No– the road that connects Driggs, ID to Jackson, WY will not be closed this season. Located some 410 miles north of its namesake pass in Choteau Montana, Teton Pass Ski Resort will lay dormant after its owner recently decided to refuse funding another season of ski area operations.
Related: New Ski Area With A $600 Million Pricetag Could Be Coming To British Columbia
The Great Falls Tribune is reporting that some employees were shocked by the announcement, especially after the ski area recorded a banner snowfall year last season with “above average” skier visits and net revenue. Yet a post to the resort’s Facebook page, which indicated that several of the owners lost homes and sustained damages from California to Florida, elicited much-needed sympathy from the community.
“This year it’s just not possible. One of the owners has lost their home in the wild fires in California, and another a business in Florida in the recent hurricane. We are just not able to support the hill this year.”
Still, this news is sending anxiety throughout the town of Choteau, whose population of 1,700 people relies heavily on the winter ski area to keep revenue rolling the first half of the fiscal year. As of this morning, no sale price had been listed.
The ski area was purchased by New Zealand native Nick Wood back in 2010 after it had sat idle for two seasons. He refurbished the lodge, improved the chairlift and added runs.
Facebook Statement:
“Unfortunately the ski run will not be opening this ski season. The three owners have been willingly subsidising the operations of the hill since 2010, so the local community had a ski run they could use, and we were proud to do this for the local community. This year it’s just not possible.
One of the owners has lost their home in the wild fires in California, and another a business in Florida in the recent hurricane. We are just not able to support the hill this year.
It is a significant amount of money required to operate, and it’s just beyond our ability this year. We are so proud of Charles and his hard working crew for all the work they have put in over the years, and the professional manner in which they operated the hill, and the countless hours they put in to make it happen for you all. We are so sorry.”
Find the entire Great Falls Tribune article here: Choteau’s Teton Pass not opening this winter