DCNR Seeking Proposals for a Four-Season Recreation Adventure Center Concession at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County
- by Guest Contributor
- October 12, 2022
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Department committed to $10 million in capital improvements to support master plan for year-round operations
State Parks Director John Hallas announced the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is seeking proposals for a four-season recreation adventure center concession at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County.
“The department is seeking a concessionaire to lease approximately 700 acres and work with DCNR to create a year-round recreational operation,” Hallas said. “DCNR believes with infrastructure improvements and the right partner, Denton Hill will become an attraction that brings additional visitors to the Pennsylvania Wilds region in all four seasons.”
Denton Hill includes a downhill ski area that has been closed since the winter of 2014. A master plan completed in 2018 included recommendations to rebrand the ski lodge as an “Adventure Center,” which is more applicable as an operational hub for four-season operations of expanded activities and services beyond traditional downhill skiing. DCNR is committing $10 million in capital improvements to support the rehabilitation of park recreational infrastructure.
“DCNR is willing to consider alternatives to the commonwealth’s proposed design and capital development of Denton Hill as identified in the master plan, allowing for flexibility for proposers to be as innovative as they desire,” Hallas added.
The design phase of this project will coincide with the award of a concession lease agreement. DCNR intends that the selected concessionaire will help identify and prioritize improvements during the design process. DCNR’s website contains information on available state park concession opportunities. The Denton Hill request is SFP# 2022-BSP-01.
Interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend the virtual pre-proposal meeting on October 25 and one of two scheduled site visits on October 26 and November 1. For more information about the pre-proposal meeting, site visits, or solicitation, please contact RA-parkconcessions@pa.gov.
Proposals must be received in a sealed envelope no later than January 6, 2023. DCNR will begin reviewing proposals on January 11, 2023.
Denton Hill State Park is located along Route 6 in Ulysses Township, Potter County, in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The park was developed by DCNR as a specialized ski area in the early 1950s. All permanent infrastructure at Denton Hill is owned by DCNR and is in need of major rehabilitation and modernization to bring it to acceptable industry standards.
Find more information about the Denton Hill State Park master plan on DCNR’s website.
About DCNR:
Established on July 1, 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is charged with maintaining and protecting 121 state parks; managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space, and natural areas. DCNR’s mission is to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania’s natural resources for present and future generations’ use and enjoyment. Learn more at DCNR.pa.gov.
