Harbor Properties Starts on New Ski Lodge

SANDPOINT, ID-Harbor Resorts, parent company of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, has broken ground on its $15 million White Pine Lodge, a mixed-use project that marks the initial phase of a 10-year expansion of resort facilities. Lydig Construction of Spokane, WA is the general contractor for the project.

The village at Schweitzer will eventually include restaurants, retail space and 400 condominium suites. The resort is also designing strategies to increase visits to Schweitzer and the entire Sandpoint community. Resort officials estimate that 500,000 guests will visit the mountain in 2010 on a year-round basis.

“About 500,000 would be the mountain’s comfortable capacity,” said Tom Fortune, Schweitzer’s general manager. “We’re very excited to commence building the White Pine Lodge and begin a major growth spurt for tourism in our region. I believe that as Schweitzer continues on this path, everyone will experience an increase in business.”