Hoodoo (ski area)

Hoodoo
Hoodoo Ski Area
Location	Santiam Pass, Oregon, U.S. 44°24′32″N 121°52′19″W / 44.409°N 121.872°W / 44.409; -121.872Coordinates: 44°24′32″N 121°52′19″W / 44.409°N 121.872°W / 44.409; -121.872
Nearest city	Salem 95 miles (150 km) northwest Eugene 80 miles, southwest Sisters 20 miles (50 km) east
Vertical	1,035 feet (315 m)
Top elevation	5703 ft (1738 m)
Base elevation	4668 ft (1423 m)
Skiable area	806 acres (3.26 km²)
Runs	30
Longest run	1 mile (1.6 km)
Lift system	3 quads, 1 triple, 1 double, 1 magic carpet
Snowfall	30 ft (9.1 m)
Snowmaking	No
Night skiing	Yes, Friday-Saturday
Web site	Hoodoo

Hoodoo Ski Area is a ski resort operated near the summit of Santiam Pass on U.S. Route 20, in the Cascade Range. Hoodoo is operated on federal land through agreement with the Willamette National Forests McKenzie River ranger district. The ski area is located on Hoodoo Butte, a volcanic cinder cone and includes 1,035 ft (315 m) vertical rise, 806 (3.26 km²) skiable acres, with five lifts and a magic carpet the tube hill is located on the NW flank Hayrick Butte has a handle tow servicing the 800' long tube lanes.

History

Ed Thurston

The ski area was built in the 1940s by a group funded by Ed Thurston of Bend, Oregon. The group wanted to build on Three Fingered Jack but could not secure funding for a road. There was a hotel at the base that burned.

Hoodoo Ski Bowl

In the 1960s it was purchased by Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers, Inc. They built the Manzanita chair that is still in use to this day.

Chuck Shepard

Hoodoo was acquired by Chuck Shepard of Coburg, Oregon in 1999. Since then, Hoodoo has built the Hodag, the lodge, the Autobahn, replaced the Green and Red double-chair lifts with new quad-chair lifts.

The Ski Area

Hoodoo has a 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m²) full service lodge. Hoodoo's flagship chair, Green, services the entire hill. All 806 acres (3.26 km²) and 1,035 feet (315 m) of vertical can be reached from this fixed grip quad. A new chair replaced the old double chair in 2001. Named after Hoodoo's founder, Ed Thurston, the Ed replaced the aging Red double chair in 2001. The Manzanita triple chair currently serves the "Bowl" area of Hoodoo. This area is open for night skiing and the terrain park can be accessed from this lift. New in 1999, the Hodag is usually windblown up high but is nice below Over Easy. The beginner area consists of a double chair, magic carpet and a carousel located well away from the beaten path on a wide open gentle slope ideal for learning.

Autobahn

Tube Hill on the northwest flanks of Hayrick Butte, 800' runs serviced by a handle tow.

RV Row

Hoodoo offers RV camping on the south side of the parking lot.

References

• Hoodoo official Web site
• History of Hoodoo and the Santiam Pass Ski Patrol
• Harold the Hodag, official mascot of Hoodoo Ski Resort
• Chuck's Page, Shepard's blog about Hoodoo Ski Area, Hoodoo-managed campgrounds, etc