Donnelly, ID — As it stands, Tamarack Resort is one of Idaho’s best ski resorts, and a hidden gem in America’s ski industry. Making it to this point, though, is frankly miraculous.
Opened back in 2004 (it did open for cat-skiing in 2003), the UAS’s newest ski resort was put in limbo during the 2007-08 financial crisis. In 2009, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This courtroom drama resulted in the ski resort remaining closed for the 2009-10 season. While the ski resort reopened in 2010, the drama continued. Two of the lifts couldn’t reopen due to a lawsuit by Bank of America. In 2012, Bank of America forced the removal of a critical chairlift: Wildwood. However, locals kept it afloat during the financially turbulent years. Eventually, the lawsuits resolved themselves, and Tamarack found a stable owner beginning in 2018.
Slowly but surely, Tamarack regained its footing, adding a new Wildwood chairlift in 2019, completing the base village, and opening the mid-mountain lodge that had been left unfinished for a long time. With a master plan that includes new terrain, lifts, and real estate developments, Tamarack is poised to become a major player in North America’s ski industry.
Last month, PeakRankings broke down the ski resort’s history and its ranking on their rating scale. You can read their written review write-up here. If you’re looking for more information on Tamarack’s fascinating history, its Wikipedia page is an interesting read.
Recent Tamarack News
This summer also marks a historic milestone for Tamarack, as it just opened up its marina. This makes it America’s only ski, golf, and lake resort, giving it additional appeal for summer visitors.
Unfortunately, they recently ran into a notable hiccup. A heavy windstorm last week damaged a lift tower on the Tamarack Express, the ski resort’s critical chairlift. This will keep the lift closed for at least a couple of weeks, affecting mountain bike operations and scenic lift rides.
Tamarack is no stranger to hurdles, so this will just be the latest bump in its remarkable comeback.
Image/Video Credits: Tamarack Resort, PeakRankings
