The reason Fortress closed was that RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) had just gone through a bankruptcy process with former owner Charlie Locke, and oil billionaire Murray Edwards had purchased the company. This is why his first move was to shutter Wintergreen in 2003, with Fortress following in 2004. With competition from Nakiska (also owned by RCR) which had much better infrastructure, Fortress was not viable at the time. Of course, this was also due to decades of neglect on the part of Charlie Locke, who viewed the resort as "secondary" compared to his other resorts like Fernie or Lake Louise.
Split Rock Ski Resort, Lake Harmony, PA… 1942-2004. I not only visited a few weeks back, but hiked to the top of one trail for a few ski turns… first alpine skier to run the mountain in 20 years! ⛷️😎
It is sad to see so many great little family ski areas closed - they were great local places to learn to ski as a kid, especially if they were close enough to go every evening.
The Nevele wasn't accurately depicted. It was located outside of the Catskills proper and was small unlike the year round hotel that was the main attraction as I worked there. Great lost ski area like Highmount and Scotch Valley would have represented the Catskills better. A book called Skiing in the Catskill region by George V Quinn has all the lost areas of the Catskills.
Iron Mountain CA. It’s located a few miles west of Kirkwood. Used to have a couple of lifts but most of it is gone now. It was less expensive and a little closer to the Bay Area.
Marshall Mountain isn’t in the Flathead Valley. It’s east of the Missoula Valley. Very stoked to see it on this list tho. I learned to snowboard there back around 2000. Was a cool little place but they definitely don’t get a lot of snow anymore.
Don’t think Fortress Mountain is opening this year. I live in Calgary and there has been zero advertising for season passes or tickets. To bad. I loved this hill as a kid and young adult. I biked up there years ago (got permission from the owner) and it brought back some great memories. They do have a cat skiing operation there and I hear it’s amazing.
While the lifts at Fortress have not carried passengers in years, the current owners of Fortress have a Cat skiing operation they run each winter. So you can say that yes - the lifts and buildings are "closed" and have been for years but there is still commercial skiing going on at the mountain. The owners are working towards re-opening lift access on the mountain and have an impressive master plan, but as with everything that involves both funding and government approval, these things take time.
Most of these ski areas all failed because they lacked difficult terrain. It's hard to retain return customers when it's nothing but green and blue runs.
It is a shame in the US and in Europe. The earnings are gone private, and the garbage of lifts, buildings, oil, etc. is polluting the nature. Taking the scrap from the mountains is socialiced and to be payed by tax, if it ever happens !!!
The Nevele Grande was never more than a 300 ft beginners slope. None of the skiing footage was filmed there.
The reason Fortress closed was that RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) had just gone through a bankruptcy process with former owner Charlie Locke, and oil billionaire Murray Edwards had purchased the company. This is why his first move was to shutter Wintergreen in 2003, with Fortress following in 2004. With competition from Nakiska (also owned by RCR) which had much better infrastructure, Fortress was not viable at the time. Of course, this was also due to decades of neglect on the part of Charlie Locke, who viewed the resort as "secondary" compared to his other resorts like Fernie or Lake Louise.
Thanks for this! Loved this mountain back in the day. 3 mountain pass of Nakiska fortress and wintergreen
There's a video out there somewhere where the Fortress "caretaker" just set up shop and never left! Classic....
Love these videos!! Great work hope you get more recognition 👍
Thanks for the support!
Split Rock Ski Resort, Lake Harmony, PA… 1942-2004.
I not only visited a few weeks back, but hiked to the top of one trail for a few ski turns… first alpine skier to run the mountain in 20 years! ⛷️😎
I took ski lessons at Ski Rio. I loved that mountain. We went over several years, but its remoteness was a factor for us going back.
It is sad to see so many great little family ski areas closed - they were great local places to learn to ski as a kid, especially if they were close enough to go every evening.
Hogback mtn is not in the blue ridge mountains, unless they moved
Can't wait to see this episode on Europe
It’s definitely coming!
There are videos from Swiss, Italy, Austria, France, with those content on RUclips. The party is over, the scrap remains !
The Nevele wasn't accurately depicted. It was located outside of the Catskills proper and was small unlike the year round hotel that was the main attraction as I worked there. Great lost ski area like Highmount and Scotch Valley would have represented the Catskills better. A book called Skiing in the Catskill region by George V Quinn has all the lost areas of the Catskills.
Iron Mountain CA. It’s located a few miles west of Kirkwood. Used to have a couple of lifts but most of it is gone now. It was less expensive and a little closer to the Bay Area.
We go past hog back a lot it’s overgrown but you can see one tbar terminal near the road. There’s tracks during powder days meaning ppl skied it
Marshall Mountain isn’t in the Flathead Valley. It’s east of the Missoula Valley. Very stoked to see it on this list tho. I learned to snowboard there back around 2000. Was a cool little place but they definitely don’t get a lot of snow anymore.
I rode hogback a few years ago after riding mount snow. thiers a lost ski area 30 mins from my house in maryland called orgeon ridge
Don’t think Fortress Mountain is opening this year. I live in Calgary and there has been zero advertising for season passes or tickets. To bad. I loved this hill as a kid and young adult. I biked up there years ago (got permission from the owner) and it brought back some great memories. They do have a cat skiing operation there and I hear it’s amazing.
Skied there again in 2019 after skiing there in the eighties. The Cat Skiing was amazing!
While the lifts at Fortress have not carried passengers in years, the current owners of Fortress have a Cat skiing operation they run each winter. So you can say that yes - the lifts and buildings are "closed" and have been for years but there is still commercial skiing going on at the mountain. The owners are working towards re-opening lift access on the mountain and have an impressive master plan, but as with everything that involves both funding and government approval, these things take time.
Most of these ski areas all failed because they lacked difficult terrain. It's hard to retain return customers when it's nothing but green and blue runs.
I wish "vile" resorts would be abandoned!😂
What’s with the music? These places don’t seem scary at all.
Ski Resorts Will Not Come Back Till They Find A Way To Look At Your Phone While Skiing ! 😞
It is a shame in the US and in Europe. The earnings are gone private, and the garbage of lifts, buildings, oil, etc. is polluting the nature. Taking the scrap from the mountains is socialiced and to be payed by tax, if it ever happens !!!
Indeed sad that buildings, lifts and facilities are left behind in the beautiful mountains and nature!