ROYAL GORGE LLC'S "INTRODUCING THE VISION" ONE YEAR LATER*

*As mournfully recited by Bay Area Developers Kirk Syme, Todd Foster, Mark Foster, and T. Jack Foster and an unknown chorus of investors

We introduced our vision with a lovely handmade book

But only those with money were supposed to get a look.

We said the major building blocks to develop were in place

But, now it seems we have a bit of egg upon our face.

Our connection to Sugar Bowl, our vaunted runs and lifts

It seems that Santa's come and taken back those gifts

The restaurant on the mountain top, with such a stunning view

So sorry to inform you, but to that we've bid adieu.

We told you that our vision involved building 4 big camps

But now we're down to three, and our spirits are quite damp

As the one we hold most dear, with all the condos and the slopes

Its future isn't clear, perhaps dashing all our hopes

Of hotels, houses, and timeshares, all themed Alpine

Nestled on carved out slopes, repaying our bank line.

So now we'll emphasize cross country, a really lovely sport

Putting our best faces forward, as investors' patience grows short.

Donner Summit's got more snow than almost any place on earth

So don't blame us if we didn't know of water there'd be a dearth,

We thought we'd stick our pipes in those little Serene Lakes

Like candy from a baby, water as easy for us to take.

But those fussy lake lovers think we'll drain Serene Lakes all dry

No matter what we do, they raise a hue and cry,

They fear we'll leave their lakes nasty, muddy, and puddled

How to tell them otherwise we're totally befuddled.

And say we get some water, once it's flushed or down the drain

How to get rid of the effluent, that really gives us pain

Can we dump it in the river, can we spray it on the ground?

Or use septic, or incinerate? All the answers just confound.

We really thought we had it all wrapped up in one neat present

How'd we know the Summit locals would do nothing but resent

Our well meaning efforts to make ourselves tons and tons of cash

And now, woefully, we're watching our lovely dreams fall and crash. 

We introduced our vision, but was it based on fact?

Or perhaps hallucination, maybe absolutely cracked?

These mountains wear us down, and we really have to say

Perhaps it's time to creep home to our San Francisco Bay.