Celebrating seven decades of skiing, heritage center opens Dec. 14

This column is brought to you by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation and the Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing. Enjoy these fascinating stories about the rich and colorful history of skiing in the Flathead Valley.

The Ski Heritage Center will open Thursday, Dec. 14 to coincide with the Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Founders Day celebration. Founders Day and the Ski Heritage Center opening will kick off the activities for the Whitefish Mountain Resort 70th anniversary this year.

The center’s Founders Day Open House and Ski Museum Preview is 4–7 p.m. Wine, cheese and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Founders Day is on Thursday and commemorates the first opening day on Big Mountain on Dec. 14, 1947. The center will open its doors for a “preview event” in conjunction with Founders Day to provide some great insight to the history of Big Mountain and its humble beginnings. The Heritage Center preview will include:

- Photo exhibit featuring over 50 photos of first five decades of skiing in Whitefish and on Big Mountain, from the 1920s to the 1960s.

- Ski Cabin Era from late 20s through mid-1940s

- Early Big Mountain era from 1947 opening through the 1950s

- “Big Mountain” Era featuring the addition of Chair 1 to the top of “Big Mountain” – 1960s

- Unveiling of the Hellroaring Ski Club Ski Cabin Exhibit

The Ski Heritage Center building is in the old community Saddle Club building in the Mountain Trails Park. The building underwent extensive improvements to the kitchen, bathroom and great room, with new fixtures and finishes in the bathroom, new custom mahogany cabinets and granite countertops in the kitchen, a new fireplace gas insert and light fixtures in the great room. The remodel provides a great setting for the current and planned exhibits that tell the story of skiing in Whitefish.

The Flathead Valley Ski and Education Foundation created the center to celebrate the history of skiing in the Flathead Valley.

“We are excited to provide a preview of some of the exhibits and historical photos we have collected for the center,” said Tim Hinderman, FVSEF Director. “We will also present plans for future exhibits, outside exhibits, landscaping, sustainable operating funds and ultimately phase two construction, the new restroom addition.”

For more information about the opening and how to provide any donations to the center, contact Tim Hinderman at FVSEF at (406)885-2730.