Oregon — It’s been one of the worst (if not the worst) winters ever for Oregon. While they’ve seen some recent reprieves snow-wise, the state is down to just three operating ski resorts. To make matters worse, two major ski resorts that typically stay open into May won’t make it.
The first to take note of is Mt. Hood Meadows. The Oregon ski resort just ended their season yesterday (April 12th). In an interview with Oregon Public Radio, Greg Pack, the President of Mt. Hood Meadows, reported that visits were down around 25% compared to the prior winter. Due to the downturn, they are delaying major capital project investments, such as buying a new snow groomer and building a new Nordic center.
The other ski resort closing is the state’s largest. Last week, Mt. Bachelor announced it will close for the season on April 19th. Mt. Bachelor typically stays open until May, but a below-average snowpack makes operations after this upcoming weekend unfeasible. Some passholders are annoyed that spring passes were sold as if it were business as usual. However, Mt. Bachelor is offering compensation (credits or a lower price for a future pass product) for those who didn’t use it enough. Bachelor will conclude its season with RendezVan Fest.
After the 19th of April, there will be only one ski resort open in Oregon: Timberline Lodge. However, that Oregon ski resort has also had a low-snow winter, with the snowpack at Timberline being well below average. As a result, they have set their projected closing date to a shorter-than-usual July 19th. However, that isn’t guaranteed.
Image/Video Credits: Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood Meadows
