BOGUS BASIN — With just about a 45 minute drive from Downtown Boise, Bogus Basin Recreation Area is one of the most accessible ski areas around. Brad Wilson, the general manager, says that's catching on.
"We've noticed an increase in the total number of season passes we've sold. There is a small increase from probably new people moving in, and what that's made us focus on is improving the mountain," said Wilson.
Recently Bogus released its 2020-2021 season pass sale prices. Last year, the sale price of an adult anytime season pass was $329. This year it is $349.
"We are still on the low end of season passes. We're one of the few ski areas in the entire country that's open seven nights a week, so just about any time after work you can get many many hours of skiing in and that's all you know part of your season pass."
That price does not include the remainder of the 2019-2020 season. If you would like to add the rest of the 2019-20 season, the cost is an additional $70, which is about the price of one lift ticket.
Wilson says over the past five years, they invested more than 20-million dollars into the ski area, including the new high-speed quad, the snowmaking system, and summer activities, such as mountain biking trails and the mountain coaster.
Being a non-profit, Wilson says 100% of the money they bring in from the season pass sale will go into the operation.
"We're providing more opportunities for people to come up and visit us. You know, our mission is to provide affordable and accessible mountain recreation for the treasure valley, and the more things we do, the more accessible we are. We're giving more and more reasons to come up, whether it's for music on the mountain and a picnic on the lawn or come up mountain bike or come up or come up and hike just come up to get out of the hot weather in the summertime."
The sale for the season pass for the 2020-21 season will end on February 29th. Wilson says over the next few years they'll be investing about one million dollars on mountain biking trails. They expect to have four either new or re-built trails.
