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"GREAT STRIDES": THE MUELLERS AND CRESTED BUTTE, ONE YEAR LATER
Crested Butte, CO-Tim and Diane Mueller still celebrate the day they bought Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR)--March 1, 2004--and the community has shown no inclination of yanking back the red carpet rolled out for them.
Instead, the partnership has beget ambitious make-over plans for Mt. Crested Butte's Town Center, soaring employee morale and ongoing improvements to resort amenities, guest services and ski terrain.
Heading into their second ski season, Tim Mueller said, "Overall we're feeling very positive, very happy about the purchase. The welcome mat was laid out from the community, and the enthusiasm with which our plans for Mountaineer Square were approved confirms that our vision has been embraced. The values of the community are in line with ours; it's a very good fit."
The Muellers still own and operate Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont and Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire, and spend about half of their time there each month. They've done the airline commute so much, Diane said, "I'm starting to recognize the flight attendants and know which paper towel dispensers in the airport don't work."
Juggling three ski resorts requires trust in their on-site management, a shared company vision, smart delegating and strong working relationships, she said. Luckily, those have grown quickly at CBMR.
"We have good management people in Crested Butte who buy into our vision," Tim said. "People inherently like to be part of a winning team or organization. The plans we've come forward with, people have liked. When they see excitement, growth and success and know that we are doing a good job being stewards of the land and resort, that positive attitude comes naturally."
The biggest challenge of the Muellers' first year was working with multiple property owners in designing, and re-designing, the new Town Center. "That was a struggle," Diane said. "When you're trying to get a shovel in the ground before it gets too cold to do anything, you're always feeling that pressure."
After extensive negotiations and reworking of the plans, the resort broke ground on Mountaineer Square, a cornerstone of the revitalized Town Center, in July.
An ongoing challenge, Tim said, will be developing better transportation into Crested Butte and building skier visitation incrementally to reach a sustainable level.
Resort priorities include a continued upgrade of the ski mountain, construction of Mountaineer Square (Town Center), and reconstruction of the Gothic Building. Then the Muellers will follow the Forest Service process to expand skiing onto Snodgrass Mountain. Diane noted that the planned conference center will allow them to build year-round business, "but winter will always be king."
As they commute between Okemo and Crested Butte, Tim and Diane continually note the differences between East and West. Crested Butte's destination ski resort, with steep terrain, big snowfall and avalanche control requirements, has taught a few things to Tim, Diane and their son Ethan, who serves as CBMR's director of operations. But the ski industry is still about "trying to make people happy, so they have a good time with friends and family on vacation," Tim said.
The Muellers have found people in the West to be particularly fun loving and "a little more open with their friendliness," Diane noted. "Back East, the fire department has an engine in the Fourth of July parade, but there it doesn't turn the water hoses on you." Tim, the more reserved half of the couple, might not relate to some of Crested Butte's antics, "but I might get right out there in some stupid costume," Diane said.
The Muellers have also found the communities of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and Gunnison much more willing to collaborate and cooperate than the small, independent communities back East. The county governing structure leads to a more regional perspective.
From the viewpoint of CBMR employees and Crested Butte community members, the Muellers' first year reinforced their reputation as savvy, down-to-earth, accessible and enthusiastic owners. "The Muellers walk their talk," said guest services volunteer Skip Berkshire. "They care, they pay attention, they greet people by name. There's a noticeable difference around the resort; it's lighter and brighter, from the lift ops to the marketing department. Everybody is so friendly; it's infectious."
John Norton, former president and CEO of CBMR who now works as a consultant for the resort, also praised the changes under the Muellers' ownership. "I'm able to work on projects that have been dear to my heart for 20 years: getting the Town Center designed and built, imagining what the North Village could be and finding if we have common ground with the Forest Service and community on alpine skiing on Snodgrass.
"The Muellers are a great fit," he continued. "They are low-key and interested; they spend as much time listening as they do talking. When you think that the resort was nearly bankrupt not very long ago, you realize what great strides we've made. Things have worked out very well."
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Real Estate in the Crested Butte Valley
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