MISSION, PROJECTS, & HISTORY
Our Mission
The Bear Valley Mountain Cooperative is a California “cooperative corporation,” a type of corporation chartered to provide benefits or services to its members, rather than profits to investors. The Co-op’s core mission is to move Bear Valley forward while preserving its unique characteristics through community leadership and responsible investment. Co-op businesses are managed for steady, sustainable, long-term growth — not investor returns — and all profits are reinvested in Bear Valley.
Building sustainable recreation businesses requires stable financing and management. The Co-op aims to provide it.
Past and Current Co-Op Projects
The Bear Valley Adventure Company
The Co-Op acquired the Bear Valley Adventure Company in 2018 and since then has invested in both sustaining the Nordic ski center, expanding the summer biking and boating businesses, and adding food operations.
Planned improvements: Mountain biking and trailhead shuttles, backcountry huts
Shuttle Bus Assistance
In winter 2018-19, the Co-op stepped in to support the Skyline-operated ski shuttle bus between the village and the resort, in order to preserve operations as a community benefit.
Co-op Projects in the Pipeline
One Bear Valley Road feasibility study
A group drawn from the Co-op and BVAC boards as well as other community members is developing a plan to replace and re-envision the aging BVAC building at 1 Bear Valley Road. We’re very strongly interested in input from Co-op members on what this project could and should do for Bear Valley. For example, how important is a full-service restaurant? How important is it to include employee housing? If you are a Co-op member and would like to have some input into this planning process, please send us an email at info@bvmcoop.com.
Village-ski area connection
The Co-op is working with the new resort management to improve the village-ski area connection, ideally by moving forward on the long-planned village side ski lift.
Bear Valley Mountain Co-Op History
The Co-op was born in early 2014 out of the passionate desire of a small group who wanted to see Bear Valley reach its full potential as a community, destination, and trailhead to adventure. Its initial focus was on buying and operating Bear Valley Mountain Resort's alpine skiing operation during a period of uncertainty. The then-owners were focused on a sale of the ski area and village properties and not on necessary investments. The Bear Valley and broader Highway 4 communities saw a serious risk to the ski area’s long-term survival. The Co-op exploratory team interviewed key individuals involved in the development of other alternatively managed ski areas, including Mad River Glen Co-op, Bridger Bowl 501(c)4, Bogus Basin 501(c)3, and the Sugar Bowl homeowner model. The undeniable sense of ownership, ability to raise funds quickly, and less arduous process of legal and financial formation led to the final decision to form a cooperative.
After Skyline Resorts outbid the Co-op, the two entities formed a one-year partnership and the Co-op began substantial research into member desires, recreational opportunities, and the commercial ownership landscape in Bear Valley.
As the ski area purchase was no longer an option, in January 2018 the Co-op membership approved an important referendum to refocus Co-op resources on broader recreation resources around Bear Valley. The board conducted substantial research on year-round recreational opportunities for investment and presented a three-phase plan with specific projects outlined to the members at its August 2018 annual meeting. On August 29, the Board announced it had signed a letter of intent to acquire Bear Valley Cross Country with the intent to hold a member referendum in September on the deal and took ownership on December 1, 2018.
In addition to the BVAC acquisition, the Co-op has also maintained discussions with Skyline Bear Valley on the subject of how the Co-op could potentially co-invest in ski area development in exchange for equity or benefits to Co-op members. This has led to small-scale cooperative ventures between Skyline and the Co-op, including partial Co-op support of bus transportation between the village and the ski area.
The Co-Op Now
At present, the major Co-op asset is the Bear Valley Adventure Company. Co-op ownership now allows BVAC profits to be reinvested in the business, and in the years since purchase the Co-op has moved from a transitional to a permanent management team, brought the grooming equipment up to date, and invested in business infrastructure and improvements, such as 24-hour fuel service, expanded and modernized food service facilities, and summer bike shop services.
A second ongoing Co-op effort focuses on continued engagement with Bear Valley ski resort management aimed at improving the village-ski area connection, perhaps through expanded bus services or by moving forward on the long-planned village side ski lift.
