Mt. Bachelor extends resort closure for at least another day amid progress on firefighting efforts

(Update: Mt. Bachelor will remain closed Friday)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Mt. Bachelor, which evacuated and halted fall operations when the Backside Fire arose west of the resort last weekend, will hold off until at least Saturday to reopen, continuing to review the firefighting situation on a daily basis, officials said Thursday.

When it closed Saturday due to the now-85-acre Backside Fire and related evacuation zone, the resort said at the time it hoped to resume operations on Thursday.

Announcing Thursday that the resort's fall operations would remain closed Friday, Communications and Community Relations Manager Presley Quon said, "We will continue to assess day by day and update the Mountain Report, as well as our social media channels."

Here's Wednesday's announcement from President and General Manager John Merriman, who also noted that the fires now fought as the Bachelor Complex are not directly threatening the resort:

"To Our Mt. Bachelor Community, 

As many of you are aware, recent wildfires in our area have necessitated the closure of Mt. Bachelor to both the public and our employees since Saturday afternoon. I want to extend a huge heartfelt 'thank you' to the brave firefighters who are working tirelessly to contain the fires and protect our community. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable.  

Due to the ongoing wildfire activity, Mt. Bachelor will remain closed this Thursday, September 12. While the fires are in the vicinity, I want to reassure you that Mt. Bachelor is not threatened at this time. We are closely monitoring the situation and working daily with local authorities to assess conditions and plan accordingly.  Please understand that while we all want to be open, it is critical that the fire teams have room to operate. There are numerous fires in the area and limited crews available to fight them.  

We will continue to reassess conditions daily, in accordance with US Forest Service guidance, and provide updates via our Mountain Report with more information on fall operations. 

Although it is only September, I am already thinking about winter. Opening Day for the 24/25 season is scheduled for November 29. As we have previously discussed, even though Mt. Bachelor is currently on the market, we expect “business as usual” this season and are focused on delivering the best possible days on the mountain for our guests, employees and community. We will keep you informed with updates on the pending sale of Mt. Bachelor as they become available.  

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back to Mt. Bachelor soon. 

-John Merriman

President & GM, Mt. Bachelor"