Lyon's Hospitality has been sold

Sorry to say I heard from the owners this past weekend that they've managed to sell the place. Sad to hear that what was once a thriving business, pre-9/11, was no longer making enough to survive.

They say the new owner reportedly plans to keep the laundromat open but is unsure what will be done with the rest of the property. They're trying to sell their bunks to one of the other motels in the area in the hopes they'll take up the tradition.

This past year I've spent many nights after a big hike sleeping there and have made it my home base during hiking vacations. They've always treated me well and I'll be sorry to see them go.

I guess I'll really have to invest in some camping gear now...

rocksnrolls said:

They say the new owner reportedly plans to keep the laundromat open but is unsure what will be done with the rest of the property. They're trying to sell their bunks to one of the other motels in the area in the hopes they'll take up the tradition.

This past year I've spent many nights after a big hike sleeping there and have made it my home base during hiking vacations. They've always treated me well and I'll be sorry to see them go.

Click to expand...

ditto here.

I spent 3 nights there about 3 weeks ago and again was there last night. Doug and Naruko (husband and wife) are wonderful hosts and will be missed. If the new owner doesn't cater to hikers, hopefully some other establishment in that area will jump on the opportunity to do so! Let's hope!

rocksnrolls said:

... Sad to hear that what was once a thriving business, pre-9/11, was no longer making enough to survive.

Click to expand...

Just curious, how did 9/11 have an impact on this business? Not trying to be political... Did the owners think 9/11 had an impact on their business? Why would 9/11 make people not want to stay at a hostel?

If I understood Doug correctly, he felt their motel was a victim of selective inforcement by the local zoning types, and in order to stay open, was forced to split the motel into 2 parts. He was pursuing legal action as a result. I haven't heard whether the case has been settled.

I'm not aware of any direct effect of 9/11 on Lyons, other than it seemed to have diminished tourist traffic in general. Doug told me their biggest income source was from the rental of snowmobiles, and without snow ...

I grew up in Twin Mtn, and its decline began long before 9/11. I suppose 9/11's impact on the economy may have been the final nail in the coffin, but the decline isn't new. The "strip" that starts at Lyon's used to be very busy (Fun Town, Paquette's, etc.) when I was a kid, but business was slowing as far back as the 90's. My grandparent's used to own Johnson's motel (they're the Johsnons), and they sold the place just before business slowed in the town. It's strange driving through there now, remembering what it used to be like.

It seems strange to me that the Mount Washington Hotel and the businesses in Bretton Woods are doing well, while Twin Mtn keeps sliding.

It's worth noting though (according to what Doug, current owner told me), they'll be in operation until SEPTEMBER 15th pending the sale of the property. So there's still an opportunity over the summer to lodge there.

Nutsosa said:

I grew up in Twin Mtn, and its decline began long before 9/11. I suppose 9/11's impact on the economy may have been the final nail in the coffin, but the decline isn't new. The "strip" that starts at Lyon's used to be very busy (Fun Town, Paquette's, etc.) when I was a kid, but business was slowing as far back as the 90's.

Click to expand...

I remember going up in the mid 80s and the area was bustling with activity. I went back through there 2 years ago and was shocked to see it resembled little more than a ghost town one week after labor day. Is it because people don't mind paying 2x or 3x the price to stay in North Conway?

It is indeed sad, I've stayed there a few times the last couple of years.

His complaint was about the zoning.

If I remember correctly the 9/11 part was that they moved up to Twin Mt post 09/11 as they thought the north country was a better place than where they were to raise a family.

The big $$ places are doing okay because their customers can easily afford $3 gas, $250 a night rooms & operate on a budget very different then most of us.

HikerAmiga said:

It's worth noting though (according to what Doug, current owner told me), they'll be in operation until SEPTEMBER 15th pending the sale of the property. So there's still an opportunity over the summer to lodge there.

Click to expand...

Oh yeah, forgot that part .

Doug told me that a large part of the business at Lyon's pre-9/11 was european toruists and that dropped off almost completely afterward. I'm not sure what year he and his wife bought it

If you think things are bad in the hospitality business now, wait until the smoking ban kicks in.

Not sure how that will change things

Most condos & time share are smoke free.

Many restaurants with lounges in CT are smoke free & doing fine,

2X a year we have a large annual meeting & all reservations are available for review. Of a couple of 100 (I never counted the number but the group fills a large ballroom at a major hotel 1/2 of the group from around the US & world) people only two or three request smoking rooms, the rest are Non-smoking.

Between taxes on gas & cigerettes, (& higher life ins) how do they afford travel?

It's our turn to hike!

Hi Everybody,

We'll be closing Lyons Hospitality to business trade September 3rd. My wife and I want to thank all of you who've stayed with us over the past couple of years. It make me wish when we first bought this place in Feb. 2000 that we converted it to a Hostel back then. I must say Hikers are better than Motelers anyday. You will not see me as an innkeeper in the future but as a fellow hiker and I will be checking in on the forums.

Once again we feel we've met more friends owning this hostel than we ever could imagine. It's our turn to hike these mountains and enjoy for once what we could only watch other people do. That's the price you pay when you own an Inn. If only another motel in Twin would take up the torch and continue the hostel for this side of the park. I hope to see you all out there on the trail or possibly kayaking some lake or river. We will be moving to Littleton near Moore Dam and will still be in the area so let us know when your coming and need a partner to keep you company.

Doug & Naruko

Doug and Naruko,

Welcome to the other side. I can only imagine how freeing it must be to have the opportunity to enjoy the mountains you have been working near. This hiking board is comprised of a ton of wonderful people and I am sure we all look forward to having you join us on the trails.

Good Luck.

sli74

I'll throw in my $0.02 and say that I stayed at Lyons only a few nights, but the bunkroom was the perfect destination for a hiker, not fancy but not shabby. Just right, and at the right price. Those bunks were solid, too!

Nutsosa, I never stayed at Johnsons when your family owned it, but when I first started hiking I was there a lot when the Bradys hosted, and always found it to be a fine, clean establishment. I've stayed there under the current management as well, in one of the cottages, and for two people plus dog doing a multi-night (winter) stay, again excellent.

(I also have enjoyed several stays at Seven Dwarfs, too)

So I'm sad to see it go, glad to see Doug & Naruko will still be enjoying the mountain lifestyle, and hope someone will pick up this opportunity. It's really great to have a place to stay that not only is ideal for the hiking community (bunks & showers, maybe a common room), but where you can meet other hikers, see old friends, hang out together, etc.

Now if only the coffee shop had good coffee ...

jjmcgo said:

If you think things are bad in the hospitality business now, wait until the smoking ban kicks in.

Click to expand...

Contrary to dire predictions. restaurant business picked up after the smoking ban in NYC. Some bars claim a loss, others a gain.

Hey Doug -

Best of luck to you, your wife and family, and hope you come out whole from your foray into the motel/hostel business. Have enjoyed your fine bunkhouse on many occasions and will miss it.

Kevin

Sad story...Enjoy your new life. Sorry to hear it...

OK a response

I made a post about smoking bans hurting business and Mike P. offered a rebuttal. That was fine and I was content to leave it at that.
Papa Bear made a post about the ban not hurting NYC businesses and I feel I must counter that.
I've met Papa Bear and read his posts about his incredible hikes and bushwacks.
I have the utmost respect for him and his activities.
But this is the NYC situation: The ban was enacted the year after the 9-11 attacks. At that time, we were in recession. Recessions always follow stock market crashes, like the 1999 Clinton Stock Market Crash that caused the 60 percent decline in the NASDAQ and 20 percent decline in the Dow. Fact. I worked for Bloomberg at the time. I was there.
NYC is the most sensitive place on Earth to market crashes and recessions. The baseline data for NYC alcohol revenues is 2002, the lowest year for economic activity in NYC since the recession that followed the 1987 crash.
What happened next was a New York state increase in liquor taxes combined with NYC bar owners raising prices on average by about $2 a beer. The old $3 beer is now $5.
Higher prices, higher taxes and an historically low baseline allows NYS and NYC politicians to claim no impact.
Look at Delaware where casino revenues declined 30 percent. Look at the bar closings in Madison, WI, and Jefferson, MO.
Show respect and don't try to con people that smoking bans don't cause economic hardship.
This doesn't even take into account that the people in bars nowadays are far less interesting and more prickly that in the past.
Hey, look, it's Anne Frank in the window, turn her in. That's the biggest problem. People deciding that they're superior to others and making them pay your share of social obligations.