Top Bird Cam
This view is from the top of the Blue Bird Quad, elevation 7640′. View rotates automatically. Click image for larger view.
The Early Years
By Eve Chandler
The townspeople of McCall had a passion for skiing and ski jumping, dating back to the early 1900s.
Fortunately, two businessmen and a former Norwegian Olympic ski champion shared the same passion for the sport. In 1959, businessman Warren Brown and Norwegian ski champion Corey Engen began discussing the need for a steeper and larger ski mountain for the residents of McCall and the surrounding region. After initial discussions and preliminary scouting trips with the local US Forest Ranger Wally Lancaster, they asked Jack Simplot to join the venture of opening a new ski area on Brundage Mountain.
In two short years the founders selected an ideal location for a ski resort, developed a master plan, arranged for financing, and assembled the manpower to build a ski lodge, installed a chairlift, and cleared two runs that were called North and South. Today they are known as Main Street and Alpine. On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1961, Brundage Mountain Ski Resort opened to the public. 1000 skiers turned out for opening day and paid $4 a head for lift tickets. The 3,000 square foot “Triad Lodge” opened the same day.
The “Idaho Quad” – Brundage Creek Double Chair constructed next to the Pioneer Double Chair
1976: A Double Double
Skier capacity doubles with the addition of a new double chairlift, the Brundage Creek, which operated alongside the Pioneer Chairlift, also a double.
Early 90s: Expanding Terrain, Guided Skiing & Mountain Biking
The Centennial Triple Chair opened in November of 1990, expanding Brundage Mountain’s skiable acreage by more than 30 percent. The following year, Brundage opened lift-served mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides for the first time. In January 1991, Brundage introduced guided Snowcat Skiing on Sargents Mountain just north of the resort. In 1994, the Easy Street Triple chair was installed in the beginner area, and the lower, or “Centennial” parking lot was added at its base.
1997: Picking Up the Pace
Brundage installs the Bluebird Express high speed quad, replacing both the Brundage Creek (’76) and Pioneer (’61) chairlifts and providing a seven-minute ride to the 7,640 foot summit of Brundage Mountain.
2006: Setting the Stage
In August 2006, Brundage Mountain and the Forest Service finalized a long-awaited land swap. The product of a process started in 1992, the swap allowed Brundage to assume ownership of 388 acres at the base of the resort in exchange for 349 acres that the DeBoer Family (descendants of co-founder, Warren Brown) owned within national forest land. It also enabled the resort to leverage equity to finance new lifts make improvements to amenities and operations.
2007: New Lifts, New Terrain
Two new chairlifts opened during the bountiful 2007-2008 Winter season. The Lakeview Triple chair opened up 160 acres of south-facing terrain that overlooks scenic Payette Lake. The Bear Chair replaced a platter tow to provide easy access to several mid-mountain runs that had been underutilized. Total uphill capacity increased from 3,100 to 6,700 riders per hour. The Bear’s Den – an eight-sided D-log building – was constructed at the top of the Bear Chair and is used as a warming hut and food and beverage outlet.
2009: Adams County approves a PUD (Planned Unit Development) on the private land in the base area, allowing for future construction of ski-in/ski-out lodging and expanded base area facilities.
2016: Brundage Mountain launches Guided Snowmobile Tours on the Payette National Forest and also offers Snowmobile Rentals on site, with a reservation.
2017: Brundage offers its first adventure dining experience with the four-course Bear’s Den “Dinner After Dark” Snowcat Dinners.
2020-21: The Homegrown Vision Takes Flight
2020: Brundage Mountain Holdings, led by long-time Board Member Bob Looper, assumes ownership of the resort several months after the death of former president Judd DeBoer. DeBoer’s favorite run, Lower Slobovia, is re-named Judd’s Gem in his honor.
Brundage Mountain Holdings is comprised of eight owners, all local to the Boise and Valley County areas.
BMH Owners:
Repool Ventures LLC | Boise, Idaho
Bob Looper, Manager
ZWJ Properties, LLC | Boise, Idaho
Zeke and AnnMarie Johnson, Managers
KSJ2SKI, LLC, Meridian, Idaho
Tom Nicholson, Manager
SEDCO, LLC, Boise, Idaho
Steve and Kathy Sedlacek, Managers
Kristin and Walt Sinclair, McCall, Idaho
Kristin and Walt Sinclair, Managers
Miller Enterprises LLC, Boise, Idaho
Mark Miller, Manager
BRUSKI, LLC, Boise, Idaho
Holt Haga, Manager
Scoggin Capital Investment, Boise, Idaho
Andrew J. Scoggin, Manager
2021: Brundage Mountain announces a three-part improvement plan that will span 10 years. Key features of the plan include new Day Lodge facilities with anticipated completion in time for Winter 2023-24, a 37-acre residential development with 89 units of ski-in/ski-out accommodations, and an updated Master Development Plan for the mountain, which includes proposals for lift and terrain expansion, expanded snowmaking capabilities and new on-mountain lodge amenities.
We’ll be sharing more details on each aspect of this plan as things progress. Our focus is to create strategic, sustainable growth while preserving the classic Brundage vibe, to keep it a place where you and your family can continue to enjoy the Best Snow in Idaho and the charms of the Payette National Forest for generations to come.
Would You Like to Learn More About Brundage Mountain?
Our delightful history book, published during our 50th Anniversary, takes you on a visual tour of the most interesting parts of Brundage Mountain history. Learn the story behind Brundage Mountain Resort’s origin and meet the colorful characters who shaped the resort into what it is today. This beautiful book will earn a permanent place on your coffee table.
