Sandpoint, Idaho — Schweitzer Mountain Resort has seen some big changes over the past few years. The creation of the new Schweitzer Creek Village took an important first step in late 2023 with the opening of the Creekside Express chairlift and a small amount of new terrain.
However, the other additions, including a new base area, have come slower than some skiers were hoping for. Work is underway again this offseason on these projects, although it appears they won’t be ready for this upcoming winter.
On July 30th, Schweitzer Mountain provided an update on the construction of the future Schweitzer Creek Village. Currently, work is underway on creating a road from the roundabout to the future base area. This base area will be home to a 1,400-space parking lot. After that, the plan is to add more lifts and terrain, along with facilities for guests (like a base lodge, snowsports school, and rental shop).
On average, crews are bringing in between 3,000 and 3,700 cubic yards of dirt to create a foundation for the parking lot and road. This helps create a stable and level surface, needed for a functional access road and parking area. In the weeks ahead, a new bridge over Schweitzer Creek will be installed to connect drivers to the future base area.
However, a timeframe for finishing this project is not definitive. The goal is to open the new road and parking lot during the 2027-28 season. However, Schweitzer states that this is dependent on “weather, materials, and budget.”
“When you think about the amount of dirt and rock we’ll move, the magnitude of this project is massive,” said Schweitzer Utility Company President Tom Trulock in the ski resort’s 2022 master plan. “This will be the largest road and utility project in Schweitzer’s history. Most people don’t realize it’s more than just a road and a parking lot. We have to plan for Schweitzer’s future sewer, water, and power needs for the next 20 years and beyond.”
For now, it appears the only way guests can reach the Creekside Express will be by skiing down to it from other terrain pods or by parking in the relatively adjacent Fall Line Lot.
Image/Video Credits: Schweitzer Mountain Resort
