Saving A Ski Area – Fritzie Baer And Belknap Mountain Recreation Area
PHOTO: This picture taken in 1952 shows Fritzie Baer on the Tiger Trail at the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area (now Gunstock) trying out a new Sno-Cat that belonged to Cannon Mountain. Baer realized that to attract the skiers, grooming of the trails was of the utmost importance. Fritzie bought a bright orange Sno-Cat which was first used for the 1953 ski season. Courtesy of the Arnold/Baer Family Library
Bobby Arnold in the grandson of Fritzie Baer. We thank him for this great article and photos.
by Bobby Arnold
Contributing Writer
In 1938, as president of the New England Motorcycle Dealers Association, Fritzie Baer moved the 200 Mile National Championship from Keene to the newly built Belknap Mountains Recreation Area, now known as Gunstock Mountain Resort. With the races also came the Gypsy Tour, at the time held throughout New Hampshire each year. From then on, it has always been held in Laconia.
Fritzie worked at Indian Motocycle Company in Springfield, MA., and had the dealership in the factory. He was a former hill climb racer and founded the motorcycle club Fritzie’s Roamers. Fritzie was a renowned announcer and competition referee for motorcycle races throughout the East. He was a promotor.
The races were a welcomed infusion of cash to the Lakes Region, held each year around Father’s Day on the second week of June. This was before school was out and summer vacations starting so there was an abundant supply of rooms and dining for the thousands of motorcycle fans coming to the Lakes Region for the racing.
By end of the 1940’s, the Belknap Mountains Recreation Area (referred to by the locals as The Area) was floundering. The management were over their heads. In the May 1949 Annual Reports of Belknap Country, it reports: A bill was introduced to establish a commission to manage the Area. On a 9-8 vote, the bill was not introduced.
In February 1950, a report was given at a public hearing on the Area over the past 10 years. The findings revealed that it had not kept pace with other facilities that offered a variety of winter sports and had no long range planning. The commissioners had not hired a competent and qualified full-time manager, even when they admitted it was necessary.
The ski slopes were a disaster as lack of maintenance had branches growing out of the snow, resulting in a number of injuries. Skiers were taking their business elsewhere. This caused an outrage by local businesses, who saw their revenues shrinking since skiers were not returning. The Area had a loss of $53,000.
Fritzie took a drastic turn in his career in May 1950, when Commissioner Norman Hubbard convinced him to become general manager of The Area with a two-year contract at $6,500 per year. Fritzie was well known to the commissioners due to the National Championship Motorcycle Races held each June attracting the best motorcycle racers through the United States and over 25,000 fans.
From the beginning, Fritzie had a constant argument with the commissioners. Although they spoke glowingly about making him as their choice for the position “…is attested to by the progressive accomplishments and many friends that Fritzie Baer has won for himself and Belknap Area in just a few months.” While not a skier himself, he quickly formed committees of those who knew skiing, like Roxy Rothafel, part of the ski advisory board.
It is important to remember that these were the years of no artificial snow making. You only had what Mother Nature provided. Fritzie’s son, Jim, has often told the story of being a young boy, woken in the night by his father. “We have to go out to the Area, Jimmy, before the wind starts blowing the snow, and pack it down with the Sno-Cat.” Back and forth for a few hours, Fritzie and Jimmy drove the Sno-Cat pulling a huge roller to pack down the snow.
Jimmy was a tired boy at school the next day but those inches were precious, white gold. Fritzie bragged in the Annual Reports that by grooming the turf slopes in the summer, adding topsoil and grass, that “……we can now ski on Phelps with just 3” of snow.”
In Fritzie’s first synopsis of his year at the Area, posted in the Belknap County Annual Report, he sings the praises of the Ski Advisory Committee that he relied heavily upon of turning the Area around. These ten men recommended various improvements that Fritzie would act upon. Trails were groomed throughout the summer, removing brush, adding topsoil and grass to enable skiing with much less snow. The skiers immediately noticed the improvement and returned, filling rooms and dining establishments throughout the Lakes Region.
A learning hill was established for the Area’s ski school, along with a rental shop offering boots and skis for the beginners. The inside of the Recreation Building had a considerable amount of work done and an additional Grill Room was added for serving food and beverage. At the same time, Fritzie used all of his contacts, from his many years promoting motorcycle racing, to garner press for The Area.
To attract more skiers and tourists to The Area, there were many more improvements that had to be made. Fritzie was constantly pleading his case to the commissioners. Fritzie was a promoter and needed to have an improved Area to promote. In August 1951, there was a meeting at The Area where Fritzie spoke of the reduction in his $99,000 asked for budget to $60,000. He had only just heard about it. He complained that if he had known earlier about the reduction, they could have made cuts in May and June. His quote to the press was, “The delegation had no right to bring me here if I was not given a fair chance to make the Area operate at a profit.”
By December 1951, the question of selling the Area to a private investor was brought up to the commissioners. One of the Belknap delegation said that they represented a group of individuals that would be willing to start with a bid of $100,000 for the Area. But the commissioners knew they had the right man in Fritzie. The stated in the annual report for 1951: “We are deeply indebted to our Managing Director Fritzie Baer, for his tireless enthusiasm and careful planning of the future of the Belknap Area and can heartily agree with him in saying that the best years are still ahead.”
The commissioners were in charge of the funding for the Area. Greg Goddard, former GM of Gunstock for twenty-one years until his retirement in 2020, once told me that if a part on the Sno-Cat broke that needed funding, Fritzie had to call a meeting of the commissioners where he would present his case for the money. In the ski business, those decisions need to be made immediately by the GM in charge of the operations. This frustrated Fritzie immensely and he often expressed this frustration, sometimes in the press.
In 1952, Fritzie had increased revenues over $100,000, up 87% from 1950, with a net profit of $10,310. The three commissioners wrote the following paragraph in the Annual Report: “The Belknap Recreation Area has had a most successful year from both an operational standpoint as well as a financial one. The Area report as given by Manager Fritzie Baer included in this book gives the improvements and financial aspect for the year. We see no reason why the Area should be a taxpayer’s burden under the able management of Fritzie Baer; we commend him for his enthusiasm in the promotion of the Area.”
The Area had now added 3-4 acres of picnic grounds and removed a swamp area by straightening out various brooks, creating additional parking areas. The ski trails were bulldozed, smoothed, reseeded and fertilized. Fritzie also gives praise to others. “We are very grateful to our Ski Advisory Board, headed by James Rogers, and the Belknap Mountain Ski Patrol, headed by John Gauthier, for their advice and cooperation in laying out our long-range program.”
The Area’s revenues for 1953 were $91,950 with a net profit of $11,790 ($102,000 in 2012 dollars). The Cannon Mountain Sno-Cat was brought to The Area for Fritzie to try out. He convinced the commissioners for the need of the technology and the first Sno-Cat was purchased and paid for. In the 1953 Annual Report, Fritzie notes, “We have seen thousands of skiers using trails that formerly had to have several inches to a foot of snow, schussing down on 4 inches and even less.”
Besides skiing and the motorcycle races, Fritzie was attracting other groups to use The Area for their events. The New York Symphony utilized the Recreation building for two concerts. A survey was taken that indicated $300,000 ($3.3 million in 2022 dollars) was spent in the Lakes Region as a result of the Laconia National motorcycle race held at the Area.
Fritzie and the commissioners were still butting heads. In February 1954, Fritzie compared the Area’s proposed budget of $50,000 to what the State is spending at Sunapee ($150,000) and Cannon ($350,000). He realizes the need for another lift other than the rope tow and single chair and proposes a new lift, the T-Bar. The budget for the T-Bar is approved $50,000. The contract comes in at $45.000.
The three-day Laconia National race in 1954 gives The Area a profit of $5,000 ($55,000 in 2022 dollars). The commissioners’ comments about the Area are brief and state, “The report of Mr. Baer, manager of the Area, and operating figures are included in this report.” The new T-Bar has a capacity of 1,000 skiers per hour compared to the single chair’s 240. The Red Hat Trail is built, an expert trail to attract the better skiers to the Area. The success of better trail grooming was evident as January grossed over $20,000 ($220,000 in 2022 dollars) although snowfall was less than 4 inches of snow. February 1955 saw the installation of an answering machine at the Area. This will give round the clock snow reports by calling ‘Glendale 2572’.
The summer of 1955 was an extremely busy time for The Area. June 14th saw 20,000 spectators watching the Laconia National motorcycle race. nine days later, The Area hosted a cook-out for 6,000 to welcome President Eisenhower. Fritzie is introduced to the President. His wife, my grandmother Louise, remembers thinking to herself, “I hope he remembers to remove his red hat when he is introduced!”
One month later, on July 17th, they hold a summer ski jumping event with the help of the Laconia Ice Company. 2.000 spectators watch the jumpers.
Revenues for 1955 were $110,307 with a net profit of $17,450 ($192,000 in 2022 dollars).
The Commissioners comments about this year at the Area are very brief. “Under the efficient management of Fritzie Baer, the Recreation Area has had a very profitable year.” In his report, Fritzie notes, “After 5 years as manager of the Area we still believe we can gross, with proper conditions, $125,000.” That would be $1.3 million in 2022 dollars. The Annual Report for 1956 proved Fritzie correct. Revenues for 1956 were $148,215, an increase of 34% over 1955! That’s $1.6m in 2022 dollars.
The commissioners state, “Under the continued efficient management of Fritzie Baer the Recreation Area had a banner year financially.”
Fritzie’s report notes, “Financially, it was the biggest year in the Area’s history, in spite of poor skiing conditions in January and the breaking of the cable on the chair lift in July, which stopped our summer revenue.” The single chair lift collapsed due to fatigue that was hidden by rubber sleeves on the chair connectors to the cable. They had been installed to make a smooth ride over the chair support pulleys. There was one fatality. The NH Tramway Safety Act would be developed as a result and become a model for all other states.
In his report, Fritzie gives glowing praise to the Ski Advisory Board and co-chairmen, James Rodgers and Arthur (ROXY) Rothafel. He states that their recommendations are being carried out 100% and a long-range program has been set-up. There are now two paid Ski Patrolmen on The Area’s payroll.
Under Fritzie’s management, the revenues for 1957 were $124,238, their 2nd largest in its history.
The commissioners report states, “Under the management of Fritzie Baer another good year has been had at the Area, despite the lack of snow in November and December.”
In his report, Fritzie states, “We know that Belknap has now taken its place as a Major Ski Area, and we should be thinking of another up-hill ski lift, more parking space and more trails.” He also states, “Our thanks to the County Commissioners, the County Delegation and members of the Belknap Staff for their support and guidance in our many problems at the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area.”
In March 1958, The Area budget was discussed. Senator Rogers spoke in regard to the Area from his viewpoint as a member of the Advisory Committee. He said new facilities were needed and it was no fault of present management. He stated that if business at The Area is to continue to be good, Belknap County should either change the type of management or sell it to the state. Belknap County did not have the proper facilities for handling the operation.
Frtizie was asked for comments and responded to questions. He thought the Area should have another new Sno-Cat. He suggested that the county could issue bonds to the amount of $100,000 to buy a new Poma lift and that income would pay the debt. He reported receipts up to March 1,of $90,073.41. ($949,000 in 2022 dollars).
April 15, 1958 -A motion was made by Rep. Miner, and duly seconded, that “A committee of five (5) members of this Convention be appointed by the Convention Chairman, to investigate existing conditions and operating procedures of Belknap Recreation Area, and to report their findings to this convention not later than 1 November, 1958, in accordance with RSA Chap.24: Sections 17, 18 and 19. She further moved, and it was duly seconded, that her remarks following the formal motion be made a part of the record of the Convention.
Remarks:
“Mr. Chairman:
For several years there has been considerable discussion on the operation of the Belknap Recreation Area. There have been recommendations made to the County Commissioners and to the County Convention that the Area be sold, either to private enterprise or to the State, or that a Belknap Authority be established. In order that the members of this Convention, or those of a later Convention, be able to take a positive action on any of the above recommendations, or perhaps suggest other measures, I have made the above motion.”
It was so voted, 11-1.
In the Annual Report for 1958, the Area’s revenues were $206,000, a 385% increase over the past 9 years. This is the largest year in the Area’s history. The Operating Surplus was $25,000. ($256,000 in 2022 dollars). Fritzie was paid $7,981.77 ($82,000 in 2022 dollars).
The commissioners state, “Attention is called to the reports of the Recreation Area auditor and of Manager Fritzie Baer, appearing elsewhere in this report.” Fritzie, knowing that he is now fighting for his job, submits his longest and most detailed report.
Fritzie’s relationship with the county commissioners was coming to a head. In the January 7, 1959 edition on the Laconia Citizen, the front page read: “Fritzie Proposes Double Chair Lift On Gunstock”
On January 23 1959, Fritzie gives a talk to the weekly meeting of the Laconia Rotarians at the Tavern. He told then that dealing with the county commissioners as to the needs of the Belknap Area has been most unsatisfactory. For this reason, Fritzie hopes that the Legislature will create an Area Authority, which will have jurisdiction over the recreation center in Gilford.
“I am not proud of the performance of the county commissioners relative to the Area for the past four or six years,” said Fritzie.
He told the crowd that he had wanted The Area to start a similar ski school to what Hannes Schneider was doing at Cranmore, but that the county commissioners turned him down. Ironically, a few short years later, Olympic medal winner and local Gilford woman Penny Pitou would open her ski school at The Area with her husband Egon Zimmerman.
Fritzie said that he had been moved to resign a dozen times due to the commissioners’ lack of cooperation. In July 1959, Fritzie was fired by the county commissioners. Rather than be thankful that Fritzie had brought The Area from a point of utter failure and possible sale to a private investor to becoming a valuable asset to Belknap County and the Lakes Region, he was unceremoniously dismissed.
Fritzie was General Manager of The Area (now Gunstock Mountain Resort) from May 1950 to July 1959, 9 years. The 1950 Annual Report showed total revenue at The Area to be $53,600. I could only get access to the financials thru 1958 but by then Fritzie had grown the revenues to $206,150.
In 1959, Belknap now had a 2.250’ T-Bar lift, a 3,200’ Chair Lift and 3 rope tows. $4 a day included all the lifts (approximately $40 in 2022 dollars). Revenues for the lift tickets and ski shop totaled over $128,000 ($1.3 million in 2022 dollars). This was a far cry from the 1950 revenues for lift tickets and ski shop in 1950 of $11,800 ($145,000 in 2022 dollars). The Area had become a major player in the ski industry of New Hampshire.
In September 1959, the Gunstock Area Commission was formed. It was to be made up of five members. It stipulated that one was to be an experienced skier and another experienced in finance and accounting. The GAC was given the authority to spend surplus revenue up to $40,000 annually ($407,000 in 2022 dollars). In March 1952, it was noted in the minutes that Fritzie explained how the Area was run. “The delegation appropriated the amount which can be spent; the Commissioners authorize the payments, if a surplus occurs, it returns to the county treasury and can not be laid aside for future repairs, etc.”
Bob Lawton, owner of Funspot, once told me that the Lakes Region had its greatest promoter for over 25 years with Fritzie Baer.
From 1938 – 1963, over 250,000 spectators attended the National Championship Motorcycle Races at Belknap (Gunstock). There were 334 Expert riders who competed in the 100 Mile National Championship Race and to date 45 of those riders are in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
1998
The American Motorcycle Association starts a Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Fritzie Baer is one of the first to be inducted.
June 12 ,1999
The Concord Monitor publishes their book, “The New Hampshire Century”, featuring 100 individuals whom they felt helped to shape New Hampshire. Fritzie Baer is one of the 100!
Bobby Arnold is the founder and treasurer of the Gunstock Mountain Historic Preservation Society.
All photos courtesy of the Arnold/Baer Family Library.