Cockaigne to hold appreciation day Saturday – Evening Observer
CHERRY CREEK – ”We owe a great debt of gratitude,” is how Jack VanScoter, Cockaigne Ski Area owner, described the community support that he received after the fire that destroyed his ski lodge.
On Jan. 24, Cockaigne’s Austrian World’s Fair ski lodge burned to the ground. Within 10 days, the ski area was up and running once again. VanScoter said it was because of all the support from local residents and merchants who donated goods and services that skiers once again were able to enjoy the slopes at Cockaigne.
On Saturday, VanScoter wants to say ”Thank You” to those who helped by hosting an appreciation day at the grainery from 3 to 5 p.m. During the ceremony, awards will be given out at 4 p.m. to those who helped. Also, State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda, and Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Con-Chautauqua County, are planning to attend.
“As an example, Peek’n Peak lent us ski boots, snowboards, snowboard boots, and without that we would not have been able to reopen,” VanScoter said. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Peak, and also Holiday Valley and Holimont Ski Area.”
VanScoter said 201 jobs were saved thanks to a successful season after the fire due to all the help received from the community.
“The support after the fire was humbling to me. That is why we are having a Cockaigne appreciation day,” he said. “There will probably be 400 to 500 people. We invited customers, employees and people who provided goods and services to get us open. There are so many people to thank. It was a community effort.”
Even with the successful ski season despite the fire this year, things are still up in the air for next year at Cockaigne. VanScoter said he is having trouble with the state over asbestos. The Cockaigne owner for 41 years said the state is concern over possible asbestos at the former ski lodge. However, VanScoter said no asbestos was ever used.
“The building was from Austria. The building was used in the World’s Fair in 1964 and came to Chautauqua County in 1965, and erected,” he said. “I pretty much winterized the building myself. We never put any asbestos in it, but the state takes the position that there is asbestos. Until that is cleared up, we can’t say anything definite about next year.”
VanScoter said he will continue to work through the situation, no matter how frustrating the process is to handle.
“The state has so many layers of bureaucracy. It takes time,” he said. “Until we get the asbestos issue cleared up, we are not spending any money that may not be productive. I would like to build a new lodge and operate as we have in the past.”