pool right in front of the lodge.
And, you know, that's where our beer garden is.
Sure.
Right in front of the lodge.
So people are out there and they're cheering everybody on.
They're having a great time.
So we're looking forward to it.
It's one of our favorite days of the whole season.
The whole year, actually.
You know, you didn't mention one of my favorite parts of the beach bash,
which is the dummy jump.
The dummy jump.
Yes.
So people build dummies out of snowboards and skis.
There's a bunch of particulars of what you can and can't do.
But we create a big jump at the top of Buck Headwall.
Send them down the shoot and just launch them off.
And hopefully they make the jump.
And even more hopefully is they exploded to a million pieces when they hit the ground.
Right.
One of our favorite employees at Los Valley contributes every year.
In the first year, he made a Carmen from South Park.
And it was like a half dome for his head.
And it was designed.
So when it went off the jump, his head fell off.
And there was red dye water in it.
So it was a big blood streak all the way from the jump down.
It was amazing.
Fun for the whole family.
Fun for the whole family.
I love it.
So you can make one.
We could have a Lydia Media.
Wow.
You can learn something off the jump.
Okay.
Yeah.
Pick about it.
We'll give you some snowboards.
Make one that looks like me.
Pouches and love seats.
Not allowed though.
Okay.
All right.
Why do you say that?
Well, was there an incident?
There was an incident.
Yes.
There were incidents.
We build like a shoot with a snow wall so that the, you know,
the dummies stay sort of in the track of the jump.
But one year, our ski school kind of ignored some of the parameters and used a giant couch.
We were having it busted right through the side wall.
Start going down the trail.
No one was injured or anything.
No one was injured, but a couple close, close calls.
Okay.
But, you know, it's got to be expected.
The most fun is when you almost get hurt.
Yes.
It's got to be expected.
Yeah.
If it never happened, it never happened, right?
Yeah.
And then there's a schedule built within there of when the different things happen.
Most of the activity started at noon.
Cardboard box race, one o'clock is the limbo and ollie contest.
And at 130, we do the snowball drop, which that's a big fundraiser for the Alison Blackman
learned a ski day, which happened about a week ago, where they give free skiing and snowboard lessons
to 100 different kids.
110 this year.
Was 110?
110.
Yeah.
So it's a great program.
And it's like a 50-50 you buy a ball.
If your ball crosses the line first, you win half the money.
Okay.
And the other half goes to the cause.
And then the dummy jump.
The dummy jump.
The dummy jump.
And then the pond skimming.
Our favorite, the dummy jump.
I do like the dummy jump.
The dummy jump.
The dummy jump.
Well, the pond skim is great too.
Two favorites.
Anything else we should know about beach bash?
Is this a free admission if you just want to come watch?
Up.
Come on out.
We're encouraged kids to build their own cardboard box.
Okay.
Participate in the cardboard box race.
Build a dummy.
Just throw skis.
The only rules are it has to be able to ski down a hill and launch off a jump.
Okay.
You know, max carnage is what we can do.
No live humans.
No live humans.
Or flames.
Even if you think you're a dummy, you can't launch yourself off.
Okay.
The dummy jump.
We don't let people burn it either, right?
No, no flames.
No, no flames.
It's got to be, you know, family friendly.
Yeah, no.
You laugh, but people have also done that with us.
That's what I'm saying.
All these rules exist for a reason.
For a reason.
Yeah, exactly.
We usually find a new rule every year for some event we do.
Everyone's looking forward to that.
The big beach bash at Lost Valley coming up on March 29th.
And we are, what, five days?
Four or five days away from the start of spring.
We are.
Which means that the skiing season is coming to a close.
Do you have sad music you can play as background while we do?
I'll add some in post.
That's what they call it in the biz.
You know what?
We've got the boobies.
Scott's all about, bring it right up to the Mike Scott.
Right.
The end of season.
Right.
Yeah.
No one's happy about that.
Right.
But as we all know, Lost Valley is a year-round entertainment facility.
What is happening during the spring and the summer?
So we take about a month.
Let's say about three weeks.
We shut down.
We remove all the rubber flooring.
We deep clean the kitchen.
The carpets.
Do major lodger pairs.
And then we reopen towards the end of April.
We have this big event for the Lost Valley competition program.
A fundraiser called the Duck Derby, where you can buy a duck.
And they raise them down our Latham Brook.
And the brew pubs open.
And it's just a good time.
We have a couple corporate events.
And then we have a new event that we started last year,
which was a huge hit.
The week after that is.
It's international tie-dye day.
Okay.
So you can buy a shirt.
Has a Lost Valley logo on it.
But it's just a white shirt.
And then you tie-dye your own shirt.
And then like a week later, we have a reveal party,
where everybody comes back with their shirts on.
It's cool to see.
It was a really fun event last year to have all the families there.
And just a whole mix of people actually making shirts.
Young, old, in between.
And then coming back together and seeing all the different designs is really cool.
And then our biggest event is the Scosh Father's Day Eve Eve party,
which also is the start of our concert series.
Every Friday, which is a huge hit and a lot of fun.
And these are all outdoors, correct?
Outdoors, whenever possible, inside of rain.
It's a rain or shine event.
But the best is when it's outside.
We got the beer bar and open on the patio.
Everybody brings their lawn chairs and hangs out.
You can bring your dogs.
It's just, it's a great environment.
You know, we're trying hard, real hard to keep it free.
Hopefully, someday, we don't have to go towards admission.
But for right now, for this season, the plan is to have it free.
One major thing we have going on right now actually is our big March Madness pass sale.
So all season passes are at the lowest rate they're going to be for next year.
And people get the rest of this season for free.
So for new pass holders, it's a really great benefit.
Oftentimes, they can get almost the whole season next season paid for
if they come enough times this year.
So they're $200 off and it's a great deal.
How would you sum up this past ski season?
Amazing.
Probably the best one in 10 years.
Yeah, this was an excellent, excellent ski season all around.
The weather, the weather was kind to us in the beginning.
When we needed to make snow, the cold, consistent, cold temperatures,
we didn't get too much on natural snowfall, but we were able to make a lot of snow.
So like this rain that's happening right now will be fun.
Yeah.
Market calendars, folks, for Saturday, August 8th.
That is the second annual wishes in the Valley at Lost Valley.
Live music, food trucks, cornhole, chairlift rides, which were a huge hit.
Huge hit.
Yes.
It's fantastic.
There's going to be a live auction and a whole lot more.
And all that is to benefit, make a wish, Maine.
I was skimming through your Facebook page recently.
You gave a nice shout out to your kitchen staff.
They are your executive chef and your sous chef.
Yeah, we've got a couple new faces in the kitchen.
They've been there for about a month now.
But Mike Trevino is our executive chef.
And Christians are sous chef.
And we, for the first time ever, participated in main restaurant week,
which most people probably know of.
It happens all over the state.
Different restaurants will offer either prefix menus,
or special offerings for that week.
And it was really cool to showcase some of the elevated food
that's going to be coming to our menu for the brew pub season,
which is exciting.
And also bring some new people out to Lost Valley to see what it's all about.
It was amazing.
The food that those two guys put out was amazing.
It's just, and the customers, there were people that came out just for that.
Yeah.
And they were happy.
So it was amazing.
So it's restaurant week, but it's actually 12 days long.
So we haven't figured that part out yet.
That's part of us growing as a restaurant and moving forward
is taking part.
Because we have the caliber staff now to pull something off like that.
Scott, do you have any favorites?
Favorite food?
Yeah.
What were those?
The pasta purses that we had for restaurant week were amazing.
It's a shetty.
Yeah.
It's a shetty.
That's a shetty.
Yeah.
Are we going to have to censor that?
You might.
Okay.
You might.
Maybe not that, but maybe the Aaron Cheney balls.
Okay.
I don't know how you guys feel about saying balls on the radio,
but we can say balls.
Oh, okay.
So the Aaron Cheney balls were good as well.
Okay.
What is an Aaron Cheney ball?
What is the?
It was like fried risotto.
Risotto.
It was marinara and pesto outside of it that you could kind of,
you just cut into it and just, it was filled with peas and mozzarella
and had prosciutto on it.
They were amazing.
Now we're all hungry.
Yes, we are.
Great.
So the brew pub is open when?
The first actual opening after we finish this season will be the 25th.
And then we start the week after.
But we'll have to follow us on Facebook and get updated opening times and stuff.
So the brew pubs Tuesday through Fridays again this year.
And then we'll do.
Four o'clock.
Four o'clock.
And then we'll do when we don't have weddings or events for the weekend.
Travis and I will brain scheme some event to come up with and make you fun.
Have it be a spectacle, right?
Yeah.
Scott, does that ever make you nervous when John and Travis get together and start scheming?
Yes.
Yeah.
I think it makes everyone nervous.
You never know what's going to come out of those meetings, right?
Yes.
This sounds great, but it's going to benefit us how?
Right.
He likes not to be involved in those things.
So when they generally get, why did you do that?
Yes, I have plausible deniability.
There you go.
Right.
They still are skeptical.
Someday, I want to do a big wheel race and adult big wheel race.
You know, get big wheel racers.
And these guys are like, no.
Down the hill.
No.
Well, no.
No, in the parking.
Around the circles rifting.
Yes, you can drift it.
Yes.
Remember the green machine?
Wouldn't that be fun?
Yes.
I remember the green machine.
That had that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Those are great.
Those are great.
Down the hill.
So down the hill.
We do.
No, we will not sound sterile.
Anyone from Earnshurn's is listening.
No, we are not doing it downhill.
Right.
Right.
So we do have hairbrain schemes sometimes,
and they always don't come to fruition.
One of my favorites was that maybe we might bring back some day
was the .5K.
Half a kilometer.
5K.
I like it.
.5K.
Every man in a woman's race.
Right.
It had a donut stop.
Halfway.
Restation.
Restation.
They were actually caught centered on the courts.
If you had to take a quick nap.
Yeah.
So one lap.
Roughly 800 feet, was it?
I think it was 400 meters.
That.
Your watch would be upset if you stopped.
I'm tired just thinking about it.
Yeah.
That is a long ways.
For a man my age.
So is that coming back?
I don't know.
We may.
We may.
We might talk about it.
There's no reason that I don't know why we didn't do it again.
It was actually was pretty funny and cool,
and people thought it was great.
People came and cost him.
Yeah.
Really.
You can sign a mile.
Yeah.
That was a different one.
That was cool too.
It was just trying to find where that fits into the mix.
And maybe for the serious runners,
you could offer a point 10K.
Point that with it.
Yeah.
Double two laps.
Yeah.
Two laps.
Crazy.
You know, for those Olympic athletes out there.
Distance runners.
We probably have to hand out towels and headbands and stuff like that.
Have paramedics on site.
Yeah.
Paramedics on site.
Yeah.
For the serious runners,
we probably should mention the trails in a valley initiative that we're doing.
Yeah.
LVTN.
Lost Valley Trail Network.
So a group of local organizations, charities and stuff got together.
I wouldn't want to say charities.
Local running organizations.
We've worked with the school, the MPA,
to build out our Nordic trails
so that they can support cross-country running.
Apparently in the state, there's very few venues out there
that can support a cross-country race.
So last year, we had our go-edit.
We probably spent.
Last year, we fund raised.
And we put about $40,000 worth of work into the trails to make them runnable.
Wow.
And we had our first high school meet there.
I know we've got one meet scheduled coming up in the fall.
Again.
And CMCC is on board, too.
Their mustangs are going to run up there.
Very cool.
So, yeah, it's a new thing.
The trails are always open for people to go out and hike.
And I recommend you do it.
All summer long, we'll see people walking their dogs
and just going out for a good hike.
There's 8K trails out there that are beautiful.
This year, the concentration was on to have, was it a 5K?
Yeah.
A 5K loop that would be good ground for high school cross-country,
worthy running.
But it's really nice out there.
So they put a lot of work into drainage, the little bridges,
mud holes, getting rid of all that stuff,
and drying everything out and making it flat.
Which also helps the Nordic trails overall anyway.
Yeah.
Wintertime.
Awesome.
Is there anything else about this ski season or beyond?
Well, I think it's safe to say we have had the best,
most skier visits we've ever had,
under the Shannonman's ownership.
And I'm not sure.
It may be, maybe ever.
Was it, this year is actually Las Valley's 65th birthday?
65th, yes.
So, you know, that's awesome in part.
And we just celebrated Las Valley Brewings eighth birthday.
Wow.
So, you know, those are good dunes that we're still sticking around
and we can keep the 65 years this long time.
Sure is.
Yeah.
As good as Travis is at marketing,
nothing helps marketing like a real main winner.
So people came out this year because it was, I mean,
if you like winter and main for a change, this was a real one.
Yeah.
It was a good one.
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Our final segment of the show is called Three Random Questions,
where I'll ask you guys questions that have nothing to do with lost valley.
We're just trying to get to know you a little better as members of our community.
Sound good?
Sound good.
John, I know you've done this before.
I have.
All right.
So you can start with Travis?
No, I'm going to start with you.
You're the veteran.
That way, these guys will have time to think.
All right.
All right.
Can I reuse my answers from last time?
I'm not going to ask you the same questions as last time.
Then you should definitely reuse your answers of your really weird answers.
Yes.
John, what's your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Everybody knows that.
Everybody knows that.
And they'd be surprised if I did answer for you.
Yeah, it's answer for you.
Yeah.
It would be with a piner, too.
Yes.
A beer.
A beer.
You know, because I was 20 years old in 1961, my body doesn't work like it used to.
So, you know, it has its numbing effect on all the pains going on.
Gotcha.
No.
I unwind with a beer.
Okay.
Craft beer.
Yep.
Good beer.
From Maine pub.
From Los Valley, yes.
And Maine has plenty to offer.
What is your go-to at the moment?
Autoside.
All right.
Autoside IPA.
All right.
Is that like your...
That's our flagship.
That's our flagship.
Yeah.
We can't keep it in stock.
Gotcha.
Scott, same question.
Your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Oh, boy.
I would say...
Does it have to be clean?
No.
I would say with a darken stormy.
And that is...
That is Gosling's rum and ginger beer.
Okay.
And lime juice.
All right.
And Travis.
I'd have to say...
Go home, hang out.
My family.
Chill in the hot tub.
Getting some PJs.
Watching TV.
Probably fall asleep while watching TV.
Yeah.
I go pretty much until I'm ready to go to sleep.
Tilly gets a pillow on the head.
Stop snoring!
No, she just slaps me with a back of her hand, actually.
All right.
We'll start with Scott on this one.
Scott, if you could attend any live performance in history
or sporting event and have the best seats in the house,
what would it be and why?
Oh, boy.
I would say...
A leds up one show at the height of their...
Run.
All right.
Yeah.
Right up front.
And what song are they closing with to send you home?
Probably stairway to heaven.
Got you.
All right.
It seems like a logical last song for them.
Probably not the one they want to do last.
Probably not the one they want to do last.
They had to do it.
Exactly.
All right.
Travis.
That's the toss up between Patriots Super Bowl
where they beat the...
the Falcons come behind.
That was probably pretty amazing to be at.
Or I've always wanted to see Pink Floyd in concert.
I think that would just be incredible.
So if it came down to the Pats or Pink Floyd, where are you going?
I'm a big football fan.
I don't know.
That's tough.
I guess I'd have to say, yeah, probably Pink Floyd.
That'd be pretty cool.
Okay.
And John.
You know what?
I'm going to go see Quiet, right?
Nice.
Yeah.
I went to that concert.
I want to see it again.
Fortunately, they're disbanded now.
Like in 1984, are we talking?
Yeah.
In the 80s.
Back when concert tickets were $15.
Wasn't that great.
It was amazing.
I remember going...
I used to have to go to Sears to get tickets for concerts in Portland.
Yeah.
I got my ACDC concert ticket for $15.
It was stupid.
You can't even park for that.
No.
No.
Well, it left more money for the party before the concert.
That's true.
Yeah.
And then you'd buy the $10 t-shirt outside.
Yeah.
And wash it once and it would fit your dog.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good times.
Yeah.
You're like, I'm saving a few bucks.
And then the final song would be Feel the Noise.
Come on, Feel the Noise.
Yes.
Yes.
That was amazing.
Absolutely.
All right.
Travis.
Final question for all three of you.
Travis, what is the most fun you've ever had with skis on?
Hmm.
Most fun I've ever had with skis on.
Well, I haven't skis since I was 18, so.
I'd say skiing or snowboarding.
Or snowboarding.
Or snowboarding on the mountain.
It would probably be...
I went to Sugar Loaf Reggae Festival.
My dad and my brother the last time we ever went.
All three of us was pretty cool.
Just the whole experience for the skiing wasn't phenomenal.
I actually fell and got hurt really bad.
Which made reggae fest drinking start a little earlier.
So that was a really good time.
And it was cool being with my dad and my brother for that.
All right, John.
Most fun.
Most fun you've ever had with skis on.
Or snowboard.
I would say when I skidzook spits in Germany.
Oh, what's that?
Do tell.
It's a ski area.
Well, it's outside of.
I can't remember the name of the town.
Anyways, we'd...
Garmish.
Garmish, Germany.
Okay.
Yeah.
I skied there.
I was on the Air Force ski team for the forces.
And it was amazing.
Yeah.
Just amazing.
Lots of beer.
The Germans know how to drink.
No.
Right.
And we went to an Italian restaurant that night.
Yeah.
And the pizza...
Italian pizza tastes nothing like American pizza.
Okay.
Better or worse?
I don't know.
I was drunk.
I just remember it was different.
All right.
Skying...
You know, skiing in other countries is amazing.
And that was awesome.
Yeah.
All right.
Scott.
When I was in high school in Rhode Island,
buddies of mine and I used to go up to Takarman's
ravine every late spring, early summer.
We'd go up there a couple of times depending on...
on the weather and ski up in Takarman's up left gully.
And that would have been the mid to late 1980s.
So at the time, I would take a snowboard up in there.
Just because it was a lot easier to...
and I had hard boots for my snowboard.
It was a lot easier to kind of climb on those super steep
pitches with an ice axe.
So yeah, snowboard with an ice axe and Takarman's ravine
was pretty cool.
It was a lot of worse.
Snowboard's a lot of work.
It is.
It was much, much younger.
That was on my bucket list till my brother came back
with a video of him skiing it.
Tomahawking down.
Well, yeah.
He had a video of a guy Tomahawking down it and I'm like,
well, maybe not.
Maybe not.
Guys, this has been a lot of fun.
Thanks so much for joining me today.
Thank you.
Thank you for having us.
So appreciate it.
And Travis, where can folks go online to learn more
about Lost Valley?
Yeah, best places always to check our website,
LostValleySki.com or like us on Facebook or Instagram.
Thanks to Rupert's Beverage and Redemption
and Deploy's Electric for sponsoring today's episode.
And if you'd like to be part of the Lydia's Lunch Bunch
Advertising Family, reach out to Pam Ashby via email
at Pam at LydiaMediaLLC.com.
Have a great day and remember don't bite your cat.
And I won't say I have bitten my cat.
