client project list

Nordic Group International has worked on projects that include full-service resort and park master plans, regional trail and tourism studies, guest ranches, family businesses, and more. Selected project descriptions follow.

A list of clients (recent and current, along with types of clients) is also available.

Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Complex
Massachusetts

John Frado planned, designed, supervised construction, and managed operations of major multi-season, multi-use recreational facilities for Northeast Utilities. This included picnic areas, campgrounds, portage trails, interpretive trails, wildlife management areas, interpretive riverboat trips, recreation skills and environmental education programs, a visitor/program center, and a 40-kilometer multi-use, non-motorized trail system. Northfield was awarded National Recreation Trails status in 1979.

Gatineau Park
Québec

Nordic Group developed a comprehensive trails master plan for Canada's ‘Capital Park.’ We created inventory and analysis models for an assessment of Gatineau's 400-kilometer trail network, and then designed specifications and operations recommendations that helped create a detailed blueprint for phased advancement of objectives.

Multi-season trail uses were correlated with trail character and qualities, natural resource impacts, economic implications, park objectives, and trail user requirements. Project recommendations included development of a hierarchy of trails, trail hubs, and peripheral trail services (public and private); and introduction of Canada's first trails-use/parking fee (to facilitate funding development and operations).

Gatineau currently has the highest number of cross-country skier visits of any area in North America.

This 1,100-acre parcel was part of a privately-owned operations base for the Mount Washington Summit Road Company. The Glen sits in the heart of the scenic Pinkham Notch corridor and is surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest.

NGI’s unique planning solution resulted in the sale of 900 acres to the U.S. Forest Service, with rights reserved to build a 40-kilometer Class-1 trail system and associated support facilities. The remaining 200+ acres were retained for developing core services including a trails lodge, ponds, warm-up loops, terrain gardens, snowmaking, and trailside cabins. The Trails Park was designed as a profit center that – in conjunction with the Auto Road – would also leverage investment for a resort hotel, conference center, and White Mountain museum.

Local communities have bonded in the process of developing cross-forest trail connections with Great Glen. Future partnerships can build regional tourism and reduce the need for intensive trail development within the Glen itself.

Tamarack is the first new four-season ski resort in the U.S. in more than 20 years. NGI worked to create and refine a major cross-country ski operation coordinated with multi-season recreation (alpine skiing, golf, mountain biking) and especially real estate development.

Responsibilities have included network layout, risk management evaluation, staff training, program development, marketing, grooming machinery selection, operations evaluation, and potential trail links to nearby communities. The project includes lighting five kilometers of snowmaking for Nordic trails.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Colorado

Devil’s Thumb is a four-season guest ranch with a major Nordic operation (100 kilometer trail network). They retained NGI to both expand and refine winter operations as well as evaluate facilities. The project included creating development priorities as the land base tripled in size; coordinating facility and trail expansion; building marketing partnerships; developing new programs; and pricing services.

NGI evaluated the recreational infrastructure and program performance of this world-famous guest ranch, including the relationship of its trail system (horse, mountain bike, hike, cross-country ski) to the communities and businesses of surrounding Big Sky. Our study assessed performance and existing strategies within the context of projected trends as well as land-use, growth, and environmental issues. The final report made recommendations for enhancements and expansions to ranch infrastructure and defined strategies to secure ranch assets, signature community qualities, and regional tourism performance.

Greylock Glen
Massachusetts

This project is an update of the original Heritage-Greylock concept of the 1980s, where Nordic Group served as lead recreation consultant. Revamped plans called for a resort with conference/outdoor center as the focus of sustainable economic development under the auspices of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management. More recent concepts included a four-season, state-of-the-art, non-motorized trail system (40+ kilometers) as a major component, integrated with an 18-hole championship golf course. Ultimate build-out anticipated snowmaking for several terrain gardens (20+ acres) and 10+ kilometers of snow-made cross-country ski trails.

Kaibab Lodge
Arizona

This project required a master plan for the phased replacement of a 1920s motel/lodge complex with a full-service, trails-driven resort. The existing lodge (located in the Kaibab National Forest) is the only travelers’ facility on a 40-mile dead-end parkway that accesses National Park facilities on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Environmental constraints eliminated the possibility of facility expansion at the Rim, while overzealous timber harvest on the abutting National Forest pushed U.S.F.S. management toward greater accommodation with tourism.

NGI’s master plan focused on developing inter-agency and private partnerships that would develop tourism services on the National Forest. The concept included higher-quality lodging, camping, interpretive and recreation programs, and trails. A 60-kilometer, non-motorized, year-round trail network would include several shelters (yurts) and connect the lodge to the nearby Arizona Trail, as well as several key trails into the Canyon. Snowcat shuttle services would provide winter access into the lodge (25 miles) for cross-country skiers.

Algoma/Sault Ste. Marie
Ontario

NGI planned several stages of growth under the auspices of the Economic Development offices for the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the Southern Algoma Tourism Region. We carried out a market assessment, which determined the viability of Nordic skiing as a major component of the area's winter tourism menu. The project included a phased master plan and development plan for a sub-regional network of multi-season trails. This included linkages with residential areas, schools, businesses, and trail services. These connections became a catalyst for developing community support and tourism appeal for the network.

Galena Lodge
Idaho

NGI completed a master plan for this remote historic lodge in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The project’s aim was to facilitate the lodge's sale and secure its future as a high-quality, non-motorized, trails-driven resort.

We addressed opportunities for interim enhancement and/or phased replacement of existing facilities. Development concepts required meshing with U.S. Forest Service goals as well as meeting extensive environmental and interest group concerns. Sun Valley tourism and cost-effective multi-season operations were also major considerations. Recommendations included intra-regional trails, shuttle systems, strategic trailheads, and establishment of a regional trails association, much of which has been instituted.

Temagami Trails Study
Ontario

NGI developed a comprehensive analysis of existing and potential trail resources, associated tourism businesses, and community assets. All these elements were related to a proposed multi-tiered regional trails network which would catalyze economic growth.

The project was driven by issues of native cultural sovereignty as well as environmental impacts of the demise of area mining and lumbering. It included a market assessment of potential trail users, trail programs, and possible profit centers. We developed a financial projection model to quantify potential economic impact.

We also provided a master plan, development strategies, and operations plan. These guided grant submissions, bidder specifications, and construction sequencing for a regional, four-season, multi-use land and water trails network.

Jackson Hole Visitors Council
Wyoming

NGI evaluated the results of a national advertising campaign for the Jackson Hole region. Our report determined why travelers did or did not visit in winter, either as independent vacationers or booking through travel agents. The project also evaluated the effectiveness of advertising on travel agent attitudes toward Jackson Hole and on public perceptions of the region.

Northern Ontario Snowmobile Study
Ontario

NGI evaluated the physical, political, and economic feasibility for a 10,000-kilometer trans-provincial snowmobiling network. The report included blueprints for organizational structure and system operations; trail development guidelines; and factors related to multiple-use corridors. We also generated a market and performance analysis of similar systems in Québec, Saskatchewan, and abutting states.

Cariboo Tourist Association Regional Trail Study
British Columbia

NGI provided inventory and analysis of an extensive existing multiple-use regional trail network. This included assessment of potential linkages as well as opportunities for expansion and improvement of services. Our final report identified trail development priorities that would optimize the system's market performance. It also covered business opportunities, environmental compatibility, and community complementarity. Recommendations for improved performance included identification of target markets and regional partnerships as well as enhanced trail system products and services.

Mt. Bachelor Ski & Summer Resort
Oregon

NGI was requested to conduct a development plan assessment at this major alpine/cross-country day ski area. Our report presented an industry overview, site evaluation and recommendations, and various development scenarios. Sub-topics included competition, management priorities, marketing, and expansion potential.

Tourism Business Incubator and Visitor Services Center
New Hampshire

The Berlin region has been economically devastated by closure of a large paper mill. The Tri-County Community Action Corp funded an NGI master plan to help development of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, with tourism as a potential major resource for diversifying the employment base.

Tahoe City
California

Nordic Group’s detailed assessment of the city-owned Lakeview Cross Country Ski Center provided recommendations for operations enhancements and expansion. Primary objective were to improve the facility’s regional competitiveness and to explore its non-snow performance potential. A Best Management Practices document guided selection of bidders and management criteria. Renamed Tahoe Cross Country, it’s now one of the region’s most successful operations.

Town of Lebanon
New Hampshire

NGI evolved a parks and recreation master plan for the city. An important objective included using park and recreation development to help unify disparate population centers. Key elements of the plan addressed enhancement and expansion of existing facilities, confirmation of community trends and needs, and identification of park and recreation potentials.

Upper Androscoggin Valley Sustainable Tourism Study
New Hampshire

This project involved an extensive analysis of the issues, assets, and threats associated with a 100-mile section of the Androscoggin River Valley. NGI objectives included identifying environmentally sustainable development opportunities for communities that had been dependent on declining forest industry, and helping them adjust to new realities.

Our findings recommended regionalized effort as well as commitment to heritage tourism, while focusing on quality-of-life enhancements. Suggested initiatives included a regional “parliament,” several themed parkways, inter-community trail linkages, gateway parks, and signature tourism projects.

Town of Newmarket
New Hampshire

Trails are the primary mechanism for integrating Newmarket’s recreation and open space, thus serving both growing population and increased emphasis on tourism. NGI developed a master plan to improve, expand, and link recreation for scattered neighborhoods as well as business centers. The plan also addressed facilities and programs that can generate revenues to offset operations and maintenance costs.

Northwoods Meadow State Park
New Hampshire

NGI’s master plan focused on public access for traditional outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, picnicking, camping, educational programs, and a variety of four-season trail uses. Our Trails Park concept provided a blueprint for phased development of facilities, including a Class-1 trail system designed to maximize universal access and minimize environmental impact.

Dartmouth College
New Hampshire

NGI was asked to design a state-of-the-art outdoor center to service the recreational and competition needs of the “greater Dartmouth family” and the townspeople of Hanover. Among other elements, the master plan called for a trails lodge, storage and garage facilities, and an enhanced and expanded four-season non-motorized trail system.

Notchview Reservation
Massachusetts

3,000-acre Notchview Reservation is the largest of over 50 properties owned by the non-profit Trustees of Reservationsin Massachusetts. Trust mandate is to purchase and protect sites with important ecologic and/or open space values. Their extensive funding has come primarily from memberships and donations, though under a new NGI master plan, user fees (such as cross-country skiing), special events, and educational camps will contribute as well.

Notchview’s evolution into a non-motorized four-season trail system and environmental education center is the Trust’s most ambitious project. Their intention is to increase visitation in order to imprint responsible conservation ethics and activism. The master plan will identify a variety of development/ operations concepts to expand the property's magnetism and capacity. It’s anticipated that a concierge service will handle referrals for lodging, meals, and sports equipment when public demand exceeds Notchview's own capabilities.

Seattle Mountaineers
Washington

An NGI feasibility study assessed the viability of the Mountaineers' Snoqualmie Lodge. The Club felt it needed to evaluate its own evolution as well as physical deterioration of the lodge. Our report assessed property potential as a precursor to a master plan.