Ore. couple buys Idaho ski area

Matt McFerran and his wife paid $149,000 for Soldier Mountain. “Hopefully they think we are a good fit for the community because we are crucial to one another”. Matt and Diane McFerran of Bend, Ore., were chosen from thousands of entries received within the first 72 hours of the sale notice. The nonprofit eventually stopped accepting inquiries from potential buyers because of the overwhelming response.

“Jaw dropped, we were very excited”, he said. “We’ve been pretty responsible thorough life and chose to live out the dream”.

The family-friendly ski area started in 1948 and has had different owners over the years.

He says owning a ski area has always been a dream for them, and they couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

“The Board of Directors and volunteers of Soldier Mountain Ski Area wish to thank all of you who have supported us through the years, and those who participated in our sale process”. But Soldier Mountain struggled financially with poor snow years and low attendance.

According to Soldier Mountain, over 2,100 people requested information packets for more details on purchasing the ski area. Diane, 38, owns a Pilates studio and has nonprofit experience. The summit at Soldier Mountain already has about eight inches of snow.

The couple, who are in their late thirties, lives in Bend, but are planning to move to Fairfield this weekend. Diane and McFerran’s mother will relocate at a later date.

He says plans for the future will include adding mountain bike trails, lodging, backcountry skiing, and better advertising.