Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park

Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is a ski resort in the western United States, located inside Mount Spokane State Park in Spokane County, Washington, about 23 miles (37 km) northeast of Spokane via State Route 206. The base elevation is at 3,818 feet (1,164 m) with the peak at 5,889 feet (1,795 m), yielding a vertical drop of 2,071 feet (631 m). Its slopes are primarily east-facing, and are served by six chairlifts.

This article is about the ski area. For information on the mountain and surrounding state park where the ski resort is located, see Mount Spokane.
Mount Spokane
Ski and Snowboard Park
Mount 
Spokane
Location in Washington
Mount 
Spokane
Mount 
Spokane (the United States)
LocationMount Spokane State Park, Spokane County, Washington, U.S.
Nearest major citySpokane: 23 mi (37 km)
Coordinates47.922°N 117.097°W / 47.922; -117.097
Vertical2,071 ft (631 m)
Top elevation5,889 ft (1,795 m)
Base elevation4,400 ft (1,340 m)
lodge 2 base area
3,818 ft (1,164 m)
lowest lift base, #4
Skiable area1,425 acres (5.8 km2)
Runs45
- 23% easiest
- 45% more difficult
- 42% most difficult
Lift system6 chairs
Lift capacity4,920 per hr
Snowmakingno
Night skiingyes
Websitemtspokane.com

History

Additional land at Mount Spokane was obtained due to the lead efforts of Cheney Cowles (1908–1943), whose father ran the Cowles Publishing Company.[1] Cowles was the managing editor of the Spokane Daily Chronicle and was an original member of the Spokane Ski Club; he was killed in military plane crash in Alabama during World War II.[2][3]

The Vista House at the summit was constructed in 1933,[4][5] and built by local Washington contractor E.O. Fieldstad[6] – the first of five fire lookouts on the mountain, some of which were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).[7] Mount Spokane hosted the Northwest ski championships in February 1937.[8][9][10][11] Future Olympic gold medalist Gretchen Fraser (née Kunigk), then 18, won the women's slalom.[12]

The ski area was originally on the west side of the mountain with rope tows and operated the world's first double chairlift in 1947,[13] converted from a mine tramway from Wallace, Idaho,[14] with a lodge built by the CCC the late 1930s.[15][16][17][18] A one-fatality fire in the nearly-completed lodge addition in January 1952[19] began the move to the east slopes.[20][21] A new day lodge (#1) was built by the state[22] on the east side and a Riblet double chair was installed in the summer of 1956.[23][24][25] A second was added five years later,[26][27] and a third in 1970.[28][29][30] The fourth chair was added a few years later and the fifth in 1977.[31][32] Night skiing on Mount Spokane began 53 years ago in December 1967.[33]

The majority owner of the Mount Spokane Chairlift, Inc. was founder Al E. Mettler (1902–1985),[34] who sold his interest in 1970 to Rock E. Caley.[35] Six years later, Caley filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[36] and the ski area assets were sold to a creditor, Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane.[37][38][39] Mettler returned in March 1976, as interim general manager for a few months,[40] relieved by Keith Petrie, previously at Anthony Lakes in eastern Oregon.[39] Sam Wormington took over in 1977, moving southwest to Spokane from nearby Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho.[41]

References
  1. "Cheney Cowles killed in crash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 13, 1943. p. 3.
  2. "Air Corps major dies after bomber's crash". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. May 13, 1943. p. 2.
  3. "Ski ceremony will feature former champ". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 24, 1967. p. 16.
  4. "Contract ready on Vista House". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 7, 1933. p. 1.
  5. "Ask new bids on Vista House". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 8, 1933. p. 3.
  6. McMurry, Alex; Luttrell, Charles (July 2009). "Cultural Resources Management Plan: Mount Spokane State Park" (PDF). Washington State Parks Historic Preservation Plan. State of Washington [parks.wa.gov]: 11, 52.
  7. Pettit, Stefanie (November 15, 2007). "Vista House a stunning winter sight". Spokesman-Review. p. N4.
  8. "Tentative plans completed for Northwest ski championships meet here". Spokesman-Review. January 15, 1937. p. 11.
  9. "Skiers say Teakettle run ranks with country's best". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 12, 1937. p. 12.
  10. "Northwest ski championships get underway on Mount Spokane slope". Spokesman-Review. February 14, 1937. p. 1, sports.
  11. "Hvam wins downhill racing event". Spokesman-Review. February 15, 1937. p. 10.
  12. "Hvam captures downhill race". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 15, 1937. p. 14.
  13. "Early spring sunshine and snow attract skiers to Mount Spokane". Spokesman-Review. March 18, 1947. p. 18.
  14. "Many attend ceremonies". Spokesman-Review. January 30, 1967. p. 5.
  15. "Mount Spokane to open jump hills". Spokesman-Review. December 4, 1948. p. 11.
  16. "Lift operating on Mount Spokane". Spokesman-Review. March 26, 1950. p. 2.
  17. "Mount Spokane study planned". Spokesman-Review. May 29, 1952. p. 5.
  18. Williams, Dick (November 20, 1952). "Mount Spokane ski area, lodge set". Spokesman-Review. p. 17.
  19. "Damage by two fires about $450,000". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 24, 1952. p. 1.
  20. "Group proposes new lodge plane for Mt. Spokane". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 9, 1952. p. 5.
  21. "Tragic ski lodge blaze is recalled". Spokesman-Review. January 17, 1960. p. 17.
  22. Earl, Larry W. (March 6, 1992). "Mount Spokane a 'backyard jewel' for skiers". Spokesman-Review. p. 12, Weekend.
  23. "Chair lift planned on Mount Spokane". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 5, 1955. p. 3.
  24. "Mount Spokane chair lift progresses". Spokesman-Review. August 9, 1956. p. 28.
  25. Williams, Dick (December 3, 1956). "Mt. Spokane on ski map – new chair lift does trick". Spokesman-Review. p. 10.
  26. "Mt. Spokane projects set". Spokesman-Review. July 24, 1960. p. 9.
  27. Williams, Dick (December 24, 1961). "Everything's new at Mt. Spokane". Spokesman-Review. p. 1, sports.
  28. "3rd chairlift due for Mt. Spokane". Spokesman-Review. March 17, 1970. p. 10.
  29. "New Mt. Spokane chairlift nears completion". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 3, 1970. p. 9.
  30. Young, Larry (October 5, 1970). "Mt. Spokane work aims at ski novices". Spokesman-Review. p. 6.
  31. "Mt. Spokane's fifth chairlift". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 21, 1977. p. 40.
  32. "New chairlift for Mt. Spokane". Spokesman-Review. (photo). September 18, 1977. p. A1.
  33. "Mt. Spokane lighting up". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 14, 1967. p. 4.
  34. "A.E. Mettler". Spokesman-Review. obituaries. November 7, 1985. p. A13.
  35. "New era coming for Mt. Spokane". Spokesman-Review. editorial. March 23, 1970. p. 4.
  36. "Mt. Spokane offers noted". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 13, 1976. p. 11.
  37. "Resort changes hands". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 28, 1976. p. 3.
  38. "Plan approved for ski resort". Spokesman-Review. April 28, 1976. p. 8.
  39. Young, Larry (June 2, 1976). "Mt. Spokane on ski scene again with new leadership". Spokesman-Review. p. 7.
  40. Young, Larry (March 10, 1976). "Ex-owner returns as ski resort chief". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
  41. "Chief named for ski site". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 26, 1977. p. 18.
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