Moran Plant: Response from Ice Factor to Petra Cliffs

Ice Factor Response to Mike Anderson’s Press Release

I’m frustrated, saddened and disappointed at the tone and content of Mike Anderson’s Press Release regarding the Moran Plant.

Given the content of our last communication, I am also surprised that he is now so apparently diametrically opposed to a project he gave his tacit support and approval to, a mere 3 months ago, when he wrote
“ .. Can you please make sure the necessary folks in City Hall know that I have nothing to give, and that as it stands today, I am not involved in this project. Perhaps the future will bring a new opportunity for me, if it does not then please know that I wish you total success here in Burlington. Cheers, Mike Anderson, M.Ed > > Owner, The Petra Cliffs Group”

This communiqué makes it clear that we parted on the best of terms. Mike from Petra Cliffs and Chris Bacon owner of Northern Lights LLC opted to develop a rope course project at the Inn at Essex, rather than the major project at the Moran Plant. My business partner and friend, Phil McCully and I, not only supported their decision making, but we were absolutely fulcrum to negotiating the deal at Essex for the site they are now building.

There are a number of erroneous points made in Mike’s press release, chiefly:

Basis of Partnership

At my first meeting with Mike, I explained that as a fellow climbing business owner, I would as a matter of courtesy expect to be informed if a new business was considering opening on my doorstep. During that discussion I highlighted our plans:

• World class rock climbing facilities – free-form rock climbing walls (making use of the superb height) in the Moran Plant, top out boulders, via-ferrata courses, beginner’s areas, kid’s club sections, ‘trad.’ lead routes, multi-pitch stances with approx 55 ropes.
• World class indoor ice climbing – water ice, neve (frozen snow), arêtes, gullies, chock-stone obstacles, overhangs, slabs, high level mountaineering ridges, multi-pitch stances and belay zones with approx 30 ropes.
• Café – featuring fresh food and coffee, snacks and soft drinks
• Restaurant – with great views over the lake
• Mountaineering Orientated Bar – museum items and old climbing equipment
• Indoor/Outdoor High Level Aerial Adrenaline Course – multiple elements on a fixed rail system to allow maximum age range participation
• Summer Camp and structured junior activity programmes.
• Showers, Changing areas and general ‘chill out zones’.
• Corporate Team Building & Development Programmes
• Outdoor Instruction/Guiding
• Festive Ice Rink, operating a Glycol Cooled, winter rink aimed at families.

Mike explained that he had limited resources and clearly a project of this size/magnitude would take a great deal of investment, something he would find difficult.

Moran Plant: Press Release from Petra Cliffs

>Sent: 2/23/2008 2:47:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
>Subj: Ptera Cliffs Press Release re: the Moran Plant
>
>The Sad Truth About the Moran Plant Why Petra Cliffs is No Longer Involved
>
Burlington, VT – March 4th is “Town Meeting” day here in Vermont. We’ll finally get to express our opinions in regards to the race for President as well as on many other issues facing our great state. This particular “Town Meeting” day will be especially interesting for me. As you all know, I am the owner of Petra Cliffs and for going on 8 years now we have served the greater Burlington area the best way we know how. This year, Burlington residents are being asked to vote for the restoration of the Moran Plant on the beautiful Burlington Waterfront. The proposal that you are being asked to approve is, at first blush, one of great interest to many people: indoor ice-climbing, a children’s museum, a restaurant, skating rink etc…why would a facility like the ever be a bad thing? I’ll explain.

Last winter I was approached by Jamie Smith, owner of the Ice Factor and Chris Bacon, the owner of Northern Lights. Some would say that Jamie is the mastermind behind this proposal for the Moran. We sat in Roque’s and had a nice lunch. During that first meeting I was told that of the intention to rebuild the Moran Plant and that the vision of that building was to build the “First Indoor Ice Climbing facility in the United States.” I was told that the Burlington area is “simply not big enough for two climbing gyms” and that Petra Cliffs should consider joining in the development of the Moran Plant…or I’d “just be put out of business”. I thought about the conversation for a couple days and decided that perhaps it was better to work collaboratively to create one really great facility that all of Vermont would be proud of. Over the coming months I sat in on MANY meetings that addressed quite a number of issues surrounding the development idea.

One issue that pressed us was determining what sort of partnership would be created between Petra Cliffs. Northern Lights and Ice Factor. Ultimately this conversation would ruin the opportunity for us to partner. First, Chris and Northern Lights pulled out of the deal for reasons having to do with money and who exactly was to contribute what. I held on for a while longer while we tried to sort out the relationship.