Pack your Skis and Head Out East?

Right now, on Long Island, the saying "Head Out East" refers to having summer fun in the Hamptons or on the North Fork. However, if a group of investors led by Scottish home builders Baldragon Homes Ltd. and real estate developers Bayrock Group LLC have their way, "Head out East" will also mean you can bring your skis to Riverhead Resorts for year-round indoor skiing.

That's right, a 35 story enclosed man-made ski mountain is part of what is being proposed for 160 acres of the old Northrup Grumman site, owned by the Town of Riverhead. Before you write this off as a harebrained pipe dream, be advised that the developers have already made a $2 million nonrefundable payment and a second is due on July 15.

Construction estimates are for a 2010 start and maybe skiing in 2013 but, here's a big stumbling block, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed the presence of two rare species, the short-eared owl and the eastern tiger salamander.

In New York State, bigger pipe dreams than this have been sent up in smoke by proponents of creatures smaller than the eastern tiger salamander.

In other words - don't reserve your seat on the LIRR Ski Train just yet.

_{Dubai Snowdome Copyright Getty Images Chris Jackson}