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Bryant Hall, the North Fork ski area's executive director, said he was “extremely pleased” with the community's generosity and enthusiasm. He added that the recreations foundation will continue to welcome donations.
The non-profit …
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Given a four-month deadline to come up with $800,000, the people of the Big Horn Basin came through for the Sleeping Giant Ski Area.On Wednesday, the Yellowstone Recreations Foundation announced it had reached the threshold needed to qualify for a $500,000 state grant.
Bryant Hall, the North Fork ski area's executive director, said he was “extremely pleased” with the community's generosity and enthusiasm. He added that the recreations foundation will continue to welcome donations.
The non-profit foundation has been shooting for a grand re-opening this Thanksgiving. It now has all necessary funding in place to do so, Hall said, pending final approval from the State Loan and Investment Board.
The board awarded the foundation a $500,000 grant in January — on the caveat that they raise $800,000 by May 1.
Citizens and businesses came up with the money with two weeks to spare.
“We were a little nervous in January. It was slow at the beginning,” Hall said. “(But) once the ball really got rolling, it kind of built on itself.”
Donations ranged in size from $20 to $100,000, and came from about 175 people and businesses, Hall said.
While thankful for that support, he said he knows there are other project supporters who have yet to contribute. That, he said, is why the recreations foundation is still accepting donations.
“More than anything, we want people to have buy-in into the project,” Hall said.
“In order for people to truly have ownership of the project they need to make a financial commitment,” said a statement from the foundation.
Money received in addition to the $800,000 will be used toward operational costs, servicing debt and helping pay for the ski area's planned youth programs.
The $50,000 expected to be contributed by the Park County Commission is not included in the $800,000.
Closed since 2004, the renovated Sleeping Giant will feature nearly four times the skiable area as before.
A new chair lift, a snowmaking system and a sun deck at the ski lodge are among the construction projects scheduled for this summer.
