Clever summer uses for covered conveyor lifts and a skating rink. Keeping Warm “Laurie Leger, the ‘botanist’ in our environmental department, came up with this idea when she saw a late spring frost forecasted. We stored all of our hanging plants and ornamentals inside our conveyor enclosure for a week of unseasonably cool weather. We had around 30-40 plants inside, but plenty of room for more. It has since warmed up, but she currently has a few bulbs in there now to help them along. She estimated it was about 30 degrees warmer inside the ‘greenhouse.’ This was our first year with the covered surface lift, but we are half-jokingly thinking about using it next spring to grow seedlings and reduce money spent on already-mature plants.” —David Crowley, General Manager, Wachusett, Mass. Summer Facelift The folks at Powder House in South Lake Tahoe, owner and operator of almost a dozen retail operations, realized the potential in the Heavenly Village ice skating rink when they decided to transform it into a mini golf course. Once the ice rink closes for the season, the winter operating company drains the ice down to the concrete slab and removes all the side boards. Powder House uses a bobcat to move and place pre-fabricated mini golf holes that have been stored nearby for the winter. Once the holes are laid out, portable stanchions are placed around the course to help guide players. Pavers, woodchips, and some sod is brought in to complete the layout and configuration; final decorative touches include shrubs and flowers. The course has proven to be an easy, profitable project that especially appeals to younger kids. One Child's Conveyor, Another Man's Storage Ryan Locher, operations director at Bryce Ski Resort in Virginia, was looking for a handy place to store the area’s fencing and padding over the summer. He found it right on the slopes in a place not in use during the summer months. At season’s end, Locher simply moves the ski hill safety items into the protected kids’ conveyor, as shown in this photo. The roof shades the equipment from sun degradation, lengthening its usable lifespan. Since the conveyor runs parallel to the lodge, guests visiting in the summer cannot see inside it. Storage cost? Zip.
