RED Mountain Resort
Fight the Man. Own the Mountain.
Large OPO
Rossland, BC
Travel/Tourism
US Investors Only
2/9/17 Update: We've Hit Our $10 Million Goal!
We'll continue to take reservations until we go live for Phase 2 in Fall 2017!
Fight The Man. Own The Mountain.
Become an Owner of RED.
RED Mountain is an Endangered Species within the ski resort world. We have the snowfall, vertical drop, world-class terrain and 4-season fun to go boot-to-boot with the Big Guys, but have consciously maintained our mom ’n’pop/weird uncle feel for over 100 years. We’re tired of seeing families priced out of a premier ski vacation by Mega Resorts. It’s time for a change…
RED Mountain’s preservation as a fiercely independent, non-corporate entity is beyond worthwhile and now you get to be apart of it: “Fight the Man. Own the Mountain.”
Through this campaign, we're giving you the chance to actually own a piece of this place. That’s right – OWN: The mountain, the chairlifts, the lodge, condos, snow making, you name it. Every asset we’ve got, man. (Think of it as “Shred Equity”…)
This is your chance to actually be an owner of an extraordinary mountain that many consider a true sanctuary in a complex world. This is the investment opportunity of a lifetime — and it's not just an opportunity for the 1-Percent.
The Current Industry
We now live in the land of Mega Resort mergers and acquisitions, a world where the independent spirit of skiing is being peeled away, piece by piece, and traded for Starbucks outlets at the base, covered escalators to the lift line, and investment bankers’ hands in your pockets everywhere you turn.
Did you know close to 40 ski resorts are owned by just 3 corporations? Nearly 75% of those acquisitions happened in the last 14 years. And now most recently — potentially the biggest acquisition in the history of skiing — Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb August 8th for over $1 billion. It continues to happen and it won't stop. We’re aiming to buck this trend. And for good reason.
If you live for skiing and snowboarding, you should know that every waterpark and golf course that gets built will be reflected in the price of your lift ticket — whether you’re “fore” it or not.
At RED we like to do things differently. Always have. Always will. We’re like the Green Bay Packers of the resort world – the NFL team owned by its community since 1923. And, just like The Pack, you could own a piece of us. When we say "us" we're talking a resort that's Top 20, size-wise, in North America; a resort coming off its best fiscal year yet; a resort that was listed by The New York Times as a "Top 10 Place to Go in the World". Not bad for independent, eh?
But it’s not just about “stickin’ it” to the man. (That's just the fun part…) It’s about acknowledging the importance of this lifestyle and culture that we all have grown to know and love from a young age and doing our part to keep it thriving. Times like these don’t come around too often… We're making history here, folks!
As CEO Howard Katkov puts it, “Why not join us on this big mountain, big community, love-driven adventure... We’ll keep investing in this community and these fantastic people with or without your help, but dropping in on this could change your life—just like it changed mine.”
RED, Western Canada’s oldest ski resort, began its life as a community-owned entity when many of the skiers were crusty Scandinavian miners who whittled their 300cm skis out of lightning-struck trees. Now, through the power of the internet and the magic of equity crowdfunding, RED Mountain would like to reboot the community-owned SkiClub model—before it’s too late.
We know that you could invest your money in that biotech company trying to engineer sweeter children. Or that new app that puts your face on your favorite breed of dog. But by owning a piece of this mountain, what we’re offering is of an entirely different order. This is as analog as it gets:
Face shots. Crisp mountain air. Four generations of skiers and snowboarders racing down our storied slopes together and then fighting over a mountain of nachos at Rafters. Rosy cheeks. Full body smiles. Cold beer. Simple pleasures. And in a hectic world where everything moves too fast and all at once, you are acknowledging that this "back to the basics" simplicity is back to what really matters. A community of like-minded individuals and adventurists can be one of the most powerful forces ever. This is why we’re offering you the opportunity to join us. And own us.
See, RED Mountain is a Keystone Species in the larger ski resort world:
A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend,
such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.
We’ve always chosen to do things differently—for over a century. While “they” focus on more “shopping opportunities,” we focus on the adventure and revel in the fact that we have Rossland, a real, historic, Gold Rush-era town at the bottom of the hill. They sell you a side of fries for $10 and we offer $10/run cat-skiing. It’s like this at every turn on RED. Surprise & Delight, yo.
This is serious. That’s why we claim Keystone Species. We believe that keeping a place like RED thriving betters the sport for everyone in a time where families that love this mountain lifestyle are getting priced out left and right. Skiing and snowboarding should never become elite sports like polo or Formula 1.
Watch the Video About Ownership Perks Below:
So What's In It For Me?
What we are offering here on StartEngine is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. We sincerely hope you’ll join us to “Fight the Man. Own the Mountain.” We’ve been at this for 12 years and could use your help at this juncture to stay fierce, independent, proud, and a little bit odd.
This campaign to raise money is to keep us stable moving forward, supported by those who love this sport and this way of life the most. It’s about building and growing this community and this love for the sport. Think about it. Whether you’re in for “dimes or dollars” we’ll make it worth your while. By buying into this campaign, you'll actually own real equity in this company. We're not talking a "Thank You" certificate, we're talking legitimately owning an actual piece of this place.
This current "Test The Waters” stage allows parties to express interest in the investment without handing over any actual loot — now or later. (Imagine a hyper-convoluted “Like” Button that is 100% risk-free. Drop $1,000 or $10,000, no commitment necessary.) If Test the Waters gains sufficient traction from people like you, RED will will move on to the next round with offering actual equity in the company, unique tiered perks and rewards with each investment sure to appeal to ski and snowboard enthusiasts especially (take a look at the list over to the left!), and a $1,000 minimum buy-in, all fully regulated by the SEC and in accordance with Canadian securities laws.
Money raised in round 2 of this campaign will go toward improving the adventure here at RED. Think of this as investing in your own happiness, like a cold craft beer or getting your car detailed at the end of a long winter. Plans include:
- Remodeling the Paradise lodge
- Additional run development for expanded cat skiing on Mount Kirkup
- Building a new restaurant, clubhouse, and overnight on-mountain cabins at the top of Grey Mountain.
- For spring and summer activities, we’ll be building a multi-use trail for hiking and mountain biking from the base area to the top of Grey Mountain connecting to the Seven Summits trail system.
- Supporting the creation of an annual local academic Scholarship fund for higher education. You can be a part of all of this - and more importantly, an owner of all of this.
“We’re gonna be the Green Bay Packers of the ski world!” jokes Katkov. “And, just like The Pack or whichever underdog inspires you, we’re really looking to our hardcore fans to throw down here – we’re talking ownership after all.
We’ll happily take the big bucks—bring it!—but we have intentionally set our minimum at a very low $1,000 to entice hardcore skiers and snowboarders who might not have a High Net Worth—even if some of them have the ‘high’ part on lockdown…”
What we’re asking of the larger snow-sliding community is as straight-forward as pointing those planks downhill: Buy in now. And bow out of the side of skiing that is quickly becoming a pursuit for 1-percenters. Oh yeah, and more importantly - become an owner of a ski mountain!
General FAQ
If I say yes to a certain investment in the "Test the Waters" phase, am I obligated in any way or can I change my mind?
No, you are not obligated at this time - this phase is to gauge interest in and traction of an equity offering, and your "reservation" at this point is in no way an obligation - expressions of interest help us gauge whether we move to Phase II or not.
If I decide to invest after "Test the Waters", when will I get the opportunity to do so?
If it is determined that there is enough interest, we anticipate an offering will be made approximately 4 months after the “Test the Waters” phase has closed.
What happens if there isn’t enough interest in Test the Waters?
If there isn’t enough interest then we will not advance to Phase II with an equity offering.
What are the Tiered Investment Rewards?
When the "Test the Waters" Phase moves to the next level, your investment will come with bonus rewards to better enjoy the adventure, lifestyle, and culture that you're helping preserve. There are 6 Tiers of investment rewards detailed above.
What is the membership clubhouse? What's in it? Can I bring friends?
The clubhouse will be a small cozy space for members only at the top of Grey Mountain connected to the public restaurant. It will include a fireplace and a few different social gathering areas, and will have a bar with snacks. Yes, you can sign in a guest.
Is my information shared when I pledge in "Test the Waters"?
You will get updates from RED via StartEngine after you“reserve” your investment in the Test the Waters phase. No information will be shared publicly when you “reserve” your investment.
Need more answers? We've consolidated a lot of questions since Day 1 of our launch that you can check out right here.
The Last Great, Unspoiled Resort
Located in Rossland, BC—the first stop along the famous “Powder Highway”—RED delivers 2,877 lift-serviced acres (4,200 total!) of pristine skiing unfettered by overdevelopment. With epic vertical (2,919 ft/890m!), in-bounds cat-skiing, wide-open groomers, 360-degree descents, a rich tradition, and—phew!—the BEST gladed tree runs in North America, this best-kept secret has been let out of the bag.
Once you're here, it's hard to imagine ever wanting to go anywhere else. Just ask some of the locals - they used to be visitors themselves!
Get Lost Adventure Centre opens
to expand 4-season activity options and provide effortless access to incredible Kootenay community resources such as river guides, fishing outfitters, and fat bike rentals.
Legacy Training Centre opens
to preserve RED’s reputation as a breeding ground for kick-ass ski racers including Olympians and National Team members.
Expansion to adjacent Grey Mountain. Terrain increased by ~1,000 acres.
RED joins Top 20 resorts, size-wise, in N. America, comparable to Breckenridge or Jackson Hole.
Mixed-skill groups rejoice. Americans insist “Grey” misspelled.
Revitalization of historic downtown Rossland,
a Gold Rush town with stately stone buildings and a lively main street.
Big bronze statue of Olaus Jeldness,
the godfather of skiing in Rossland, installed, promptly pooped on by pigeons.
Renovated 1948 base lodge with a sustainable approach
that maintained original beams from the 1860s and iconic red lockers that the community had come to love.
Changed out urinal pucks.
Howard Katkov and partners form RED Mountain Ventures and purchase the resort from the first owners outside the original community Ski Club.
Between 2004 and 2016, RMV has put their focus toward sustainability and preservation by enhancing the experience and the adventure and investing in modernized infrastructure, renovated lodging, new housing, installing new lifts, expanding terrain, adding snowmaking, and more.
RED Mountain Resort Manifesto
- We believe that a day on the mountain is always better than a day on your phone.
- We believe that kids who grow up shredding naturally become free thinkers, risk takers, lifelong outdoor enthusiasts, and perhaps the kind of smack-talking bon vivants the world needs more of.
- We believe that skiing and snowboarding are “lifestyles” rather than “sports” because they change lives. RED Mountain owes its very existence to this passion and has run on it for over a century.
- We believe, as entrepreneurs, that skiing has taught us how to make the most of what the day gives you, how to trust our instincts, and how to value what we have instead of constantly lusting after more.
- We want families priced out by corporate resorts to rediscover the simple joys of snow, gravity, and fresh air without having to sell a kidney in the process.
- And, yeah, we kind of want to stick it to the corporate ski resorts.
They don’t own skiing and snowboarding. YOU do.
The Vision of RED
Passion: The desire to have or be part of a mountain lifestyle.
Community: Strong integrated community of diverse yet like-minded people.
Adventure: Exciting, extraordinary, challenging experiences.
Youthful & Fun: An ageless desire to embrace and enjoy life in a lighthearted way.
Simplicity: A relaxed lifestyle; freedom from complexity.
Quality: Meet or exceed expectations on all levels.
Updates
Our 16/17 season wrap up video straight from the CEO.
about 1 month agoAs we transition into spring and summer with the close of the 16/17 winter season, followed by the announced launch dates of our formal Phase II offering documents for the "Fight the Man. Own the Mountain." campaign, there's never a dull moment (just how we like it)! Thank you to everyone who's been with us in this campaign, whether it was since Day 1 or even just the other week. We couldn't be more excited for what's in store this year. With multiple events and incredible activities launching at RED this spring, summer, and fall; we don't doubt you'll get a good idea why RED and Rossland really are a 4-season paradise. Stay tuned for more updates and videos throughout the year while we track the progress and update you on the campaign! Have questions? We'll answer them for you right here at the bottom of the FAQs.
Launch Dates for Official Phase 2 Offering
about 2 months agoHello everyone,
As the winter season comes to an official close April 2nd, I wanted to reach out personally and thank you for our best season ever. I’ve been CEO here since the spring of 2004 and, thanks to you, 2016-17 had deeper days and a deeper sense of community than any other year than I can remember.
The biggest reason this year felt different was this sense that everything great about RED and Rossland got “turned up” by our “Fight The Man. Own The Mountain.” campaign. This community crowdfunding campaign reminded everyone just how special this place is and that special is worth standing up for.
The success of “Fight The Man. Own The Mountain.” surprised everyone—even me. We cleared Phase I on StartEngine well before the deadline and are proud to inform you that work has begun on Phase II in Canada and the US. We plan to have formal Phase II offering documents ready for Canadian investors around July 15th and for US investors around October 15th (due to the differences in securities regulations, the US offering documents will take longer to finalize). This will still allow all investors to have at the very minimum their lift tickets and/or season passes in hand when the lifts start running at RED in the winter of 2017! No matter when you invest though, you will get your tiered rewards as set out on RED’s StartEngine webpage. For international investors, we will be getting back to you in the summer after reviewing the number of reservations in your jurisdiction, and where appropriate, the legal requirements for investing in that jurisdiction. For all Canadian investors, StartEngine and RED Mountain will be officially partnering with FrontFundr, a registered dealer in Canada, in order to collect subscriptions (your investment) in Canada. More details will be provided in the near future, stay tuned!
And again, thanks to all of YOU who reserved your slice of paradise on StartEngine. You believed in RED and RED believed in you and that’s why we’re in this enviable fiscal position heading into spring and summer: Proud. Independent. Strong. While we’re sad to say goodbye to the many, many powder days we enjoyed this year, we also know how much fun this region is in spring and summer. If you’re a serious recreator or power relaxer, the Koots are unbeatable on both fronts. Our new video series being released each coming month will give you a better idea of just how great it can be.
We hope you’ll continue to track our progress on this vanguard initiative and continue to support independent skiing and snowboarding. If you have any questions not covered by the extensive FAQ, I will be able to respond to them personally at the bottom of the page here: www.redresort.com/ownthemountain
Many thanks,
Howard Katkov, CEO
RED Mountain Resort
We've Hit Our $10 Million Goal!
4 months agoDear Friends,
To all of our friends, old and new, we wanted to let you know that we hit our goal of $10,000,000, and YOU are the reason. It’s one thing having an idea and reaching out to our skiing community to see if it resonates. It’s another thing entirely to have you all respond in such a positive way. This campaign has always been and will continue to be about your passion for skiing and your love and respect for RED Mountain. You are standing up for independent skiing and the preservation of a place and a lifestyle that must be protected – and celebrated – for generations. We thank each and every one of you for stepping up and supporting our efforts. We have now commenced our Phase 2 legal and accounting process and expect to be complete this Fall to launch with our equity offer. In the meantime however, this is definitely not the last you’ve heard of us – this is only the beginning! We’ll be keeping you engaged throughout the next several months with exciting news along with showing the beauty of Rossland and RED for all seasons. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Howard
CEO, RED Mountain Resort
New Announcement Regarding Ownership Details
4 months agoWe've surpassed 90% to our $10 Million Goal!
First off, we're thrilled to announce we just passed the $9 million mark! We thank you for your support and couldn't be more excited about our progress today. The countdown to 10 Million has officially begun!
Second, we recently just launched a new update video on the campaign with new details regarding ownership of RED to help answer some repeated questions. We have some very good news to announce so we hope you'll watch the video and continue to spread the word with this historic campaign!
Learn about New Ownership Details Here >
Sincerely,
Howard Katkov, CEO
RED Mountain Resort
Over 75% to the Finish Line!
4 months agoThis winter at RED has been nothing short of incredible. With packed lodging, countless powder days, and more happy faces than I can even count - winter is in full swing here and we couldn't be more excited to have this crowdfunding campaign be a part of it all.
We marked 2 new milestones as of this morning - reaching over 2,000 reservations(!) as well as officially surpassing 75% of our goal to the tune of $7,518,500! We can't tell you how excited we are each and every day seeing more and more of you jump on board knowing you see how special this all is - just as much as we do.
Also, stay tuned for a new video we're releasing over the next week or two with some new announcements and exciting investment details about your reservation! We'll also be following up the video announcement with an even more detailed letter sent to any current reservation holders.
Lots of exciting things happening here at RED and you 2,000+ are right now at the front and center of it all. Thank you for shaking up this industry and being a part of something truly groundbreaking. Time to go shred some powder this weekend!
- Howard Katkov, CEO
#OwnTheMountain
We've Passed the Tipping Point!
6 months agoWe're Over Halfway There!
A few weeks go, we hit a very important milestone, tipping the campaign past the halfway mark towards our $10 million reservation goal. We couldn't be more excited at not only what you've been able to help us accomplish to date, but that our message and stance against a growing trend in this industry has resonated so strongly with so many of you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and have enjoyed every day of this journey, answering your questions, and taking your feedback, concerns, and comments to heart. It's been nothing short of incredible.
While nearly $5.5 million and over 1,400 reservations is absolutely a huge voice of support with this campaign - we are far from finished and still need your help every step of the way. It's important to know that we need to hit our $10 million mark to reach "Phase 2" where we can then offer actual equity shares of the company, release financial statements, concrete perks, company details, and more.
We'll need you more than ever as we approach our 2016/17 winter season. We hope that you continue sharing our campaign, video, and content with your friends, friends of friends, your mailman, your relatives, and your new neighbor that just moved in who happens to have a snowboard rack on his car. We can't wait for the season to kick off and hope you're just as excited as we are!
Sincerely,
Your friends at RED
#OwnTheMountain
Nearing $4.5 Million + You Could Win Up to $40,000!
8 months agoWe've almost hit the $4.5 million mark with nearly 1,200 of you reserving shares - we couldn't be more grateful for what this movement has become!
If you've visited our StartEngine page recently, you may have noticed there's been a blue "Share" button added on the top right corner of our campaign page. This is part of StartEngine's newly launched contest where you could win $40,000 and a new Elio Vehicle!
All you need to do is share the link with your friends - helping spread the love for our Fight the Man. Own the Mountain campaign - and you'll receive one point for every user you get to sign up for StartEngine. The person with the most points will win $20,000 and an Elio Vehicle! If the first place winner receives more than 50,000 signups, StartEngine will double their cash to $40,000. Talk about a lot of ski trips with that one, eh?
To Compete In the contest just do the following:
1. Go to our campaign page (https://www.startengine.com/startup/red-mountain-resort).
2. Sign up or log in to your StartEngine account.
3. Click the "Share" Button in the top right corner and start sharing with friends.
We are very excited for the next few months as winter approaches and promotions like these can only help us get to where we need to be to make this campaign a reality. We would absolutely love for you to share this with your network.
Thank you again, snow is coming!
RED Mountain Resort
Another First.
8 months agoAs of last week, we officially hit the $4 million mark with over 1,000 reservations! Thanks to everyone for jumping aboard this historic campaign. We still have some serious climbing to hit our goal of $10M to clear “Test the Waters” but with your continued enthusiasm we know it can be done.
And now we have yet more incredible news to shout from the mountain: The Josie Hotel, under construction located at the base of RED Mountain—owned and operated by independent developers—has cleared its own necessary financing and is on schedule for the 2017-18 Winter opening. We’re honoured that William Cole Company chose RED as their first development at a ski resort.
This hotel is truly groundbreaking news in both senses of the word. The Josie will be one of the first architecturally unique hotels to be built at a major ski resort in over a decade: a modern, 106-room boutique hotel, right at the base. Josie will encompass a restaurant, bar, conference and meeting rooms, a large function deck and a spa including an outdoor slope-side pool—just for style points.
Now, if you’re imagining some cookie-cutter MegaResort hotel dropped out of the sky, stop right there. The hotel design, while contemporary in nature, has pulled together subtle elements and motifs from Rossland's heritage of mining and commerce. The result is a cohesive development, which is fully integrated into the landscape, that emphasizes the pedestrian experience, and takes full advantage of views and light.
The Josie Hotel will be one of the most significant economic drivers for the community in several decades. The hotel will increase tourism visitation, boost commerce for our region and create additional four-season employment that is vital for sustainable growth. You can read this announcement in its entirety here: http://www.redresort.com/news/letter-howard-katkov-ceo/
Howard Katkov
CEO, RED Mountain Resort
$3 Million in 10 Days!
9 months agoHello Everyone,
Earlier this afternoon we officially hit $3 million with over 760 reservations in just 10 days, and we could not be more thankful for your support. It is so gratifying that our campaign speaks to you in a way that we hoped for: your love for RED Mountain. I have personally talked to many of you in the last 10 days, discussing your excitement, as well as your questions and concerns. Your feedback has been critical if we take this campaign to the next phase. All comments are constructive and we sincerely appreciate them. Having said that, we will continue to listen to all of you as we move forward. Today we are at 30% of our goal in just 10 days. Most importantly though, this story is about you, RED Mountain, independent ski resorts, and the power of social media. If you believe in our campaign, we only ask that you continue to spread the word! This is as grassroots as it gets and people like you are what will get us to our goal. Thank you again, and we will continue onward!
Cheers,
Howard Katkov
CEO, RED Mountain Resort
More Questions? We've got it covered.
9 months agoAs we approach $2 million in reserved shares since our launch on Tuesday, we've had the absolute pleasure of hearing your feedback, questions, comments, and kind words. We couldn't be happier seeing how this has resonated with so many in the ski and snowboard communities near and far. Since Day 1, we've worked on consolidating all of your questions (and our answers) from Facebook, email, and phone all into one location. You can access those answers (as well as see all campaign assets and outside press coverage) here: http://www.redresort.com/redstartengine.
If you don't see an answer to your question, you can submit it on that page and we will personally respond back to you as well as add it to the list.
Thank you all again, we are very excited for what's ahead!
- RED
And So It Begins...
9 months agoThank you everyone!
As of this morning - in just over 24 hours - we hit the $1 million mark of reserved shares and couldn't be more excited for your interest! Thank you everyone who jumped on board so soon validating the importance of our mission in the midsts of the current ski industry. We know we have a long road ahead towards the $10 million mark - so please continue to share this campaign with all your friends!
Sincerely,
Howard Katkov, CEO
RED Mountain Resort
