Montana’s Maverick Mountain Latest Ski Resort To Succumb To Wildfire

Maverick Mountain, a mom-and-pop ski area in Beaverhead County, Mont., has lost more than two-thirds of the resort—including its only lift—to the Sand Creek Fire, which ignited on Aug. 1. It’s one of two wildfires currently threatening the county: The Bobcat Lakes Fire has kept the area under fire watch since July 31. The cause of both fires remains under investigation, and both sit at zero percent containment.

“It may take a large fundraising effort to rebuild Maverick Mountain,” Beaverhead County community member Katie Thornton told SKI. “It is such a tight-knit community, and we are all devastated to see our gathering place where so many of our children—and we—have learned to ski and snowboard. [Maverick Mountain] has always been so important to all of the small communities surrounding it, and a fun stop on the scenic byway.”

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In addition to the ski resort, the fires have moved dangerously close to Elkhorn Hot Springs, a popular recreation spot with nearby cabins; the area has been evacuated. According to a Facebook post from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the Sand Creek Fire is spreading southeast, pushed by northwest winds, while the Bobcat Lakes Fire is moving toward the Pioneer Mountains. The Sand Creek Fire has burned just under 20,000 acres; the Bobcat Lakes Fire, just under 9,000.

 This is an evolving story, and we will update as more information becomes available.