You might look to Craigslist for an apartment, a bike, maybe even a gig. Now, add to that a ski resort.
Diane and Matt McFerran co-own Soldier Mountain in Fairfield. After purchasing the resort in 2015, they put it up for sale late last year for $800,000 dollars, and they’ve had some interest, but no offers.
So a few weeks ago, Diane suggested posting the resort on Craigslist. Matt says it has brought in inquiries from all over. They have had people reach out to them from Idaho, other states and even other countries.
The McFerrans say operating Soldier has been a great experience — they’re even open to sticking around to continue running it when the next buyer comes in.
But the challenges of operating a small independent ski resort are not lost on them.
“The finances to get through the leaner years and to make capital improvements is much more challenging," Diane says.
Still, according to the McFerrans, Soldier has lots of potential for growth.
Matt says a new owner could expand the snow cat skiing, and could put in new development.
“If someone was going to put lift access into the peaks, we’d have the 5th and 6th largest in the U.S. for skiable acreage and vertical," he says. "So there is the possibility of turning this into the next biggest ski resort in the U.S.”
The McFerrans are still looking for buyers, but they do plan to run the lifts at Soldier Mountain next winter.
Find reporter Rachel Cohen on Twitter @racheld_cohen
Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio
