Magic Mountain Plans December 1 Reopening After Dry Season

Magic Mountain, a family-owned ski hill located in Idaho, intends to open its doors to the public on December 1, 2026. The facility is preparing for a return to regular operations following a season where it remained closed for the first time in its history due to a lack of snow.

The closure placed a financial strain on the Miller family, which owns the business. Gary Miller noted that fixed costs continued to accumulate during the shutdown. "By not opening… that's a killer for us, but the insurance, that's the part that, everything else was kind of on hold, but the insurance; that money keeps on going whether you're open or not," Miller said. He explained that while other expenses were paused, insurance premiums required regular payment regardless of whether the hill was operating.

A large fundraising event held in May 2026 provided the financial support necessary to keep the business viable. The proceeds helped cover outstanding bills and secured the hill's status for the upcoming winter. Miller expressed appreciation for the local response to the crisis. "I'm just so grateful for this community, they've really… responded and helped out during these difficult times," he said.

The Millers have utilized the previous two years of downtime to implement several physical upgrades to the property. Safety measures were a primary focus, including the installation of restraining bars on all chair lifts to protect young children. The lodge also received new generators and a complete rewiring of its electrical system. Additionally, the family installed a newer carpet, which allows the hill to operate two beginner carpets simultaneously.

The facility is also working to reduce its reliance on natural weather patterns. The family has submitted an application to drill a new water well, a step intended to support the installation of snowmaking equipment. Miller anticipates that this infrastructure will allow the snow tubing hill to open by Thanksgiving next year. "Next year, hopefully, we'll get snowmaking for the tubing hill, so we can get that started, hopefully, by Thanksgiving, that would be a plus for us," he said.

Meteorologists currently predict another dry and warm season for the region. Miller acknowledged the forecast but stated that the family has no intention of ceasing operations. "We're optimistic, and we hear that it's going to be kind of another dry year, the weather not as cold as what we need, but we're not going to look that way… we're going to make the positive … we're going along that it's going to be a great year," he said. He added that his commitment to the hill, which he has built over 20 years, extends beyond financial considerations.

The hill is scheduled to welcome guests starting December 1, subject to weather conditions permitting safe operations.