Idaho ski hill aims to reopen Dec. 1 after $0 snow season

Gary Miller plans to open Magic Mountain, a family-owned ski hill in Idaho, on December 1. The resort will reopen this winter after missing the 2025 season entirely due to a lack of snow. Miller said the family intends to operate as long as weather conditions allow.

Last year marked the first time the hill failed to open. The closure created a financial strain for the Miller family because fixed expenses continued regardless of operations. Miller noted that insurance premiums remained a primary cost during the shutdown. He described the unpaid season as a major financial challenge for the business.

A May fundraiser raised enough funds to cover these ongoing bills. The proceeds helped the family maintain the facility for another season. Miller expressed gratitude for the local response, stating that the community stepped in during a difficult period. The donations provided the capital needed to keep the doors open.

Forecasters predict a dry and warm season for the coming winter. Miller acknowledged that the weather is not as cold as the hill requires. However, he said the family is choosing an optimistic outlook. He stated that they are moving forward with the expectation of a strong year despite the predictions.

Miller said he has no intention of closing the business after 20 years of ownership. He emphasized that the operation is driven by factors other than money. The family used the past two years of downtime to install safety features and upgrade infrastructure. These improvements included adding restraining bars to chair lifts and installing new generators and wiring in the lodge.

The resort also added a new carpet, which will allow for two beginner slopes. To address the snow deficit, the Millers have applied to drill a well. This project aims to enable the hill to manufacture its own snow. Miller hopes to begin making snow for the tubing hill by Thanksgiving next year.