The Happy chair at Spout Springs, Oregon seen May 28th, 2017 after a rough winter not operating.I was expecting a typical recently-lost ski area scene as I drove toward Northeastern Oregon this morning. Located in the Blue Mountains where Idaho, Oregon and Washington converge, Spout Spring Ski Area once featured three Hall lifts: two doubles and a T-Bar. When I arrived at the first lift, called Echo, I was pleasantly surprised at the shape it was in, looking as if it had operated this season with ANSI signs neatly stacked and chairs flipped. After all, it has only been 15 months since these lifts hauled skiers.
Next I rounded the corner to the base-to-summit Happy double, which looked anything but happy. Surveying the scene above, I instantly assumed vandals had somehow knocked over the building that houses the 1965 double chair’s bottom drive bullwheel. But another clue was all around me. The massive snow load from this winter in the Blue Mountains was probably too much for the almost 55-year old building to handle. Not only did it fall on top of the terminal, wood got hung up in a chair which bent like a pretzel and caused the light side to de-rope in two places.
The Echo double is the only lift at Spout Springs remaining in operable condition. Its bottom terminal building is similar to the one that fell on the Happy chair this winter.
The top tension station of Happy gives no indication of the mess down below but it does give a sense of the snow loads experienced in this part of Oregon.Spout Springs was already hurting before this blow. The only other lift besides Happy that accesses the summit – a 1972 T-Bar – was removed without replacement years ago. In 2015, the mountain was listed for sale by its 66 year-old owner John Murray for $1.25 million. The ski area announced last December it would not operate, supposedly due to a parking spat with the Forest Service. As of January, Spout Springs was still for sale with Forest Service Recreation Manager Larry Randall trying to negotiate a solution. “We want to see Mr. Murray successfully operate that ski area,” Randall told the East Oregonian. “That’s where our energies are being diverted.”
The only other lift access to the summit was a T-Bar removed previously.That was before the chair fell, or at least before anyone knew. Now the Forest Service is left with a dangerous scene along a major roadway with no cleanup in sight. While I hope a new owner can come in and save the day, it’s going to take some cash.
24 thoughts on “Not So Happy: Reopening Spout Springs Just Got Tougher”
Cameron HalmrastMay 29, 2017 / 4:50 pm
I feel this ski area will be lost soon unless it can be acquired by a non-profit or the county. I can’t see someone acquiring this ski area to make a profit on it.
I also stopped by Anthony Lakes this trip, which was gifted to Baker County and turned into to a 501(c)(3) in 2010. That model seems like the future for a lot of these smaller areas.
Or an unlikely non profit person who has sentimental values to this small family oriented ski resort where a lot of people have great memories with friends and family, including myself.
If someone bought Spout Springs and got approval from the USFS to build a chairlift on the backside down into the Lookingglass Creek basin (like the Limelight chair at Ski Discovery, MT), this could be a really cool little ski area.
i worked here back in the mid 80’s when it was owned by “Fast Eddie” Eaton and Carol and Merlin and was called The Spout springs fun machine and snow company. We thought that was a stupid name and called it Mt. Spout, which made Ed crazy. We had so many deep snow mornings where no skiers would arrive till ten, leaving the employees so much time for first tracks. We used to hang off the safety bars on the happy chair on the DEEP snow mornings and then drop the fifteen or so feet into the snow below. We lived in the basement of the long gone Nordic lodge and what a crazy scene that was. And yes, the ride down the backside to Looking glass creek is amazing. Doubt i would have the stamina to hike back out these days. So sorry to see what has become of the place. It was very special to a lot of people over the years.
I learned to ski there in 1972. My first winter job after graduating high school in 1977 was there where me and 2 other graduating friends worked at the Spout Springs Ski Area. At that time a family named “Foster” owned it. Six years later, I returned and worked for Pete Euryaud, one of the original builders and owner. Pete had cancer and died between seasons. What a terrible thing to deal with at that time in one’s life.
Today, 1/31/2020, I visited Spout Springs and the lower terminal of the happy lift has been rebuilt. The area is still closed but it looks to be in good shape with some work having been done since your 2017 visit.
Contact information for “SPOUT SPRINGS SKI AREA” Call the U.S. Forest Service ask about the legal owner of SPOUT SPRINGS SKI AREA in the “UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST”. Since the SKI area sit IN the UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST, they will have all the necessary information about the ownership of PROPERTY that sits inside the borders of the national forest. A very “Tyrolian” impression while walking in from the parking lot.
Grew up skiing and teaching there. 44 season’s passes later in Montana, Washington, BC, Japan and I still want to go back to Spout. When i win the lottery I’m buying the place.
That lower terminal building has been rebuilt….I visited it last winter (2022). Unfortunately, the USFS has yet to find a new concessionaire to run the ski area.
I remember it well during the mid eighties it was a fun place to ski I taught x/c skiing there for 2/3 years the nordic center burned down and took a lot of the classic charm withit. for a few seasons Anthony Lake operated it but quit after 2 seasons. looks like the chair lifts are pretty bad shape. Too bad anyone.. remember what it was like inthe day ? andy blossy
As previously mentioned the lower lift. Terminal was rebuilt. I visited there in 2022 and the area looked in good shape and could reopen if an operator was found.
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I feel this ski area will be lost soon unless it can be acquired by a non-profit or the county. I can’t see someone acquiring this ski area to make a profit on it.
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I also stopped by Anthony Lakes this trip, which was gifted to Baker County and turned into to a 501(c)(3) in 2010. That model seems like the future for a lot of these smaller areas.
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Or an unlikely non profit person who has sentimental values to this small family oriented ski resort where a lot of people have great memories with friends and family, including myself.
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I’ve learned to ski here. Best memories ever!!!!
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Maybe Vail will buy it ? They gots lots of profits from other spots !
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If someone bought Spout Springs and got approval from the USFS to build a chairlift on the backside down into the Lookingglass Creek basin (like the Limelight chair at Ski Discovery, MT), this could be a really cool little ski area.
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i worked here back in the mid 80’s when it was owned by “Fast Eddie” Eaton and Carol and Merlin and was called The Spout springs fun machine and snow company. We thought that was a stupid name and called it Mt. Spout, which made Ed crazy. We had so many deep snow mornings where no skiers would arrive till ten, leaving the employees so much time for first tracks. We used to hang off the safety bars on the happy chair on the DEEP snow mornings and then drop the fifteen or so feet into the snow below. We lived in the basement of the long gone Nordic lodge and what a crazy scene that was. And yes, the ride down the backside to Looking glass creek is amazing. Doubt i would have the stamina to hike back out these days. So sorry to see what has become of the place. It was very special to a lot of people over the years.
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Hello! I’ve been wondering what the best place to drop into and hike out of Looking glass creek basin are – do you have any reference points? Cheers!
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I learned to ski there in 1972. My first winter job after graduating high school in 1977 was there where me and 2 other graduating friends worked at the Spout Springs Ski Area. At that time a family named “Foster” owned it. Six years later, I returned and worked for Pete Euryaud, one of the original builders and owner. Pete had cancer and died between seasons. What a terrible thing to deal with at that time in one’s life.
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Today, 1/31/2020, I visited Spout Springs and the lower terminal of the happy lift has been rebuilt. The area is still closed but it looks to be in good shape with some work having been done since your 2017 visit.
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I wonder when/if they plan to reopen?
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Good question. I don’t have info regarding a reopening, unfortunately other than the area looks to be in good shape.
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Can someone get me contact info for seller, and Mr. Randall?
I possibly want to by this, and reinvent the ski resort.
But also keep some of the nostalgia for ppl back in the day.
Peter, you can send me all info on email.
In advance, that you 🤙🏻
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Ask for Phillip Higgins at Pacific Crest Real Estate Advisors.
https://pacificcrestrea.com/
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Contact information for “SPOUT SPRINGS SKI AREA” Call the U.S. Forest Service ask about the legal owner of SPOUT SPRINGS SKI AREA in the “UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST”. Since the SKI area sit IN the UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST, they will have all the necessary information about the ownership of PROPERTY that sits inside the borders of the national forest. A very “Tyrolian” impression while walking in from the parking lot.
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If you would like an updated photo of the happy lift lower terminal please let me know.
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I’d love to see it.
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How do I send a photo?
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Grew up skiing and teaching there. 44 season’s passes later in Montana, Washington, BC, Japan and I still want to go back to Spout. When i win the lottery I’m buying the place.
LikeLike
That lower terminal building has been rebuilt….I visited it last winter (2022). Unfortunately, the USFS has yet to find a new concessionaire to run the ski area.
LikeLike
I remember it well during the mid eighties it was a fun place to ski I taught x/c skiing there for 2/3 years the nordic center burned down and took a lot of the classic charm withit. for a few seasons Anthony Lake operated it but quit after 2 seasons. looks like the chair lifts are pretty bad shape. Too bad anyone.. remember what it was like inthe day ? andy blossy
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As previously mentioned the lower lift. Terminal was rebuilt. I visited there in 2022 and the area looked in good shape and could reopen if an operator was found.
LikeLike