Financial Times of Andes

Andes, NY June 18, 2025 – The Andes Town Board of Supervisors has announced the licensing of a parking concession to Mountain Lake Sharks, LLC, a private-equity consortium of tax-cut multi-millionaires simultaneously based in New Jersey, Long Island, of course,

Brooklyn…and the Catskills.

Mountain Lake Sharks will provide valet “parking” services during the annual tourist seasons and for special events during the rest of the year.

Due to the frequent lack of available parking on Main St., a petition had been circulated to tear down the Andes Hotel in order to make room for events being held there. That effort failed.

Mountain Lake Sharks then proposed and obtained the concession from the Town and has begun hiring drivers, mostly licensed high school seniors from Andes Central School. Since there’s only like three of them, they will be supplemented with seniors with no priors from Delaware Academy.

As a unique solution to the parking problem vexing Andes, an emerging tourist trap, the students will drive patron cars around in circles utilizing routes based on the expected duration of the visit. Most, however, will drive a circuit that includes Route 28, Hyzer Hill, and Gladstone Hollow. This will ensure short wait times to pickup one’s car.

Drivers will not exceed 55mph, especially on Hyzer Hill.

Car owners will pay a flat fee of $25, plus an hourly fee for drivers, set at the living wage in Andes of $47.50, plus insurance and applicable taxes. Since cash is not accepted, a 5% surcharge is added for the use of credit/debit cards. Suggested tips start at 30%.

While the locals are valued for their usefulness as props and lawn mowers, discounts will not be made available at this time.

Concurrently, the Town Board announced that since this venture is synergistically related to the local Airbnb zeitgeist, guidelines will be established (that won’t be enforced), and licensing fees will be set (that won’t be collected).

Mountain Lake Sharks also announced that they still have driver positions available paying $15.50 per hour driven. Clean records only. ~