Tamarack Ski Area (Troy, Idaho)

History

The ski area opened in January 1966, just below the summit of East Moscow Mountain on Tamarack Road, its slopes faced east and southeast. The area had various owners and, due to varying snowfall, was open intermittently for several decades. The land on which the ski area operated was owned by the city of Troy. Known as "Moscow Mountain Ski Area" during its first few months,

It operated two surface lifts: a T-bar and a rope tow, with a vertical drop of 600 ft. The lift-served summit was at an elevation of 4400 ft Height above mean sea level}above sea level; a three-story A-frame structure served as the day lodge. Tamarack's target market was Moscow and Pullman, Washington, and primarily its respective students at the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

Overlooking the Palouse region, the elevation at the lookout atop East Moscow Mountain is 4721 ft and the absolute summit of the mountain to the west is 4983 ft.

Termination

Owed back taxes, Latah County seized the leasehold improvements (equipment & buildings) and put up for auction in February 1992, but there were no takers for the minimum bid of $21,000. The city of Troy sued the leaseholders and entered in an agreement with the county to pay the back taxes after the sale of the T-bar lift in April, which started at a minimum bid of $1,900.

The lift was purchased by Cottonwood Butte ski area near Cottonwood; Tamarack's A-frame day lodge was later demolished and its foundation removed.

References

References

1. Darrow, Laurel. (January 13, 1984). "ASUI considers opening ski area". Idaho Argonaut.
2. (January 14, 1966). "Ski lifts in operation on Moscow Mountain". Idaho Argonaut.
3. (February 12, 1966). "Ski Moscow Mountain". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
4. (January 12, 1971). "Tamarack is good area for student recreation". Idaho Argonaut.
5. Devlin, Sherry. (December 25, 1983). "UI student sees way to operate ski area". Spokesman-Review.
6. (July 8, 1971). "Tamarack ski area faces closure due to financial difficulties". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
7. (July 30, 1971). "Tamarack ski run sold for $17,750". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
8. (December 26, 1986). "Tamarack ski resort being brought back to life". Spokesman-Review.
9. (January 6, 1990). "Troy bans Tamarack opening for faulty insurance coverage". Idahonian.
10. (March 14, 1992). "Troy trying to sell Tamarack ski area". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
11. (January 13, 1967). "Ski outlook". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
12. (1965). "Moscow Mountain ski area lodge near completion". University of Idaho Library, Digital Initiatives.
13. Fattah, Geoffrey. (July 12, 1996). "Vandalism growing on Troy acreage". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
14. Beiser, Mike. ["Moscow Mountains, Tamarack Ski Area, and the Giant Cedar Grove"](http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Student%20Affairs/Campus%20Recreation/Outdoor%20Program/Trail%20Notes/Tamarack.ashx). University of Idaho.
15. Huntington, Rebecca. (January 30, 1997). "Big fun on the small hills". Lewiston Morning Tribune.