Boise-area sledding hill, closed due to damage and lack of funds, will open by Christmas
An Idaho City business owner stepped up to save a popular sledding hill one week after officials said it would be closed for the season, according to an Idaho Department of Lands news release.
Doug Pottenger, owner of Seasons Mountain Dining & Grocery, bought the permit to operate sledding at Steamboat Gulch north of Idaho City. According to the Department of Lands, the hill will be open by Christmas, though no other details were immediately available.
Pottenger signed a two-year permit with the Idaho Department of Lands. Previously, the Steamboat Gulch permit was held by the Mores Creek Recreational Foundation. For the last two years, the foundation has not had the funds to operate the sledding hill.
Last year, the hill was left open without supervision. The Idaho Department of Lands said last week that it would close Steamboat Gulch this year due to damage from last season. Officials said large amounts of trash were left at the site, and people drove vehicles on the sledding hill.
“Our hope was that someone could secure a permit and manage and operate the sled hill,” said Todd Wernex, Idaho Department of Lands recreation program specialist, in the news release. “This is a great example of how working together, we can maintain and protect our valuable endowment lands, while also providing recreation opportunities that don’t do damage to those lands.”
The Steamboat Gulch website and Facebook page have not been updated to reflect the opening.
