Ski Southeast Messageboard

I was working in the industry during the late 80's and remember the trails being cut and work started. Seems like I heard the guy in Florida who owned Blockbuster and the florida marlins started it. Its ashame cause it looked like decent terrain.



I bet someone here knows the 411 on it............

You are probably talking about Diamond Ridge.



It was on the backside (Banner Elk side) of Hanging Rock. There is a road behind the Holiday Inn that goes by an old rock quarry. The base lodge was going to be there. They were going to use the quarry as their water storage for snowmaking. Bob Ash (of Beech Mt. and Ash Gun snowmaking fame) was involved.



The plan was to build it in two phases. The trails and at least one lift line were cut for phase one. Phase two called for a gondola going to the top of Hanging Rock. The funding dried up and the skiing plan was abandoned. The biggest problem they faced (besides funding) was the western exposure. I'm pretty sure there is a golf course in the valley now.

Thanks for the update. I remember that being the name now. It could have been nice.

This is now Diamond Creek Country Club. Home of Artisanal Restaurant, which happens to be one of the nicest restaurants in the state. They have an 11,000 bottle wine cellar in the basement that makes a wine fiend like myself drool.



Wayne Huizenga is the dood. And don't forget his best company: Waste Management!

They even had a couple of liftpoles out there in some places. They were all laid on their sides but the trails were cut. It would have been really sick but yes it did have a lot of western exposure. Me and some buddies went out and hiked this after a 2ft storm and it was awesome. Unfortunatley the caretaker called the police and we got tickets for trespassing. When we got to court there were no less than 25 other skiers/snowboarders there and we were all talking about how good it was before we got caught. Ahhh to be young. Good times.....

Huizenga bought that property well after the plans for skiing failed. He had nothing to do with it. In addition to WM, he owned: Blockbuster, Auto Nation, the Dolphins, Marlins, Panthers (i think) and a few top golf courses in SoFL. When it snows, you can get a decent view of the old slopes from the quad lift at Beech.

Nice, thanks for the info.

Wayne Huizenga is a *****.

lol

I remember stories about this from some friends in Boone back in the mid-nineties. Wouldabeencool.