- The Cottonwood Fire caused severe damage to Eagle Point Ski Resort in southern Utah.
- Resort owner Shane Gadbaw announced the resort will not open for the 2026-27 winter season.
- The resort intends to rebuild as well as initiate long-term forest restoration projects.
Last month, Shane Gadbaw surveyed the charred remains of his Eagle Point Ski Resort after the devastating Cottonwood Fire tore through the mountain community in Beaver County, destroying most everything in its path.
The fire destroyed the Canyonside Lodge and the Tushar Ridge Warming Station, damaged four of the resort’s five chairlifts and burned about 300 of the resort’s 600 skiable acres. It also consumed 145 homes and condos.
“There’s just so many memories you know, here in this village that have been destroyed,” Gadbaw said during a tour of the area. “This is my heart and soul for 17 years.”
Once a “community builder,” he now sees himself as a “full-time crisis manager.” But he made it clear: “We will rebuild Eagle Point.”
The Cottonwood Fire in southwestern Utah was one of the largest and most destructive in the country this year, burning more than 97,000 acres — about 150 square miles — in Beaver and Piute counties and destroying at least 150 structures.
Eagle Point not opening this winter
This week, Gadbaw made the “difficult but necessary” decision not to open the resort for the 2026-27 winter season.
As ongoing access challenges have complicated damage assessments and recovery efforts, resort officials determined there is insufficient time to safely complete the inspections, repairs, restoration work and operational preparations necessary to open, according to the resort.
“This is not the news we wanted to share, and we know it will be disappointing for our guests, homeowners, passholders and the entire Beaver County community,” Gadbaw said in a statement.
“The damage to our lifts is significant, and the full extent of that damage is still being evaluated. We are scheduling rope inspections, nondestructive testing and manufacturer inspections, and we believe it is likely that portions of our lift infrastructure, including several haul ropes, will require replacement. Those components can take months to manufacture and deliver, making it impossible for us to responsibly plan for winter operations this season.”
Recent flooding and road damage have created additional challenges by limiting access to the mountain and slowing assessment and recovery efforts, he said. Currently, an unpaved route from Junction is the only access to the resort, restricting the movement of contractors, inspectors and recovery teams.
In addition to resort infrastructure repairs, Eagle Point is evaluating large-scale forest restoration projects across about 2,000 acres of privately owned land throughout the Eagle Point community. Resort representatives are currently interviewing forestry contractors and preparing grant applications designed to support long-term forest restoration, watershed recovery, and future wildfire mitigation efforts, according to Gadbaw.
“Our commitment to Eagle Point has not changed,” he said.
“While we are heartbroken to miss the 2026-27 season, our focus remains on supporting the families who were impacted, advancing recovery efforts, restoring the health of our mountain, and working with local, state, and federal partners to determine the path forward. The road ahead won’t be easy, but we remain committed to the future of this community and this mountain.”
Options for season passholders
Eagle Point has offered three options for people who have already bought 2026-27 season passes:
- Full refund – Passholders may request a full refund of their season pass.
- Transfer to the 2027-28 season – Passholders may elect to transfer their pass to the 2027-28 winter season.
- Donate to BeaverTUF – Passholders may choose to donate all or a portion of their season pass purchase to BeaverTUF, the newly established charitable foundation supporting Cottonwood Fire recovery efforts in Beaver County.
Refunds requested are expected to be processed no later than September 15, 2026.
Forest restoration and recovery
One of BeaverTUF’s initial priorities is large-scale forest restoration and watershed recovery efforts throughout the area, according to Gadbaw. The fire impacted thousands of acres of forestland surrounding the resort and community, creating challenges that extend far beyond recreation.
“One of the most important things we can do right now is prepare for the long-term recovery of our forests and watershed,” he said.
“This effort is about much more than the ski experience. Healthy forests help protect our community, our water resources, our roads, our homes and the long-term future of Beaver County. Many grant opportunities require local matching funds, and donations to BeaverTUF help position our community to pursue those larger funding opportunities and bring additional resources into the area.”
Officials are evaluating restoration projects, consulting with forestry contractors and preparing grant applications to support long-term forest restoration, watershed recovery and wildfire mitigation efforts, per Gadbaw. Planning is expected to begin immediately, with projects starting as funding and approvals allow.
While many questions remain regarding rebuilding efforts, Eagle Point officials say that the decision not to open this winter allows resources and attention to remain focused on recovery, assessment, restoration and planning.