October 3, 2018 (BOISE, ID)– For the second year in a row, Bogus Basin, the nonprofit recreation area located 16 miles above Boise, has made significant investments in capital improvements. This summer, Bogus Basin spent $5.7 million installing a new automated snowmaking system that will provide top to bottom coverage on three of the area’s seven chairlifts.
“After 75 years in operation, we are very excited to have finally added a substantial snowmaking system,” said Bogus Basin General Manager, Brad Wilson, “this is going to provide us with a consistent and predictable opening date, which is absolutely key to our long-term financial health.” Installation of the brand new, fully automated system included construction of a 13 million gallon snowmaking pond, and the acquisition of 24 fan guns. The snowmaking system was funded entirely by a community fundraising campaign that was conducted in 2017. “We knew we needed snowmaking, but as a nonprofit we had to get creative with how we would pay for it,” said Wilson. “Ultimately, the money was raised in a matter of months, which speaks volumes about how much Bogus Basin means to this community.”
The snowmaking installation is in addition to $5 million in capital investments made in summer 2017. Last year’s improvements included the Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, a new outdoor plaza, Double R Ranch BBQ Smokehouse, bike trails, and other base area activities. That investment is paying off: This summer, the area expanded to seven-day-a-week operations for the first time, drawing more than 100,000 visitors to the area.
What’s New At Bogus Basin for Winter 2018-19:
- A brand new fully automated snowmaking system, providing top to bottom coverage on three of seven chairlifts. This includes construction of a 13 million gallon snowmaking pond, and 24 fan guns.
- The drop off area behind JR Simplot Lodge has been widened and paved, and new handicapped parking spaces have been added.
- A new Winter Community Race Series is planned out of the Frontier Point Lodge Nordic Center.
- Winter operations will begin Thursday, November 23rd with the opening of the Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, which will run weekends and holidays throughout the season.
- A new fleet of rental skis and snowboards and boots from Rossignol, new demo skis from Rossignol with Look bindings, new Vokl demo skis with Marker bindings, and new lease skis and boots from Rossignol.
- A full-time crew from the Idaho Department of Corrections was hired to increase brush cutting efforts, thus expanding skiable terrain
