Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

Maverick Mountain's only chairlift has been destroyed by the Sand Creek Fire, and owners say it's unlikely to be running for the 2026/27 season.

Firefighters saved every base area structure at Maverick Mountain Ski Area in southwest Montana as the Sand Creek Fire swept through the property, but the resort's sole chairlift wasn't so lucky - sustaining damage severe enough that owners now expect it to be out of action for the entire coming winter.

As of August 15, the fire had grown to 27,736 acres with zero percent containment, according to InciWeb tracking. A ski patrol warming shack and radio repeater near the summit were also lost.

How the fire reached the mountain

The blaze ignited northwest of the ski area near Polaris and had been smouldering with limited activity for roughly a week before conditions turned on Saturday, August 8. Hot, dry weather and wind gusts up to 40 mph under Red Flag Warnings drove extreme fire behaviour through pine and fir timber, prompting Beaverhead County Sheriff David Wendt to warn resort operators the flames were heading straight for the property. Mandatory evacuations followed for Maverick Mountain, Elkhorn Hot Springs, Shale Creek, Clark Creek and the northern Grasshopper Valley.

A large-scale structure protection effort

A Type 1 Incident Management Team of 309 personnel - backed by 8 crews, 17 engines and 7 helicopters - has been holding control lines through heavy timber fuels. Suppression costs have reached $4.2 million, with the National Interagency Fire Center estimating full containment by October 31.

During the initial push, a Forest Service hotshot crew cleared vegetation around 11 guest cabins at nearby Elkhorn Hot Springs, while bulldozers cut emergency fire lines along the ski trails. Resort staff moved grooming machinery into the middle of the parking lot and relocated refurbished chairlift parts sourced from other ski areas, while aerial tankers ran multiple retardant drops to slow the fire's advance.

Lodge and equipment survived - the lift didn't

Maverick Mountain sits roughly 40 miles northwest of Dillon in the West Pioneer Mountains and has been run by husband and wife Erik and Kristi Borge since 2015, who also operate Elkhorn Hot Springs since 2017. In an update to the community, Borge confirmed the base buildings and groomers were untouched, but the news on the lift was grim.

"So far all structures in the base area have been saved as well as snowcats and equipment," Borge wrote. "Unfortunately our only chairlift sustained extensive damage and will most likely be inoperable for this coming ski season."

"You can't burn that up with fire"

Despite the loss, Borge was quick to credit the firefighters on the ground and the resilience of the local ski community, saying planning is already underway to assess the damage and adapt to the changed terrain.

"Maverick Mountain is more than just a ski hill," Borge said. "Maverick is a community and a place of gathering where families, locals and tourists come together. Maverick is about stories, friendships that are more like family, and unforgettable days on the mountain. Unfortunately the fire has burned our mountain but our community is still intact, and you can't burn that up with fire."

"We are currently in a whirlwind of emotions, its been a very tough few days but with the support of our local community and others from afar we will get through this, we will rebuild."