CHOTEAU – Teton Pass Ski Resort will be closed for another snow season. The owners have been trying to sell the resort for a year now and are still trying to find an investor.
In an effort to interest potential buyers, the resort has acquired a $66,000 grant from the USDA to perform a feasibility study. Roughly $3,000 of that money is from local supporters.
The study will be done by a professional marketing outlet and will compare Teton Pass Ski Resort to about 30 other ski resorts in the west.
Throughout the next two to three months, experts will analyze a variety of factor that could benefit the resort.
- What can be done to improve the appeal of the ski hill?
- What marketing efforts should be used in promoting the resort?
- What business model would be best for new investors? Co-op? Nonprofit?
- Should new investors consider expanding seasons?
Choteau City Council member Steve Dogiakos is excited about the study and says the grant is an absolute step in the right direction.
“I’m passionate about Choteau. I’m passionate about Choteau’s economy and the ski resort is an integrate piece to our economy. Especially in the winter months when we don’t have the park to park tourists and visitors that the ski resort helps keep a buoyancy to our economy,” Dogiakos said.
If you are interested in the property, you can contact Clearwater Montana Properties in Choteau.
Reporting by Elizabeth Transue for MTN News
(JANUARY 24, 2018) Teton Pass Ski Resort unexpectedly announced several months ago that it would not open for the 2017-2018 ski season.
Teton Pass was purchased by New Zealand native Nick Wood back in 2010.
The owner of the site posted the following message on Facebook in October:
Unfortunately the ski run will not be opening this ski season. The three owners have been willingly subsidising the operations of the hill since 2010, so the local community had a ski run they could use, and we were proud to do this for the local community. This year it’s just not possible.
One of the owners has lost their home in the wild fires in California, and another a business in Florida in the recent hurricane. We are just not able to support the hill this year.
It is a significant amount of money required to operate, and it’s just beyond our ability this year. We are so proud of Charles and his hard working crew for all the work they have put in over the years, and the professional manner in which they operated the hill, and the countless hours they put in to make it happen for you all. We are so sorry.
Since then, we haven’t heard from the owners or the resort’s managers – until today, when we received this message: “The ski area is currently for sale. No offers yet, and no plan to reopen under current ownership.”
We will update you as we get more information.
