Holiday Mountain - Ski and Fun Park

Flood Recovery

Since acquiring Holiday Mountain in 2000, Craig Passante, President has met a series of relentless challenges. To date by far, “The 100 Year Flood” remains the biggest. Craig has been devoted to Holiday Mountain right from the launch of the project. Although the flood is just one more obstacle the goal has always been in the forefront. Holiday Mountain will be Sullivan County’s Premiere Family Destination of the Catskills!

The Flood

Where were you the weekend of April 2 & 3, 2005? Holiday Mountain was drowning in a current of swift and murky waters.
(See pictures below)

The Arcade building just built the year before created a whirlpool of havoc. Can you believe it? There were two bumper cars and video games swept downstream. Look out Nemo!

The main chalet sat in an 8’ft lake for almost 48 hours. The mud was so thick on the inside it looked like the chalet was a giant mixing bowl for chocolate pudding.

In the back of the main chalet was the treasured pump house. This is where the magic begins for the snow season. The violent waters ripped out nearly half of the building along with devastating the pump equipment. Just a few hundred yards from the pump house was the garage. There was a line representing the 18” watermark left from the actions of Hurricane Agnes when she stormed through on June 23, 1972. That was considered a tragedy then. Today that line is to the roof of the garage. All the equipment, groomers, snow guns, snowmobiles, four wheelers, go-karts, etc. destroyed. In front of the garage is the mini-chalet. This building was donated to the ski club. This too is in shambles. Where do the children go now? Several lifts were also damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.

Let The Work Begin!

During the next few weeks after April 2 & 3, 2005 recovery began for phase I. The first task was to access the damage. This was and still is a daunting procedure. Insurance adjusters arrived to record and evaluate every item along with a Holiday Mountain employee. This took weeks of effort and time. The assessments to date are still being investigated and corroborated. In addition to the inventory the buildings had to be analyzed by building inspectors, engineers, electricians, etc. to determine damage to the structures.

As Holiday Mountain inches closer to an agreement with the insurance company the estimated target date to open the Fun Park is August 1, 2005. Holiday Mountain’s goal is to open quickly as possible with preserving the dynamic and exciting atmosphere that was created in 2004. This will be phase II of the recovery project. There is much work to be done but with the dedication of Craig Passante and the employees Holiday Mountain will not only be a place of fun and excitement but an asset to be proud of by Sullivan County.

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