Bomb Threat Closes Schweitzer Resort Deputies’ Search Of Day Lodge, Cafeteria Fails To Turn Up Bomb

A bomb threat forced Schweitzer Mountain Resort to close Monday afternoon while authorities searched the day lodge and cafeteria.

An anonymous man telephoned the resort about 2:45 p.m. and said a bomb had been placed in the cafeteria. Resort officials closed the lodge and ski lifts and asked everyone to leave the mountain. Bonner County deputies and detectives searched the lodge but found nothing.

Two bomb experts and a dog trained to sniff out explosives were being flown in from Fairchild Air Force Base Monday evening. The team was going to do a more thorough search, said Undersheriff Nick Krager.

“We want to make sure the area is clear,” Krager said. “The caller did not say what kind of device was supposedly planted or when it would go off.”

Authorities suspected the call was a hoax, but still had to comb through lockers, bathrooms, coolers and back packs scattered throughout the three floors of the lodge.

The resort did not have an exact count of how many skiers were on the mountain, but estimated about 200. Most were evacuated immediately after the threat was called in, which was about an hour before the regular closing time, said resort spokesman Bob Hamilton.

Some skiers were taken to the lobby of the Green Gables hotel and served hot chocolate and snacks while they waited to get their belongings out of the lodge.

Authorities did cite one person at the resort for obstructing and battery on an officer. The man, whose name was not available, refused to stay behind a cordoned off area and grabbed an officer during an argument.

The resort expects to reopen this morning. Resort officials said after a search by bomb experts they will secure any belongings people left behind. Those items can be picked up today.

, DataTimes