Brundage Mountain Resort is making major progress on its $25-$30 million improvement plan, first announced in November of 2021. 

The ownership group that acquired Brundage Mountain in November of 2020 has been working diligently to build on the resort’s established skiing legacy.

Priorities include enhancing the overall guest experience on the mountain and in the base area, expanding seasonal offerings and introducing overnight accommodations, all while preserving the classic Brundage Mountain vibe.

Centennial Chairlift Upgrade:

Brundage Mountain Resort replaced the Centennial Triple Chair with a Doppelmayr high speed detachable quad. The new lift cuts the ride time from 16 minutes to six minutes, giving Brundage Mountain a total of two high-speed quads to better disperse guests across the front side of the mountain.

“Brundage Mountain has so much stellar terrain on the south side of the mountain, and this new, faster lift will make it easier for skiers and especially snowboarders to reach that terrain,” said Brundage Mountain Resort General Manager, Ken Rider. “On top of that, the loading experience is going to be much smoother for all guests, including families with kids.” The Centennial Express is set to open in early December 2023.

New Mountain Adventure Center:

Construction crews have made significant progress on the new Mountain Adventure Center, which broke ground in spring of 2023 and is expected to be in use for the start of the 2024-25 Winter Season.

The thoughtfully laid out building will provide a more seamless guest experience. The new 17,000 square foot MAC structure, built by Boise-based CSDI Construction, will house tickets, rental and retail shops, guest services, the Mountain Sports School, new restrooms and more. 

“It’s gratifying to see the pieces of our new base area facilities come together,” says Rider. “The new facilities will be coming online over the next two winters and we know our guests will be blown away by the new layout and easier arrival process.”

Northwoods Residential Area:

Adams County granted final plat approval for the 37-acre ski-in/ski-out development in June 2023 and Boise-based RSCI Construction completed installation of the road, water and sewer infrastructure in fall of 2023. 

The Northwoods neighborhood consists of 21 single family home sites and 11 cottage lots tucked into the woods just off the Lower Rodeo ski run. The next phase of residential construction includes 45 townhomes built in a contemporary mountain modern style, designed to blend in with and preserve the natural beauty of the nearby Payette National Forest.

About the 10 Year Improvement Plan:

These three cornerstone projects are part of a comprehensive 10-Year Resort Improvement Plan developed after Brundage Mountain Holdings acquired ownership of the resort in November of 2020 after the passing of longtime owner, Judd DeBoer.

The new ownership group is a collection of Idaho-based families who came together to purchase the resort in an effort to keep it independently owned and locally operated, as well as to guide future development at the resort in alignment with a homegrown vision. Priorities include maintaining the authentic, uncrowded character of Brundage Mountain, improving the on-mountain guest experience in both winter and summer, upgrading facilities and infrastructure, and bringing lodging to the base area.

“The vision for the future of Brundage Mountain was created by people who love skiing and recreating at Brundage Mountain with a ton of input from our long-time guests,” says Brundage Mountain President, Bob Looper. “The area is growing and demand is on the rise, we’re working hard to stay ahead of that curve and make sure we preserve the low-key, uncrowded vibe that makes Brundage so special.”

More Key Developments:

June 2023: Forest Service Accepts New Brundage Master Development Plan (MDP)

On June 1, 2023, the Payette National Forest officially accepted an updated version of Brundage Mountain Resort’s Master Development Plan. The new MDP includes proposals for lift and terrain expansion, expanded snowmaking capabilities and new on-mountain lodge amenities. This plan charts a course for the next 10 years of expansion on the mountain. Now that the MDP has been formally “accepted”, Brundage Mountain with work with the Payette National Forest on timelines for scoping and implementing each aspect of the detailed plan. Learn more

PROJECTS ALREADY COMPLETED OR IN PROGRESS

Entrance Road and Parking Lot Realignment:

The entrance road to Brundage Mountain has been realigned to improve safety, streamline traffic flow and maximize parking. The new design improves sightlines and creates a safer, more enjoyable arrival experience. It also paves the way for regraded, redesigned parking lots which will maximize parking space by 2024.

New Ski Patrol Building:

A two-story, 2,800 square foot building that now serves as the permanent home of the Brundage Mountain Patrol headquarters was completed in early December 2022. The new and improved first aid facility includes additional bed space on the ground floor and improved ambulance accessibility. It also includes functional meeting space for employee training.

New Mountain Bike/Hiking Trail: 

Brundage Mountain Resort partnered with the Payette National Forest, CIMBA (Central Idaho Mountain Biking Association) and the non-profit One Track Mind Foundation to complete a 6.4 mile trail that connects the 30+ mile Brundage Bike Park with the popular Bear Basin Trail system. That trail, called B2BB (for Brundage to Bear Basin) opened to the public in late June 2023. Learn More

New Employee Housing Facility:

In early December 2022, Brundage Mountain Resort completed work remodeling an historic 10,000 square foot schoolhouse in New Meadows into a housing facility that accommodates 17 employees. The dorm-style Meadows Haus consists of eight double rooms, each with its own bathroom, and one single, along with a shared kitchen/dining area and a large common room. Brundage housed approximately 50 employees this past winter season and resort management is pursuing multiple partnerships and initiatives with the goal of increasing that number by 100 or more.  Learn More

Whitebark Pine Preservation:

Brundage Mountain Resort has teamed up with the USDA Forest Service, the Youth Conservation Corps and other local volunteer groups in an effort to conserve the threatened Whitebark Pine (pinus albicaulis). Climate change, white pine blister rust and the mountain pine beetle have caused the rapid decline of the species across its range, but biologists have found stands of Whitebark Pine located at Brundage Mountain to be among the most blister rust resistant in the Mountain West. Crews spent several days in summer 2022 daylighting the existing stands of trees and planting 600 seedlings that were harvested from cones collected three years earlier. Brundage Mountain became the first Idaho ski resort to be certified as a Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area in fall 2023. 

Dead Timber Removal:

Mountain Operations crews are in the process of removing dead timber from a span of 100 feet on each side of the lift lines. This creates additional fire breaks across the mountain and protects lift infrastructure from the threat of fire and falling trees. Dead timber removal has been completed on the Lakeview and Centennial Lift lines, with the BlueBird Express, Bear Chair and Easy Street lines slated for future improvements.

Activity Barn Wetlands Restoration:

Brundage Mountain is investing in the future of McCall’s Activity Barn site by planting nearly 1000 native shrubs and seedlings as part of a wetland restoration project. The 115-acre Activity Barn property has been grazed and flood irrigated for more than 100 years. The carefully designed planting project aims to stabilize banks and soil and increase wildlife habitat across a three-acre wetlands area and to connect unique spring-fed wetland features to the overgrazed creek channel at the site. The Activity Barn is owned by Brundage Mountain and operated as a recreational site that offers lift-served snow tubing and a dog-friendly Nordic trail about three miles south of McCall.  Learn More

About Brundage Mountain: Brundage Mountain Resort is steeped in Idaho history and offers a charming, accessible local vibe. Brundage has been providing a high-value, family-friendly skiing experience for more than 60 years.

Known for the “Best Snow in Idaho”, Brundage Mountain is blessed with more than 320 inches of base area snow annually, which creates a consistently satisfying mix of bluebird and powder days throughout the winter season. 

Future improvements at the independently owned resort will expand the on-site recreational experience and complement the endless adventure-based experiences on the vast Payette National Forest in Brundage Mountain’s backyard, all while preserving and enhancing the attributes that make Brundage a true Idaho original.