All Images: Michael Kern, Eagle Point Ski Resort
Eagle Point Ski Area has been in the news a lot this summer, but for less-than-optimal reasons. The Cottonwood Wildfire and recent flooding have left the small Utah ski area in tough shape. Nearly 300 acres of terrain have been burned, multiple structures and chairlifts destroyed, and the main access road washed away with no immediate plan for reopening.
With such extensive damage, the resort has made the difficult decision to preemptively suspend operations for the 2026/27 winter season. Given the circumstances, the news is not a massive surprise. Still, the resort stressed it was far from an easy choice for everyone involved.
It will take time to clear debris from the structures that were decimated, inspect existing structures and rebuild all necessary infrastructure. The logistics of this process have only been compounded by the recent erosion of SR-153, the only paved road that navigates Beaver Canyon and leads to Eagle Point.
The Cottonwood Fire left Eagle Point scarred, but not without hope
"Our first responsibility is the safety of our guests and employees," Eagle Point owner Shane Gadbaw explained in a recent press release. "The damage to our lifts is significant, and the full extent of that damage is still being evaluated. We are scheduling rope inspections, non-destructive testing, and manufacturer inspections, and we believe it is likely that portions of our lift infrastructure, including several haul ropes, will require replacement. Those components can take months to manufacture and deliver, making it impossible for us to responsibly plan for winter operations this season."
The fire and flood damage affected not just Eagle Point, but over 2,000 acres of forest in the surrounding community, and over 97,000 acres in the Tushar Mountains. Gadbaw and staff have admirably expressed that assisting the larger community will be one of the resort's top priorities for the time being.
Gadbaw elaborated on this, saying, "While we are heartbroken to miss the 2026-27 season, our focus remains on supporting the families who were impacted, advancing recovery efforts, restoring the health of our mountain, and working with local, state, and federal partners to determine the path forward. The road ahead won't be easy, but we remain committed to the future of this community and this mountain."
Eagle Point has set up options for those who already purchased 2026/27 season passes, including a full refund, transfer to the 2027/28 season, or a pass purchase donation to BeaverTUF, a non-profit recently established to help restore the Tushar Mountains and surrounding Beaver community.
There are still many questions that remain regarding Eagle Point's recovery timeline, but one thing remains clear: the resort doesn't plan to throw in the towel any time soon. With time, resource concentration and effort from local, state and federal officials, it won't be long until the area is back on its feet.
Our hearts go out to all those in the Tushar Mountain community whose lives have been uprooted by the horrific fires and flooding in recent weeks. Please check out BeaverTUF.org to donate and see how you can make a difference.
