Nonprofit Group Will Now Run Mt. Spokane

The deal transferring Mt. Spokane Ski Area to a new operator was finished Wednesday afternoon.

“The sale has closed. We have the keys to Mount Spokane,” said Ted Stiles, a member of Mount Spokane 2000, the nonprofit group that will run the resort for the next 20 years.

The group took over from Mt. Spokane Skiing Corp., which has run the ski hill the last 21 years.

The state of Washington, which owns the land, awarded the right to run the resort to Mount Spokane 2000 in 1996. Mt. Spokane Skiing Corp. sued the state and the nonprofit group, contesting the transfer of the operation.

On Wednesday, Mount Spokane 2000 paid the prior operators $1.375 million, an amount decided by arbitrators, for the resort’s assets. When that payment was made, the lawsuit was dropped.

“The crew will be up there grooming tomorrow,” Stiles said. “We’re ready to get out of the litigation business and into the skiing business.”

, DataTimes