High Country Club
News

Once one of the fastest growing destination clubs in the world, High Country Club would be forced into bankruptcy early in 2009, citing insufficient annual dues and fees, a poor credit market, and declining consumer demand.

Launched as the world's first affordable destination club, High Country Club would quickly surpass the 100 member mark as a result of their low price point and would ultimately reach 375 members.

When the real estate and financial markets began their decline in 2008, the strength that the club had amassed during their early years quickly eroded. Forced to drastically restructure their organization, the vast majority of the club's staff was let go and significant dues increases were laid out to members, combined with sizeable reductions in the club's inventory of vacation homes. Members elected not to move forward with the restructuring laid out by the club and in early 2009, the club filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

We invite you to learn more about High Country Club through our collection of news features about the club below. If you would like to report any information on High Country Club or any other destination club, please feel free to contact us at contribute@destinationclubnews.com.

2009 Destination Club Review
Date: January 1, 2010
Arguably the most influential year in the history of the destination club industry, 2009 has come to its end and 2010 begins with far greater hopes than one year prior. Learn more about all of the positive and negative news that took place during a long 2009 in the destination club sector.

The Claims of Destination Clubs
Date: December 19, 2009
In an increasingly competitive market, some destination clubs have added their own "marketing spin" to make themselves compare favorably to others in the sector. Read more to learn who claims to be the second largest destination club and who has the best homes, prices, and services in the industry.

Lessons Learned From Failed Destination Clubs
Date: December 5, 2009
Over the past year, several leading destination clubs have filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations, leading to a drastic restructuring of the industry. Despite these failures, what elements can today's destination clubs take from yesterday's generation?

The Phoenix Club Responds To Kirschner Management Claim
Date: October 26, 2009
From the light-hearted side, after a fraudulent e-mail was sent to former members of High Country Club claiming that the new Phoenix Club had recruited Christian and Heath Kirschner, the young club responds by denouncing the claims as "a hoax and/or a joke."

Phoenix Club Gauges Interest In New Destination Club
Date: September 15, 2009
Less than a month after their introduction to High Country Club members, the Phoenix Club is reaching out to the collected 375 members, looking to gauge the interest level in their new destination club and providing additional insight into their structure and the driving force behind the club.

Phoenix Club Introduced To High Country Club Members
Date: August 18, 2009
A group of members and creditors are looking to "reorganize and reconstitute" High Country Club into a new destination club with no membership deposit and no annual dues, emerging from the ashes as the Phoenix Club.

ARDA President Howard Nusbaum Discusses Destination Clubs
Date: May 22, 2009
Howard Nusbaum, the President of the American Resort Development Association, speaks about his impressions of the destination club industry, including the questions he would ask if he was considering joining a club and suggestions he has for the industry's leading clubs.

Ultimate Escapes Offers High Country Club Members Dues Only Membership
Date: May 14, 2009
Ultimate Escapes is offering members of the now bankrupt High Country Club an opportunity to enjoy their club for one year through an annual dues only membership structure and letting members upgrade to full membership status at discounted market rates.

Opportunities For The Destination Club Industry
Date: April 8, 2009
With real estate values at record lows and hundreds of previous destination club members left without travel options following a string of closures within the sector, the industry's leading clubs have a surplus of opportunities available to them.

Threats To The Destination Club Industry
Date: March 24, 2009
Following a string of bankruptcies and closures throughout the industry, there are several pending threats against the destination club sector, including consumer confidence, litigation, and sharply declining real estate values.

Destination Club Financing Leader Ceases New Loans
Date: March 12, 2009
FirstAgain, the industry's leading financier for destination club memberships, has announced that they will cease new loan originations effective tomorrow and will soon removed their website as a result of the "deepening credit crisis."

Paragon Destinations Outlines Key Dates
Date: March 8, 2009
Paragon Destinations, a new destination club emerging out of the High Country Club bankruptcy, has outlined important dates regarding the launch of their "pseudo-equity" club and the memberships plans and pricing available to Charter members.

Paragon Destinations Eyes Launch
Date: February 24, 2009
With High Country Club mired in bankruptcy, a group of former members led by Jason Bindra are looking to reconstruct the club as Paragon Destinations, a new club with a vastly different structure from their predecessor.

Distinctive Holiday Homes' Nick Wood Discusses Changes in the Destination Club Industry
Date: February 3, 2009
Nick Wood, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Distinctive Holiday Homes, discusses his plans to acquire a collection of $1 million properties, a "pay as you go" offering for destination club refugees, and his opinions on changes needed in the industry.

Destination Clubs on the Opposite Side of the Spectrum File For Bankruptcy
Date: January 29, 2009
This week alone, the industry's leading value priced club and most expensive club have been linked to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, following a string of other club closures within the destination club sector as members at all clubs wonder if their clubs might face similar fates.

High Country Club To File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Date: January 27, 2009
After months of attempting to restructure their ailing destination club, High Country Club has announced that they will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy next week, concluding one of the most meteoric collapses in the history of the sector.

Destination Clubs Lower Costs By Pursuing Fellow Destination Club Members
Date: January 18, 2009
With a growing number of destination clubs in dire financial straits, many of their rivals are electing to market their offerings directly to the members of these struggling clubs, including the creation of new membership plans and significant price discounts.

High Country Club Offers Dues Only Membership To Rival Destination Club Members
Date: January 9, 2009
Deeply enveloped in a three month long restructuring process, High Country Club is offering members of rival destination clubs the opportunity to join their club for a year through a dues only membership structure that will conclude in March.

2008 Destination Club Review
Date: January 1, 2009
In 2008, the Dow fell over 33%, making for a rather difficult economic climate for nearly every industry, including destination clubs. Read about the failures and successes in the destination club sector over the past year.

Ultimate Escapes Releases Frequently Asked Questions To High Country Club Members
Date: November 15, 2008
A day after disclosing an offering to members of the struggling High Country Club, Ultimate Escapes has released a list of frequently asked questions to more fully describe the promotion that will allow members the ability to save up to $40,000 on an Ultimate Escapes membership.

Ultimate Escapes Makes Offer To High Country Club Members
Date: November 15, 2008
High Country Club is currently evaluating the future of their struggling club, but Ultimate Escapes has already made an offer to the club's 375 members, letting them save up to $40,000 on a membership at the world's second largest destination club.

High Country Club Delays Success Plan Following Member Vote
Date: November 13, 2008
Yesterday, members of High Country Club voted on the proposed Success Plan offered by the club. As a result of many downgraded memberships and no votes, High Country Club has delayed making a decision regarding their future and will evaluate any opportunities over the next two weeks.

Secondary Sales of High Country Club Memberships Dependent on Success Plan Results
Date: November 12, 2008
If High Country Club's Success Plan is approved by members in the coming days, the club will work under a new redemption structure where members will be able to set their own prices on their membership with the ability to sell on the open market.

High Country Club Releases Success Plan Results and Decreases Destination Club Homes
Date: November 10, 2008
Working for the past two weeks on analyzing their "Success Plan," High Country Club has released the results of the initial feedback from members. Falling just short of their 75% goal, the club is again restructuring the plan to decrease available properties and raise annual dues.

High Country Club CFO Steps Down and Changes Annual Dues Payment
Date: November 5, 2008
As part of their restructuring, High Country Club will change their annual dues payment structure, but have also relieved Chief Financial Officer Daniel Moorhead to keep the club's costs down after already laying off well over half of the club's employees.

High Country Club CEO Discusses Destination Club Merger
Date: October 28, 2008
A day after the club released a restructuring plan, High Country Club's CEO Christian Kirschner released a letter to members about why the club will not actively engage in merger and acquisition talks from other destination clubs.

High Country Club Success Plan From Christian Kirschner
Date: October 27, 2008
High Country Club CEO Christian Kirschner writes to members of his struggling destination club about their plans to make the club sustainable through these tough economic times, including an increase in annual dues, a reduction in total properties, and the discontinuation of new membership sales.

High Country Club Success Plan Questions and Answers
Date: October 27, 2008
Joining the announcement of High Country Club's Success Plan letter from Christian Kirschner, the club has released a series of questions and answers to provide members additional insight into the proposed changes to their club.

High Country Club Plans Restructuring
Date: October 27, 2008
Citing the slumping economy, sharp declines in real estate values, and consumer fears, High Country Club has crafted a plan that they hope will revive their struggling club and make the club self sustaining.

Conservation Suggestions For Destination Clubs
Date: September 29, 2008
Across multiple industries, the concept of "greening" is quickly gaining momentum. With a plethora of opportunities available to destination clubs to further this goal, here are some suggestions that could be implemented by clubs across the sector.

Destination Club Symposium Features Numerous Industry Executives
Date: April 2, 2007
The Destination Club and Private Residence Club Industry Symposium will take place later this month and will showcase a collection of some of the leading executives in the destination club sector to discuss best practices and growth of the young market.

High Country Club Plans Price Increase After First 100 Members
Date: July 20, 2006
Having reached the 100 member milestone, High Country Club will increase both their membership fees and annual dues next month. To keep up with the club's steady growth, High Country Club plans to seven new properties in the near future.

High Country Club Launches As "First Affordably Priced Destination Club"
Date: September 1, 2005
On the heels of Private Escapes and Ultimate Resort comes High Country Club, the newest club in the industry who has branded themselves as the "first affordably priced destination club." At launch, the club will focus on the Colorado region with a collection of famed ski destinations.