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Oregon’s Willamette Pass Resort has more than tripled the capacity of its snowmaking system ahead of the 2026-27 season in a move it called “one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the mountain’s history.”
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Perched on the titular Willamette Pass, the ski area runs a fleet of five chairlifts with access to 555 skiable acres. The snowmaking boost covers more acres and delivers top-to-bottom coverage.
“Everything we do at Willamette Pass comes back to giving people the freedom to ski,” said Mindy Ingebretson-Wolowicz, general manager of Willamette Pass, in a release. “More reliable snow means more days on the mountain for our guests.”
Willamette Pass expects that the upgrade will support earlier season openings, more consistent conditions throughout the winter and an extended operating season, reducing the resort’s reliance on natural snowfall timing.
Included with the now-19 snow guns is coverage on the Kaleidoscope, Eagle’s Flight, Perseverance, By George, Rough Cut and Sleepy Hollow trails.
This season, Willamette Pass plans to open on December 11 as it gives the new snow guns a spin.
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The new snowmaking systems mark the first step of Willamette Pass’ Master Development Plan, a forward-thinking document that anticipates—but doesn’t guarantee—how the future of a ski area could look.
Other planned developments include six new chairlifts, a new conveyor, and an expansion to the north and west of the existing terrain within the current special use permit boundary.
While it is lesser known than Oregon hot spots like Timberline Lodge or Mt. Bachelor, Willamette Pass is a fixture in the nearby Eugene ski community, drawing most of its traffic from the area. The Bulletin reported that Central Oregon locals also visit, pulled in by Willamette Pass’ steep slopes.
Founded in 1941, the ski area has been owned and operated by Tim Wiper and his family since 1982. In 2022, Willamette Pass entered a joint venture with Mountain Capital Partners, a ski resort group that mostly owns resorts in the American Southwest.
Willamette Pass’ history also offers a throughline that connects to the latest snowmaking overhaul. Decades ago, Wiper built Oregon’s first snowmaking system at Willamette Pass, the ski area said.
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