Polaris, Montana — The year from hell continues for the American West.
What started with a winter of well-below-average snowfall turned into a warm, dry spring. While there have been some rainy stretches, this summer has been warm and dry. This has led to wildfires across the region. It has threatened ski areas, such as Mt. Hood Meadows. It has devastated Eagle Point Resort in Utah, which will not operate next winter. The next ski area victim appears to be Maverick Mountain.
The Sand Creek Fire has wreaked havoc in Montana. It has burned over 27,000 acres and is only 1% contained. Among the damage is a beloved local ski area.
Maverick Mountain confirmed the fears of the local community on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Maverick Mountain confirmed that the wildfire has entered the ski area boundary. The fire had reached and damaged its sole chairlift, although it’s unclear how extensive the damage is. However, reports from today suggest that the lodge is still standing, partially thanks to crews spraying fire retardant on it.
According to the Mountain Journal, the ski resort has staged its equipment in the middle of the parking lot to avoid being near lumber. Some of the lift equipment purchased to replace an old chairlift has been moved to nearby fields.
Maverick Mountain was purchased by Erik and Kristi Borge in 2015. They also own the nearby Elkhorn Hot Springs Ranch. While the fire has threatened the Ranch, they have been able to stop it from damaging the buildings so far.
The only bright side for Maverick is that the ski area was planning to replace the chairlift. The ski area acquired parts from two old lifts, partially from Aspen’s Gent’s Ridge chairlift, to replace it. A timeframe for recovery and whether Maverick Mountain will open for the 2026-27 season is uncertain.
Image/Video Credits: Maverick Mountain, Visit Montana
