WE HAVE NOW CONCLUDED OUR SUMMER SEASON. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU VISITING US THIS SUMMER AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS WINTER!
HISTORY OF THE AREA
HISTORIC TIMELINE
Mt. Hood Skibowl’s origin dates back to 1928, making the resort one of the oldest remaining ski resorts in the country. The ski area began as two separate resorts Skibowl and Multorpor. While Skibowl’s name was derived from the natural shape of it’s Upper Bowl, Multorpor’s name came from the combination Multnomah County, Oregon and Portland. The following is a brief timeline of the resort’s storied history.
The famous Jump Hill on Multorpor Mountain was developed by Everett Sickler.
The newly-formed Cascade Ski Club began holding competitions at Multorpor’s Jump Hill. The area gained national recognition after holding an official National Ski Association event.
Work began on the Historic Warming Hut located on the shelf between Lower and Upper Bowl at Skibowl. It was completed in 1937.
The first ropetow was installed at Skibowl by French Boyd. The Historic Mid-Mountain Warming Hut served as the bottom terminal and carried passengers halfway up Upper Bowl. Powered by an automobile engine, the tow was fast and riders held on with custom hooks. If you carried a gallon of gas to the top, you could ski for free.
Raymond Hughes built Multorpor Mountain’s first rope tow. The tow was powered by a Dodge truck engine and operated on the run now called Raceway on Cascade Chair. The resort charged 5¢ per ride or $1 per day.
The first Lower Bowl chair was installed by “Sandy” Sandberg. Built with wooden lift towers, the single chair ran from what’s now the Rental Shop up the west side of Skibowl’s Lower Bowl.
The current Multorpor Lodge was built by George Beutler, who operated Multorpor’s ropetow at the time. Upper Bowl Chair. This new Riblet double chair was the first chair to use steel towers.
The Multorpor Mountain Company erected the Multorpor Chair. It was the fastest, highest capacity, most advanced chair of its time. The A-frame addition to Multorpor Lodge was also built at this time.
Carl Reynolds and Everett Darr bought Skibowl and the two resorts were joined under the name Multorpor Inc. 1965 Multorpor Inc. installed a Riblet double chair on Lower Bowl at the present location.
Skibowl’s world-famous night lighting was installed.
The Starlight Lodge was built.
The current Upper Bowl chair was installed. The old Upper Bowl Chair moved to Skibowl East and became the Cascade Chair. Some of the towers from the old Upper Bowl chair are still in use today on the existing Upper Bowl Chair, a testament to the engineers of the day.
Summer recreation began at Skibowl with the installation of the Alpine Slide.
Kirk Hanna purchased Skibowl out of bankruptcy and formed H-Ski Corporation. He then makes major improvements to the resort by adding the 300 acre outback, cutting the Olympic Certified Reynolds Run and expanding the night skiing to 34 lit runs making Skibowl “America’s Largest Night Ski Area”. He also remodeled and reopened the Historic Warming Hut.
Hanna also built upon the summer activities, adding mountain biking, Indy Karts, Miniature Golf, group functions, and some inflatable summer recreation.
Skibowl purchased the first winch cat in the northwest, which enabled it to groom the steeps of Upper Bowl. They also add to summer attractions by putting in the 100′ Bungee Tower and adding several other activities.
The Lower Bowl is completely rebuilt. Everything was replaced but towers and chairs. Upper Bowl also received a new drive, motor and additional towers to shore up what was the highest chairlift span in the northwest.
Multorpor Chair and the Lower Bowl lift terminal are completely rebuilt, resulting in shorter rides, faster chairs and more seating. Also, the Rental Shop is remodeled and the bathrooms are finished at the Historic Mid-Mountain Warming Hut.
A new Summer Tube Hill is added to The Adventure Park at Skibowl’s East side.
Major renovation to the public areas and rest room facilities at Skibowl.
