New buildings, tubing hill planned for Mount Spokane

Washington state Parks and Recreation Commission has been issued a permit by Spokane County to build a new ski instruction building on Mount Spokane for $235,224. The construction is part of a $700,000 project that will include a tubing hill, observation building and ski hut, said Brad McQuarrie, general manager at Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.

The work will take place near the resort’s Lodge One and will be done in time for the 2018-19 winter season. McQuarrie said he initially planned to have all work done for this season, but permitting took longer than anticipated.

“We’re trying to get going on both buildings right away,” McQuarrie said.

The projects are funded by a capital grant approved by the Legislature in the 2015-17 biennium, as well as by Mt. Spokane’s concessionaires.

The ski instruction building, called the Alpine Learning Center, will also have a new surface lift, sometimes referred to as a magic carpet.

The work will allow for up to 250 ski instruction lessons per day, up from the current 70.

“We’ve got over 100 instructors,” McQuarrie said. “We’re going to expand the whole learning area.”

The new tubing hill will be moved near Lodge One and be open this season. A warming hut and observation building also will be on the site.

Spokane-based ALSC Architects designed the project. Coffman Engineers, of Spokane, is also working on the project.