Whitefish resort opens for summer with new attractions
Workers put the finishing touches on Whitefish Mountain Resort’s new Strider bike park for children. The resort officially opens for the summer on Saturday, June 17. (Whitefish Pilot photo)
Crews are removing the back balcony of the Bierstube in the Village at Whitefish Mountain Resort, one of several improvements planned for the bar this year.
Renovations to Ed and Mully's and other buildings in the Village are underway at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Whitefish Mountain Resort is looking forward to another busy summer season as final preparations are made for opening day on Saturday.
The resort will welcome season pass-holders for an exclusive early opening on Friday, June 16 before opening to the public on Saturday. The resort will be open daily through Labor Day and Friday through Sunday until Sept. 24, with lift access from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The biggest addition to the mountain this summer is the Strider Bike Park, located in front of the Base Lodge patio. The park is aimed at giving 2- to 6-year-olds balance and riding practice on pedal-less bikes. Young riders can practice their balance and riding skills while riding the trails with berms and rollers. Full day admission is $12 and includes a helmet and bike rental.
Riley Polumbus, spokesperson for the resort, said the park adds another fun experience for families visiting the mountain.
“To me this is one of the more exciting things we have and I think this will make a lot of locals happy,” she said. “This is giving us something for those 2- to 6-year-olds to do. So much of our draw here at the resort are families.”
Crews at the resort have also finished a new double-black bike trail, “Maiden,” a quarter-mile technical trail off the Bad Rock lift.
Polumbus said while two trails are still under snow, Runaway Train and GNR, the rest will be open this weekend. There will be trail re-routes at the summit.
Likewise, snow still sits on a section of the Danny On Memorial Trail, she said.
Bike park passes are on sale for $215 for adults and $125 for juniors (ages 7-12) and seniors (65 and older). Winter season pass holders receive a discount on summer passes.
Polumbus said last year was a big summer for the resort, with 112,000 visitors, and this year they’re hoping for 114,000 visits. Following a record year for summer lodging last year, the resort is also currently ahead on its reservation numbers.
“I think we had one of our better summers. So much depends on weather. I think in general it’s been getting busier and busier up here,” Polumbus said. “We’re lucky in the respect that Whitefish is a summer destination, so that’s why we’re a little bit ahead of other ski areas.”
The list of summer attractions includes the Alpine Slide, the Aerial Adventure Park, zip line tours, more than 30 miles of mountain bike trails, the kid-favorite Spider Monkey Mountain, scenic lift rides and a U.S. Forest Service Nature center.
The remodeled Summit House will also be fully open this summer, offering sandwiches, salads, appetizers and a full bar along with great views of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park.
Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves said the resort is looking forward to the summer season and providing a variety of mountain experiences.
“At Whitefish Mountain Resort we’re dedicated to offering memorable activities for everyone combined with our hallmark easy-going atmosphere that makes each guest feel at home,” said Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves in a prepared release. “Summer provides many ways to play on the mountain for all ages. After two summers of construction we are excited to offer our guests the opportunity to enjoy the beautifully remodeled Summit House for mountaintop dining.
Family-friendly amenities coupled with affordable lodging and exceptional service bring our guests back year after year.”
One notable exception to the list of attractions is the Walk in the Treetops, which has been taken down after years of declining use.
“It’s something that hadn’t been growing in terms of participant numbers for several years, whereas everything has been busy and productive. It’s also something that required some maintenance that we couldn’t justify,” Polumbus said.
The resort also offers multiple different reservation and recreation packages, including the Family Adventure Package for $139, the Bike and Stay for $80 and the Zip and Stay for $119.
For more information on Whitefish Mountain Resort’s summer season, including prices, visit www.skiwhitefish.com.