KELLOGG, Idaho-
When this northern Idaho mining town went bust and the population started moving away, the remaining residents decided the next boom would be tourists, drawn by the area’s natural beauty and recreation opportunities.
The town began the transition by voting to build a gondola to the top of the ski area on Silver Mountain, and since then Silver Mountain Resort has expanded its winter offerings and moved to attract more summer visitors.
Now, some are comparing the town to a destination that could rival world-class ski areas across the West.
“This is what’s inspiring all the development in the Kellogg area, is what Silver Mountain is going to do,” Ray Chapman, a local historian, told the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Silver Mountain Resort has plans to build condominiums around the base of the gondola along with shops and restaurants, and will replace Terrible Edith’s Bar and Grill with a conference center. It is also building a tubing park at the ski area.
An indoor water park is in the works and expected to open next fall. A golf course is also planned. Resort officials say they are working to attract more mountain bikers who can take the gondola to the top and then zoom back down the mountain on trails.
“The crossover between mountain biking and snow sports is huge,” said Stephen Lane, resort marketing director. “We want to be pioneers of mountain biking.”
