Tamarack Ski Area (Troy, Idaho)

This article is about the former modest ski area in Latah County, Idaho. For the resort in Valley County, see Tamarack Resort.
Tamarack Ski Area
Tamarack Ski Area is located in USA West
Tamarack Ski Area
Tamarack Ski Area
Location in the western United States
Tamarack Ski Area is located in Idaho
Tamarack Ski Area
Tamarack Ski Area
Location in Idaho
LocationEast Moscow Mountain
Latah County, Idaho, U.S.
Nearest major cityTroy - 7 mi (11 km)
Moscow - 17 mi (27 km)
Coordinates46°48′10″N 116°49′46″W / 46.8029°N 116.8295°W / 46.8029; -116.8295
Vertical   600 ft (180 m)
Top elevation4,400 ft (1,340 m) AMSL
Base elevation3,800 ft (1,160 m)
Lift system1 T-bar
1 rope tow
Snowmakingnone
Night skiingnone

Tamarack Ski Area is a former ski area in the western United States, located in north central Idaho, seven miles (11 km) northwest of Troy in Latah County.[1]

History

Tamarack Ski Area patch from the collection of Steven R. Shook.

The ski area opened in January 1966,[2][3][4] just below the summit of East Moscow Mountain on Tamarack Road, its slopes faced east and southeast.[5] The area had various owners and, due to varying snowfall, was open intermittently for several decades.[6][7][8] The land on which the ski area operated was owned by the city of Troy.[9][10] Known as "Moscow Mountain Ski Area" during its first few months,[2][3] it was renamed Tamarack in the fall of 1966.[4][11]

It operated two surface lifts: a T-bar and a rope tow, with a vertical drop of 600 feet (180 m). The lift-served summit was at an elevation of 4,400 ft (1,340 m) above sea level; a three-story A-frame structure served as the day lodge.[12] Tamarack's target market was Moscow and Pullman, Washington, and primarily its respective students at the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

The elevation at the lookout atop East Moscow Mountain is 4,721 ft (1,439 m) and the absolute summit of the mountain to the west is 4,983 ft (1,519 m).

Termination

Owed back taxes, Latah County seized the leasehold improvements (equipment & buildings) and put up for auction in February 1992, but there were no takers for the minimum bid of $21,000. The city of Troy sued the leaseholders and entered in an agreement with the county to pay the back taxes after the sale of the T-bar lift in April, which started at a minimum bid of $1,900. [10]

The lift was purchased by Cottonwood Butte ski area near Cottonwood; Tamarack's A-frame day lodge was later demolished[13] and its foundation removed.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Darrow, Laurel (January 13, 1984). "ASUI considers opening ski area". Idaho Argonaut. (Moscow). (University of Idaho). p. 1.
  2. ^ a b "Ski lifts in operation on Moscow Mountain". Idaho Argonaut. (Moscow). (University of Idaho). January 14, 1966. p. 4.
  3. ^ a b "Ski Moscow Mountain". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (advertisement). February 12, 1966. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b "Tamarack is good area for student recreation". Idaho Argonaut. (Moscow). (University of Idaho). January 12, 1971. p. 3.
  5. ^ Devlin, Sherry (December 25, 1983). "UI student sees way to operate ski area". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 3-The Handle.
  6. ^ "Tamarack ski area faces closure due to financial difficulties". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. July 8, 1971. p. 20.
  7. ^ "Tamarack ski run sold for $17,750". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). July 30, 1971. p. 18.
  8. ^ "Tamarack ski resort being brought back to life". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 26, 1986. p. 19.
  9. ^ "Troy bans Tamarack opening for faulty insurance coverage". Idahonian. (Moscow). January 6, 1990. p. 2.
  10. ^ a b "Troy trying to sell Tamarack ski area". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). March 14, 1992. p. 10A.
  11. ^ "Ski outlook". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). January 13, 1967. p. 12.
  12. ^ "Moscow Mountain ski area lodge near completion". University of Idaho Library, Digital Initiatives. 1965. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  13. ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (July 12, 1996). "Vandalism growing on Troy acreage". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). p. 3A.
  14. ^ Beiser, Mike. "Moscow Mountains, Tamarack Ski Area, and the Giant Cedar Grove". University of Idaho. campus recreation: outdoor program. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  15. ^ Huntington, Rebecca (January 30, 1997). "Big fun on the small hills". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.