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Small and Sturdy Small and Sturdy: How a local business has thrived despite itcomings

By Alexandra Jennerjahn

ANCHOR: IN 1995 A SMALL DISTINCTION WAS GIVEN TO A LOCAL SKI HILL. ALEXANDRA JENNERJAHN SHARES HOW YEARS LATER, THIS BUSINESS CONTINUES TO FIND SUCCESS.

HANE: “WORST THING YOU WANT IS A CHAIR BREAKING ON YOU, AND, YA KNOW, FALLING.”

JENNERJAHN: AT FOUR SEASONS GOLF AND SKI IN FAYETTEVILLE, OPERATIONS MANAGER BILL HANE IS TASKED WITH MAINTAINING A SMALL, BUT BUSY OPERATION.WITH THE FIRST SNOW MAKING LANDFALL HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, TIS THE SEASON FOR SKI LOCATIONS TO FINALIZE PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR GUESTS

HANE: “OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON, WE GET A FAIR NUMBER. CERTAINLY WE’RE NOT DOING 10-THOUSAND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE BIG RESORTS UP IN THE WEST COAST, THEY’RE PROBABLY DOING 10-THOUSAND A DAY IN SOME CASES.”

JENNERJAHN: 25 YEARS AGO FOUR SEASONS WAS NAMED THE SMALLEST SKI LOCATION IN THE COUNTRY. WITH ONLY ONE SKI LIFT, YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT MIGHT BE TRUE. BUT WITH THAT DISTINCTION COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FINDING MORE WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE.

HANE: “IN ABOUT 2001 WE ADDED THE BATTING CAGES, SO WE HAVE ADDED THINGS OVER THE YEARS, AND IMPROVED THINGS.”

JENNERJAHN: IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP MONEY COMING IN YEAR ROUND, FOUR SEASONS HAS ALSO ADDED A MINI GOLF COURSE, AND A GOLF DRIVING RANGE. BECAUSE THIS LOCATION IS SO SMALL, IT’S A GREAT PLACE FOR NEWCOMERS TO THE SPORT TO FIND THEIR BALANCE.

HANE: “OUR CORE SKIIERS ARE BEGINNERS. BETWEEN FIVE AND TWELVE YEARS OLD. THAT HAVE NEVER SKIIED BEFORE.”

JENNERJAHN: AND FOR PARENTS, IT SERVES ALMOST AS A DAYCARE.

HANE: “IT’S CLOSE. THEY CAN BRING THEIR KIDS. A LOT OF TIMES THEY’LL DROP THEM OFF, AND MAYBE THEY’LL GO DOWN TO TARGET OR SOMETHING, AND SHOP FOR AN HOUR, THEN COME BACK AND PICK THEM UP.”

JENNERJAHN: ALTHOUGH THE DISTINCTION AS SMALLEST SKI LOCATION COULD SEEM BAD FOR BUSINESS, FOUR SEASONS IS A PLACE THAT THRIVES THANKS TO ITS COMMUNITY FEEL.

HANE: “A FEW OF OUR RESIDENTS UP THERE, IT LITERALLY IS A BACKYARD SLOPE FOR THEM.”

JENNERJAHN: REPORTING FROM FAYETTEVILLE. ALEXANDRA JENNERJAHN. N-C-C NEWS.

By Alexandra Jennerjahn, FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Four Seasons Golf and Ski in Fayetteville was given a “small” distinction that has propelled them into the national spotlight.

25 years ago, Four Seasons was named the smallest ski location in the country, but that didn’t keep the business from find ways to increase revenue and remain a community centric place.

“In about 2001 we added the batting cages,” Operations Manager Bill Hane said. “We’ve added things over the years, and improved things.”

Since earning their distinction, the ski location has also added a mini-golf course and golf driving range, making Four Seasons a place for families and people hoping to learn snow sports.

“Our core skiers are beginners — between 5 and 12 years old — that have never skied before.” Hane said.

For many parents, the location’s small-town feel and small hills make them comfortable with treating the business as a sort of daycare.

“They can bring their kids. A lot of times they’ll drop them off, and maybe they’ll go down to Target or something and shop for an hour, then come back and pick them up,” Hane said.

Being named the smallest ski location in the country could be disheartening, but Four Seasons is a place that has thrived because of neighborly feel.

“A few of our residents up there, it literally is a backyard slope for them,” Hane said.

 

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