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EDEN, Weber County — Nordic Valley won't be building a new lodge to replace the one that burned down in an intense fire last January until 2026 or 2027, says Pascal Begin, general manager of the ski resort in Eden.
However, the Apollo chairlift, out of service for part of the 2023-2024 ski season, should be back in operation for the upcoming winter season.
"At this point in time, a lot of 'base area' details still need to be ironed out before publicly advertising them. Our main efforts currently are happening on the mountain. Getting our chairlift Apollo spinning in December is our priority No. 1 and our main summer capital project," Begin told KSL.com.
The iconic white barn that served as the lodge at Nordic Valley, the smallest of three ski resorts in Weber County, burned down on Jan. 15. The turn of events prompted an outpouring of support from the public and forced the operator to scramble and shift operations to several portable structures.
Nordic Valley officials are planning something "super cool" to replace the old barn, Begin said, but will operate out of temporary structures for the next two or three seasons until the plans are finalized and the new structure built. Resort officials are considering yurts, trailers or all-weather fabric Sprung structures in the meantime.
"Expect the same amenities to be offered in our temporary setups," including ticketing, rental operations and food and drinks, he said. The land where the resort sits is owned by Orem-based Nordic Village Venture, though Mountain Capital Partners runs resort operations.
The closure of the Apollo lift had hampered access to much of Nordic Valley's runs during the last ski season. But the repair work is advancing. Apart from massive fixes to the lift system, the chairs will be refurbished.
"We are going through not just a repair of the chairlift, of what was not working, but a complete overhaul of the chairlift and analysis of every component. Things are going great so far, and work is expected to be completed early this fall," Begin said.
As for the fire, he said it was caused by a "faulty freezer" in the kitchen area of the structure.
"All things considered, with the challenges of losing Apollo and having the barn burn down, Nordic Valley had a good year," Begin said, crediting the resilience and enthusiasm of the Nordic Valley workers.
Weber County's other ski resorts are Powder Mountain and Snowbasin.
