‘We can’t screw this up’: Locals hope community can make a deal to buy Mt. Bachelor – but know it’s a tough, uphill climb
(Update: Adding video, comments from Visit Bend and Buy Mt. Bachelor)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Dan Cochrane and Chris Porter are a local duo looking to have Mt. Bachelor come into local community ownership. It's a tall order, they know - perhaps as tall as the mountain itself, with big bidders expected to vie with big bucks for the well-known, popular resort.
Their efforts followed the announcement last month that POWDR Corporation would be selling the resort.
Calling the initiative “Buy Back Mt. Bachelor,” with a slogan of "Powder to the People," the two are hoping locals and tourists who love the mountain will come together and be able to step in to acquire the resort, putting it back in local hands.
"We really caught lightning in a bottle, and it's been so emotionally charged," said Chris Porter, one half of the duo.
A long-time La Pine High School teacher, Porter knows the emotions tied to the resort.
"It's a special treasure that's right in our own backyard," he said. "Not everybody has this, and we have to take care of it and shepherd through what we want to happen."
Last month, POWDER announced it had sold a Vermont resort and was putting three of its other resorts up for sale, including Mt. Bachelor. It's the seventh-largest ski resort in the U.S. and the fourth-largest employer for Central Oregon, with a peak revenue of $13 million last year.
That means Porter and partner Dan Cochrane are feeling the pressure.
"We can't screw this up. At the end of the day, Dan and I know that our job, our only job, is to move this over the finish line," Porter said Friday.
Visit Bend CEO Jeff Knapp says the community relies heavily on a successful Mt. Bachelor.
"It is so woven into our community," he said. " Not just from tourism, but from jobs, quality of life, generational, you know, retention of employees, attraction of business."
He said the idea of a community-run Bachelor is very 'Bend.'
"Mt. Bachelor is the heart and soul of tourism, not just for Bend, but, for Central Oregon in general," Knapp said. "So it is a critical pillar in our community, both for visitation and most importantly, the community itself. "
The duo behind the campaign has already seen strong interest from the community, receiving over 100 emails a day in support. Some have even said they're willing to spend their life savings to save the mountain for the locals, instead of another big corporation.
"How can people be this generous in our community?" Porter said. "It's something where I never could have imagined -- the generosity, the support and the willpower to get this done here."
The pair are meeting with legal teams soon to discuss the process of ownership - and, of course, how possible it might be to meet a no-doubt high price tag.
Just how big a challenge local ownership may be could be seen in this article from The Storm Skiing Journal, posted a day after they broke the news.
Here's what writer Stuart Winchester said about the resort and who's likely interested:
"Everyone I spoke with agreed on one thing: of POWDR’s three available properties, Bachelor is the prize, a potentially portfolio-defining chest-thumper that could draw skiers from all corners, a pilgrimage-level mecca. Think Big Sky for Boyne or Whistler for Vail or Jackson Hole for the Ikon Pass – that one mountain on the roster that every skier just had to get to once (that impact would be muted if already-stacked Alterra, Boyne, or Vail purchased Bachelor, but a mountain of this caliber could change the trajectory of a Mountain Capital Partners or California Mountain Resort Company). Based on my conversations, there doesn’t appear to be any established North American multimountain operator who isn’t interested in Mount Bachelor.
"And it’s obvious why. From a pure skiing point of view, Bachelor – huge, snowy, (seemingly) forever-open – exceeds anything in POWDR’s portfolio save the un-exceed-able Snowbird. How many North American ski areas offer 360-degree volcano skiing down a 3,000-plus-foot vertical drop covering 4,000-plus acres? One. And this is it," Winchester wrote.
The group seeking a community-owned Mt. Bachelor also issued a newsletter on Monday, sharing news of their community website and other updates:
"Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
Mount Bachelor Community Inc. 15th September, 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we wrap up Week 3 of our journey to bring Mount Bachelor into the hands of our community, we are filled with gratitude and excitement for how quickly we’re coming together. Every step of this process has been a true testament to the power of teamwork, and it's clear that our collective vision for this mountain is growing stronger by the day.
From the start, this initiative was never about one person or a small group—it's about all of us, and the incredible support we're seeing confirms that we are moving in the right direction. Volunteers, local businesses, and passionate community members have all played a role in pushing this project forward. The energy is contagious!
Highlights from Week 3:
- Our Growing Community Team: We’ve seen new faces join our volunteer teams, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and expertise. Each of you plays a crucial role, and it’s inspiring to watch everyone come together with a shared passion for the mountain we love.
- Collaborations on the Rise: Local businesses and organizations are stepping up to support us, offering resources, services, and donations. We’re proving that when the community bands together, anything is possible. We'd like to give a special thanks to our partners at Sunriver Brewing and the Haven Co-working Reimagined.
- Website Progress: We’ve officially launched our new website! However, we are waiting for updates to be fully processed before it becomes generally available to everyone. In the meantime, you can access it directly at https://mtbachelorcommunity.com. If for some reason you don’t see it right away, give it an hour or two—it should be working consistently soon after it updates.
- Kickoff Event: We’re excited to invite you to our official Community Kickoff Event at Drake Park on October 12th! Mark your calendars and join us for a day of community, celebration, and excitement as we continue to build momentum for this incredible project. More details to come soon!
- Community Donations: We’re currently in the process of opening our corporate bank account, which will allow us to move forward with important steps like accepting donations and covering early expenses. To help with our startup costs, we will be launching a GoFundMe soon—stay tuned for details on how you can contribute!
Our team is proof that teamwork really does make the dream work. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to securing Mount Bachelor for our community. We couldn’t do this without you, and we’re just getting started!
How You Can Help:
- Spread the Word: Share our vision with friends, family, and neighbors. The more voices we have, the louder our message.
- Volunteer: We’re always looking for more hands on deck. Reach out if you’re interested in helping with events like the upcoming one on Oct. 12th.
- Support the Cause: If you haven’t yet, consider contributing to help us cover the costs of working with top-tier professional firms who will help ensure our success.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Together, we’re not just imagining a better future for Mount Bachelor—we’re building it. Let’s keep the momentum going!
With gratitude,
Mount Bachelor Community Inc."
