Montana – Missoula once had a ski area just a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Marshall Mountain operated from the 1930s until the early 2000s and was known as Missoula’s hometown ski area. However, a warmer climate and inability to expand eventually led to its decline. Since closing in the early 2000s, Marshall has remained a popular spot for mountain bikers and backcountry skiers.
In the latest episode of Skier72’s The Lost Resorts, he breaks down the history of Marshall Mountain. This video covers the origins of the ski area, the intended upper mountain expansion, what led to its closure, the mountain’s second life as a base for biking and backcountry skiing, and its return to Marshall’s city/county ownership. We delve into migration and its terrain.
Unlike the other mountains featured in “The Lost Resorts” series, Mount Marshall remains a regional staple to this day. The city and county of Missoula purchased the lost ski area last year, meaning it will remain open for public use for generations to come. In addition, a master plan was completed last year detailing ideas for improving the area. Some of the ideas include creating more trails for mountain bikers, creating new base lodges, building shelters on the mountain and installing small surface lifts for novice skiers.
To learn more about the history of Missoula’s hometown ski area, check out Skier72’s video.
Image/video credits: Marshall Mountain (featured image), Skimap.org (header image), Skier72
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