Tamarack Resort group of homeowners hopes to open ski slopes in December

Tamarack Resort group hopes to open ski slopes

BOISE, Idaho — A group of homeowners at the defunct Tamarack Resort in central Idaho says it’s working to open the ski slopes this winter.

The group is selling season passes, plans to hire 65 workers, and hopes to get five lifts running on Dec. 20 and continue through April 3, operating Thursdays through Sundays.

Tim Flaherty, Tamarack Municipal Association general manager, said the group hopes to hire many former Tamarack workers.

“Word is getting out among the mountain pros that winter sports are returning to this resort, and we’re grateful to be able to secure the services of these experts,” Flaherty told the Idaho Statesman.

Homeowners have contributed $250,000 to reopen the lifts, said Tamarack homeowner Doug Dvorak. He also said the association anticipates ticket sales will bring in $1.5 million to cover a $500,000 projected payroll.

On another front, Tamarack Resort has moved to have a federal judge appoint a restructuring officer to help sell the resort.

Tamarack lawyers asked U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Terry Myers to let Michael Fleischer oversee the sale. The resort shuttered lifts in March 2009. It failed to repay a $250 million loan to investors led by Credit Suisse Group, and interest and penalties have been piling up while the case languishes in the courts.

Tamarack owners Jean-Pierre Boespflug and Alfredo Miguel plan to resign from positions at the resort, in part because of creditors’ concerns about his management.

“We’ve got buyers knocking at the door, which is something we didn’t have before,” Boespflug told the newspaper. “Now is a logical time for a restructuring officer to come in. The final negotiations will be done by a specialist, not ourselves.”

Information from: Idaho Statesman, www.idahostatesman.com