Over the weekend, Tamarack Resort, Idaho, celebrated the reopening of its Tamarack Express chairlift following weeks of repairs forced by an early-June windstorm. The windstorm, which brought 70-plus mile-per-hour winds to the Boise area, left one of the lift’s towers severely damaged. With the tower replacement now complete, Tamarack Resort guests can return to enjoying the lift as it continues to serve the resort’s summer operations.
The lift officially reopened on July 4, four days ahead of its July 8 target. Resort guests can use the lift to access the resort’s mountain biking, scenic hiking, and Mid-Mountain lodge.
The tower replacement was completed in partnership between Tamarack and the lift’s manufacturer, Leitner-Poma. The Tamarack Resort Mountain Operations team also worked closely with Granite Excavation, ALLWEST Testing & Engineering, Knife River, and Salmon River Helicopters to safely complete the project and undergo required inspections.
“Safety has been our top priority throughout this process,” said Kara Finley, Chief Operating Officer of Tamarack Resort in a News 4 Tucson article. “Our team worked closely with Leitner-Poma to complete every required inspection, and we have received full approval to resume operations. We appreciate the patience of our guests, homeowners and community, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to the mountain ahead of schedule.”
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With repairs complete, Tamarack Express will return to seven-day-per-week operations. The lift will spin daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Mid-Mountain lodge will also return to its regular operating schedule, including the start of its summer barbecue and live music series, which starts July 11 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m, and will run every Saturday.
The reopening also comes just a week before the return of Tamarack’s second Big Mountain Enduro, scheduled for July 10 and 11. After a successful year one, the second Big Mountain Enduro will see competitors utilizing Tamarack’s biking trails in a premier, multi-stage race. Registration for the event is free, along with complimentary camping. Bikers of all levels are encouraged to participate. For accessing the mountain for the event, guests can use a Tamarack All-Season Pass, LOAM Pass, or purchase a $46 bike haul ticket, which includes a $20 food and beverage voucher redeemable at Mid-Mountain Lodge.
Tamarack’s Rebound From Near Permanent Closure to Top Destination
Tamarack’s recent lift tower troubles are just a blip in a tough few decades for the resort. The 2007-08 financial crisis left the resort reeling, ultimately leading to the owners filing for bankruptcy protection in 2009. The resort would end up missing ski seasons and losing multiple chairlifts before being purchased by real estate firm Imperium Blue and MMG Equity Partners in 2018.
Flash forward to today, Tamarack Resort has become a popular year-round destination for skiers, hikers, golfers, bikers, boaters, and others. The resort’s comeback is a testament to the Idaho community’s commitment to the outdoors and to keeping its resorts alive.
With the past weekend’s return of the Tamarack Express, summer guests can once again enjoy lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking, and the Mid-Mountain Lodge. Summer guests can also experience Tamarack’s championship golf at Osprey Meadows, boating and watersports on Lake Cascade, and many other summer experiences.
America’s Only Ski, Golf, and Lake Resort
Located in Idaho’s Valley County, Tamarack Resort is the ultimate trifecta of skiing, golfing, and boating. It is the only true all-in-one resort, with boating on Lake Cascade, golf on its 18-hole Osprey Meadows course, and skiing on West Mountain. Boaters can enjoy the resort’s brand-new full-service marina, which recently finished its expansion in late March. In the wintertime, Tamarack guests can experience the mountain’s 2,800-foot vertical drop and 1,610 acres of skiable terrain.
