Spout Springs Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spout Springs Ski Area |
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Main Lodge in mid-December
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 Spout Springs Ski Area
Location in Oregon
Spout Springs Ski Area
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northeast Oregon, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Tollgate, Portland: 250 mi (400 km) |
| Coordinates | 45°45′18″N 118°03′15″W / 45.7550°N 118.0543°W |
| Vertical | 530 ft (162 m) |
| Top elevation | 5,450 ft (1,661 m) |
| Base elevation | 4,920 ft (1,500 m) |
| Runs | 17:  - 35% easiest - 35% more difficult - 30% most difficult |
| Lift system | 2 chairs |
| Snowfall | 130 in (330 cm) |
| Snowmaking | none |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | spoutspringsskiarea.com |
Spout Springs Ski Area is a cool, historic place for skiing and snowboarding in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. It's located inside the Umatilla National Forest. This ski area has different types of slopes, perfect for both beginners and advanced riders. It used to have two chairlifts. After closing in 2018, there are plans to reopen it so more people can enjoy the snow!
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Spout Springs: Where the Fun Is
The ski area is right next to Oregon Route 204. It's about halfway between the towns of Weston and Elgin. This makes it easy for people to drive there and hit the slopes.
The Start of Skiing Fun
Skiing became popular in the Blue Mountains a long time ago. In 1938, a group called the Blue Mountain Ski Club was started. Members came from nearby parts of Washington and Oregon. They loved to ski and helped build places for people to enjoy the snow.
At first, the club skied in a place called Tollgate. Later, they moved to Spout Springs. The club was a non-profit group, which means they didn't try to make money. Instead, they helped organize ski competitions and built things like rope tows and T-bar ski lifts.
Growing the Ski Area
In the 1940s, more and more people wanted to ski. The first ski spots became too small. Everyone agreed that Spout Springs was the best place for skiing because it had great terrain and good snow. The roads were even widened to make more parking space for cars.
The Blue Mountain Ski Club worked with the Forest Service to move ski equipment to Spout Springs. By 1948, there were three rope tows working! A small warming hut was also built, but it was often too small for all the visitors. Many skiers helped out by volunteering their time to build ski runs and tow houses.
Exciting Times on the Slopes
The Spout Springs Ski Area became very popular. In 1956, about 1,500 people visited every weekend! There were even ski schools for kids and many buses bringing groups.
One time, in January 1956, two skiers got lost at night. Searchers found them the next morning. They had dug into a snow bank to stay warm and kept each other's feet from freezing! Luckily, they were okay, even though one of them was from Austria and got them lost.
In 1958, there wasn't much snow, but people still came to ski. This showed how much everyone loved Spout Springs!
New Lifts and Changes
In 1959, Spout Springs kept getting better. One of the old rope tows was moved, and a new T-bar lift was put in. A T-bar is a type of lift that pulls skiers up the hill while they stand on their skis. These new additions helped more skiers get up the mountain faster.
Also in 1959, the Blue Mountain Ski Club handed over the ski area's permit to a new group called Spout Springs Lodge, Inc. The ski business had grown so much that it was too big for a volunteer club to manage alone. Newer, safer lifts were installed, making skiing even better for everyone.
The ski area continued to grow in popularity in the 1960s. More people were learning to ski, and they had more free time to enjoy winter sports. Spout Springs was a great place for them to have fun in the snow!
Images for kids
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Base Camp Area
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Unloading Terminal of big chair
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Loading terminal of small chair (echo) at Spout Springs Ski Area
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Ski Patrol building
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Skiing towards the rental shop off High T
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Main Lodge
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Grooming equipment
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