Tamarack Ski Area (Troy, Idaho) Explained

Tamarack Ski Area
Location:East Moscow Mountain
Latah County, Idaho, U.S.
Nearest City:Troy - 7miles
Moscow - 17miles
Pushpin Map:USA West#Idaho
Pushpin Relief:1
Coordinates:46.8029°N -116.8295°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Vertical:   600feet
Top Elevation:4400feet AMSL
Base Elevation:3800feet
Liftsystem:1 T-bar
1 rope tow
Snowmaking:none
Nightskiing:none

Tamarack Ski Area is a former ski area in the western United States, located in north central Idaho, 7miles northwest of Troy in Latah County.[1]

History

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 600feet. The lift-served summit was at an elevation of 4400feet 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 4721feet and the absolute summit of the mountain to the west is 4983feet.

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: ASUI considers opening ski area . Idaho Argonaut . (Moscow). (University of Idaho) . Darrow . Laurel . January 13, 1984 . 1.
  2. News: Ski lifts in operation on Moscow Mountain . Idaho Argonaut . (Moscow). (University of Idaho) . January 14, 1966 . 4.
  3. News: Ski Moscow Mountain . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho) . (advertisement) . February 12, 1966 . 3.
  4. News: Tamarack is good area for student recreation . Idaho Argonaut . (Moscow). (University of Idaho) . January 12, 1971 . 3.
  5. News: UI student sees way to operate ski area . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Devlin . Sherry . December 25, 1983 . 3-The Handle.
  6. News: Tamarack ski area faces closure due to financial difficulties . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho . July 8, 1971 . 20.
  7. News: Tamarack ski run sold for $17,750. Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). July 30, 1971. 18.
  8. News: Tamarack ski resort being brought back to life . Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington) . Associated Press . December 26, 1986 . 19.
  9. News: Troy bans Tamarack opening for faulty insurance coverage. Idahonian . (Moscow). January 6, 1990. 2.
  10. News: Troy trying to sell Tamarack ski area . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington). March 14, 1992 . 10A.
  11. News: Ski outlook . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho) . January 13, 1967 . 12.
  12. Web site: Moscow Mountain ski area lodge near completion. University of Idaho Library, Digital Initiatives. 1965. December 30, 2012.
  13. News: Vandalism growing on Troy acreage . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington) . Fattah . Geoffrey . July 12, 1996 . 3A .
  14. Web site: [<!--https://mikebeiser.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/moscow-mountain-ski-tour-past-and-present/-->http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Student%20Affairs/Campus%20Recreation/Outdoor%20Program/Trail%20Notes/Tamarack.ashx Moscow Mountains, Tamarack Ski Area, and the Giant Cedar Grove ]. University of Idaho . campus recreation: outdoor program . Beiser . Mike . August 1, 2014.
  15. News: Big fun on the small hills . Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Huntington . Rebecca . January 30, 1997 . 1C.