{"id":926,"date":"2025-08-01T20:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T20:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/?p=926"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:52:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T14:52:30","slug":"why-oregons-ski-industry-is-in-big-trouble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/01\/why-oregons-ski-industry-is-in-big-trouble\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Oregon\u2019s Ski Industry Is in Big Trouble"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Resorts like Mount Hood Meadows are at risk of a complete shutdown within the next 12-18 months due to an escalating liability crisis.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Background<\/h2>\n

When it comes to skiing and riding in the United States, the state of Oregon has long been a strong regional choice for those in the Pacific Northwest. That\u2019s why recent events in the state have been so alarming, with a business environment that has quietly become the most hostile in the country for ski resort operations. And due to developments in the state in recent weeks, there is a real possibility that every major ski resort in the state could soon be legally barred from opening.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s exactly happened, and how likely is the so-called \u201cnuclear\u201d scenario to actually happen? Well, in this piece, we\u2019ll go through the series of events that made Oregon uniquely susceptible to the crisis it currently faces, whether any other states have faced similar issues, and how the state could feasibly dig itself out of the hole it now finds itself in\u2014despite the fact that it currently may not have the political will to do so. Let\u2019s jump into one of the least known impending catastrophes in the American ski industry.<\/p>\n

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Liability waivers like this one have long protected ski resorts from catastrophic lawsuits stemming from high-risk activities.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oregon\u2019s Outdoor Liability Insurance Background<\/h3>\n

The crisis that Oregon currently faces primarily boils down to one factor: liability insurance. For many decades, ski resort liability insurance worked generally the same in Oregon as it did in other states. Liability waivers have long served as the legal backbone of the outdoor recreation industry, allowing ski resorts and adventure operators to function in high-risk environments without the constant threat of catastrophic lawsuits. In most Western states, these waivers are enforceable so long as they\u2019re clear and voluntary, shielding operators from claims arising from “ordinary negligence”\u2014think catching an edge, hitting a tree, or colliding with another skier or rider. This legal clarity gives insurers confidence, enables resorts to keep their premiums in check, and arguably helps keep lift ticket rates at practical levels too.<\/p>\n

But in Oregon about a decade ago, a series of legal events completely upended all of that.<\/p>\n

Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor: The Case that Shook the Foundations<\/h3>\n

In 2006, 18-year-old Myles Bagley was snowboarding at Central Oregon\u2019s Mount Bachelor<\/a> when he hit a jump in the resort\u2019s terrain park. Unfortunately, the landing went horribly wrong. Bagley suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later argued the jump was defectively designed and unsafe.<\/p>\n

Like most snowboarders and skiers, Bagley had signed a liability waiver when he purchased his season pass. The agreement released Mount Bachelor from responsibility for injuries, even those resulting from negligence. Despite this, Bagley filed a lawsuit,<\/a> claiming the resort had acted recklessly in building the terrain feature.<\/p>\n

What followed was a years-long legal battle that culminated in a landmark 2014 Oregon Supreme Court decision: Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor.<\/a><\/p>\n

In a ruling that reverberated across the outdoor recreation industry, the court declared Mount Bachelor\u2019s liability waiver unenforceable. The court determined the contract was both unconscionable and against public policy,<\/a> effectively invalidating essentially every liability waiver used in the state at the time.<\/p>\n

The justices emphasized three main points in their decision: (1) the waiver was a contract of adhesion\u2014non-negotiable and imposed by a party with disproportionate power; (2) skiers and riders had no ability to modify the terms, and thus no meaningful choice, and (3) perhaps most critically, the waiver attempted to release the resort from liability even for its own negligent conduct. The court found these circumstances contrary to Oregon\u2019s legal principles, arguing it disincentivized safety and violated the public interest.<\/p>\n

On paper, the ruling was intended to preserve legal recourse for seriously injured parties. But unfortunately, it eventually became clear that the decision, while presumably well intentioned, had taken things a little bit too far.<\/p>\n

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As of 2022, Oregon is the only Western state that does not enforce outdoor recreation liability waivers.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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2014-2025: Lawsuits, Rate Spikes & Retreating Insurers<\/h3>\n

Over the next decade, Oregon\u2019s ski industry entered a treacherous state. With liability waivers rendered largely unenforceable by the Bagley ruling, insurance companies began viewing the state as toxic territory. This came as injured patrons at ski resorts\u2014and even summer recreation users\u2014started suing more effectively, with damage demands climbing into the tens of millions.<\/p>\n

The first major post-Bagley case took shape in 2016, when a mountain biker at Mount Hood Skibowl was paralyzed after hitting a drainage rut and colliding with an unpadded wooden post along a downhill trail. Although the incident occurred during the summer, not the winter season, the case had major implications for the liability environment surrounding outdoor recreation in Oregon. In 2022, a jury awarded the rider over $11 million in damages,<\/a> ruling that Skibowl had failed to take reasonable safety precautions despite signage and waiver protections. It was one of the largest single verdicts against a recreation operator in Oregon history, and in response, Skibowl completely shut down their bike park operations and hasn\u2019t restarted them since.<\/p>\n

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Mount Hood Skibowl was forced to suspend its bike park operations in 2022 following an eight-figure lawsuit, and the mountain hasn\u2019t restarted them since. Source: <\/em>SAM Magazine<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The legal risk wasn\u2019t limited to Skibowl. Mount Bachelor also became a focal point for legal scrutiny, with two $15 million wrongful death suits<\/a> following a pair of 2018 tree well fatalities, and a nearly $50 million claim filed after a child\u2019s 2021 death after sliding into rocks on an icy run. Even community-oriented areas like Mount Ashland\u2014despite facing no public lawsuits\u2014reported being overwhelmed by rising insurance costs. The resort\u2019s general manager noted a 129% increase in liability premiums<\/a> over 12 years, with another 30% spike expected in 2025.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t just increasing premiums that occurred. By early 2025, brokers reported that fewer and fewer firms were willing to even consider underwriting ski resorts in Oregon. Outdoor recreation companies formed coalitions like Protect Oregon Recreation<\/a> to plead for legal reform, warning that without enforceable waivers or other liability shields, the state’s entire outdoor recreation industry\u2014not just ski resorts, but also including bike parks, rock gyms, and river rafting companies among others\u2014was at risk. The insurance market was drying up, and fast.<\/p>\n

Specifically when it comes to ski resorts, one potential indicator of these legal and financial pressures is how unpredictable Oregon\u2019s terrain openings have become. Despite reasonably strong snowfall most seasons, resorts like Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood Meadows are consistently among the least resilient in terms of terrain access\u2014and in a recent analysis, we ranked Oregon dead last for reliability among major ski regions.<\/a> There’s no doubt that weather plays a major role here\u2014Oregon\u2019s maritime precipitation and volcanic geography can complicate slope cover and safe operations\u2014but many in the industry believe the state\u2019s legal environment only makes things worse. Resorts may be incentivized to act overly cautiously given the threat of excruciating lawsuits, keeping trails closed longer than necessary out of fear that a misstep could result in litigation. Anecdotally, the Summit Express lift at Mount Bachelor, which directly served the terrain where the 2021 death took place, was closed continuously for a period of approximately a month later that same season; it\u2019s possible that conditions justified this closure, but this was an especially long suspension, even for this fickle terrain zone, and it\u2019s easy to see the resort opting to err on the side of legal caution given the circumstances.<\/p>\n

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Mount Bachelor\u2019s Summit lift, pictured above, operated significantly less reliably after a fatal accident that occurred on its terrain.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Breaking Point: Safehold\u2019s Exit and the Last Insurer Standing<\/h3>\n

So if it\u2019s been over a decade since the Bagley ruling, why are we bringing all of this up now? In June 2025, the Oregon insurance situation went from precarious to existential. Safehold Special Risk, a major ski industry insurer that covered resorts like Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline Lodge, and Cooper Spur, announced it was pulling out of Oregon entirely.<\/a> In doing so, it said Oregon had become unworkable: although the state accounted for only a fraction of its clients, it produced half of its $1M\u2013$10M payouts.<\/a><\/p>\n

That exit left Oregon with just one viable ski resort insurer: MountainGuard. MountainGuard, a legacy provider with national reach, has continued to serve the state\u2014but not without concern. Its leadership made clear that a single massive verdict could force them to reassess.<\/a> Should MountainGuard exit as well, no insurer may be willing to step in. And because without insurance, resorts can\u2019t legally operate, this move would completely and immediately shut down every Oregon ski resort.<\/p>\n

Legislative Attempts to Fix the Isssue<\/h3>\n

So given this pending catastrophe, has Oregon\u2019s government made any efforts to address it? Well, at least claiming to recognize the growing crisis, Oregon\u2019s state legislature has proposed several bills over the last decade, all aiming to restore partial legal protection for outdoor recreation operators.<\/p>\n

In 2025, the most promising was Senate Bill 1196,<\/a> which would have allowed liability waivers to cover ordinary negligence\u2014but not gross or reckless misconduct. A similar House bill, HB 3140, had the same aim.<\/a> Supporters said this was a common-sense compromise already in place in most other Western states.<\/a> It would have brought Oregon in line with its neighbors while still allowing injured parties to sue in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.<\/p>\n

The bills initially gained momentum. SB 1196 advanced through the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle signaled they would support the bill if it came to a vote. In fact, multiple state legislators and even Governor Tina Kotek indicated they would sign the bill into law if it passed the House and Senate.<\/p>\n

But despite committee approval and apparent legislative support, neither SB 1196 nor HB 3140 were brought to a floor vote before the end of the 2025 session.<\/a> Trial lawyer groups lobbied heavily against the reform, arguing it would strip injured parties of their right to sue and reduce incentives for resorts to maintain safe conditions. And in the end, legislative leadership declined to advance the bills to the floor, effectively killing them.<\/p>\n

The failure was a huge disappointment for resort operators and insurance carriers alike. It marked the third time in ten years that similar legislation had failed in Oregon. And with this specific defeat, the state\u2019s recreation industry moved to the precarious point at which it finds itself today. Indeed, Safehold had explicitly warned lawmakers it would exit the state if these reforms didn\u2019t pass. When the bills died, Safehold made good on that promise\u2014pulling out of Oregon and sending a clear message that the state would pay a steep price for its inaction.<\/p>\n

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If the last major insurer pulls out of Oregon, nearly all recreational activities will be forced to shut down immediately\u2014and a solution may take awhile to materialize.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Catastrophe: What Happens If the Insurance Disappears?<\/h3>\n

If Oregon\u2019s last major ski insurer, MountainGuard, pulls out of the state, the effects would be both immediate and far-reaching.<\/p>\n

Ski resorts that operate on Forest Service land, like Mount Bachelor, Mount Hood Meadows, and Timberline Lodge, are legally required to carry general liability insurance to maintain their permits. Without it, they\u2019d be forced to shut down operations overnight. And that sudden stop wouldn\u2019t just hit the slopes. Entire communities would feel the aftershocks.<\/p>\n

Towns like Government Camp, Ashland, and Bend depend on consistent winter and summer visitation to support their tourism economies. Hotels, restaurants, gear shops, ski schools, and shuttle services would all be thrown into crisis. The liability issue stretches beyond skiing, too\u2014rock gyms, rafting companies, zipline tours, mountain bike parks, and even climbing guides all rely on similar liability protections and insurance to stay afloat. If Oregon can\u2019t find a fix, the state\u2019s entire outdoor recreation economy could begin to unravel.<\/p>\n

Central Oregon would be hit hardest. Over the past two decades, Bend has evolved from a modest town into a booming four-season destination, with outdoor recreation as the cornerstone of its growth. Its population has more than doubled since 2000, and a significant portion of its winter economy revolves around Mount Bachelor, Oregon\u2019s biggest ski resort by a significant margin. While according to locals we interviewed, the resort struggled under mismanagement during what they called POWDR Corp\u2019s \u201cdark ages\u201d in the mid-to-late 2000s, things turned around after POWDR infamously lost Park City and shifted its attention back to Bachelor, significantly boosting investment and bringing about a rebound in winter visitation.<\/p>\n

A forced shutdown\u2014triggered not by mismanagement but by insurance collapse\u2014could send Bend into another economic slump. And since Bachelor operates a popular summer bike park, the fallout wouldn\u2019t be limited to just ski season. Bend sees nearly twice as many visitors in summer as in winter, and the ripple effects of a shutdown would be felt year-round.<\/p>\n

But if MountainGuard does leave, would the shutdown be permanent? Well, despite the catastrophic consequences in the interim, probably not.<\/p>\n

A complete collapse of Oregon\u2019s ski industry would force the state\u2019s hand. While lawmakers have failed to pass legal reform in previous sessions, a full-scale closure would almost certainly bring enormous political pressure to act. We\u2019d almost certainly see a fast-tracked bill to reauthorize liability waivers for ordinary negligence (something like SB 1196), and likely additional action through an emergency legislative session to get the industry back on its feet.<\/p>\n

Still, a fix wouldn\u2019t restore operations overnight. Insurers that have already fled the state may not return immediately, especially if legal uncertainty lingers. The state might have to lean on short-term solutions like government-backed risk pools or cooperative insurance programs. And even if those stopgaps work, rebuilding trust with national insurers could take years.<\/p>\n

So while Oregon\u2019s ski resorts might not be shuttered forever, the disruption would be deeply damaging\u2014and the recovery could be long and uneven\u2014for businesses and communities alike.<\/p>\n

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The nearby state of Idaho faced similar liability issues a few years ago, but government entities took initiative to correct course.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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How Oregon Could Dig Itself Out: The Idaho Precedent<\/h3>\n

So has any other state ever faced something like this? Oregon\u2019s path forward might seem uncertain, but it\u2019s not without precedent. In fact, just next door in Idaho, the ski industry faced a similarly dire moment\u2014and ultimately managed to stabilize the situation before it spiraled out of control.<\/p>\n

The crisis in Idaho began in 2023, when the state\u2019s Supreme Court allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against Sun Valley to proceed,<\/a> despite the state\u2019s long-standing Ski Area Liability Act. The case involved a skier who crashed into a snowmaking tower and suffered fatal injuries, and the court\u2019s initial ruling opened the door to potential jury trials for incidents that had traditionally been considered part of the inherent risk of skiing. The decision sparked panic among resort operators, who feared a flood of litigation and a potential loss of insurance coverage. Bogus Basin even began adding extra signage around equipment purely as a legal precaution.<\/p>\n

But in a rare about-face, the Idaho Supreme Court reversed course in mid-2025.<\/a> The justices determined that because the hazard was clearly marked and padded, the skier had assumed the risk\u2014meaning the resort was not liable under Idaho\u2019s statute. The decision reinstated critical liability protections, and lawmakers are now working to clarify and strengthen the law further in the next legislative session. Just a few years earlier, Idaho also passed legislation upholding waiver enforceability for outfitters and guides, signaling a broader commitment to protecting the outdoor recreation economy.<\/p>\n

The lesson for Oregon? Even when the legal foundation starts to crack, a coordinated response from courts and lawmakers can restore balance. While Oregon\u2019s situation is further along than Idaho\u2019s was\u2014and arguably more severe too\u2014there\u2019s still a window for action.<\/p>\n

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Oregon\u2019s ski resorts are facing several multi-million-dollar lawsuits that could come to a head within the coming months. Even one payout could move the last state insurer to pull the plug. Source: <\/em>KATU<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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How Much Time Does Oregon Have to Act?<\/h3>\n

So just how long is this window for action we just mentioned? Well, based on the current legal landscape and timeline of active cases, the threat is probably not quite as immediate as the next few months. However, the lack of urgency with which the Oregon legislature seems to be handling this means they could be setting themselves up for a historic fumble.<\/p>\n

The \u201cTicking Time Bomb\u201d Lawsuits<\/h4>\n

So realistically-speaking, what could actually happen that would cause MountainGuard to leave\u2014and consequently trigger a statewide resort shutdown? Well, the company did cite that a single major verdict could cause it to leave the state, and a few major cases making their way through the legal system could very well be the \u201cnuclear verdict\u201d that would force the company\u2019s hand. Take, for example, the most high-profile active case: a $6.2 million lawsuit filed in early 2025<\/a> by a ski coach who was struck by a snowmobile at Mount Hood Meadows. While the case is likely months away from settlement or trial, it is significant\u2014and could result in a large payout. In addition, the wrongful-death lawsuit against Mount Bachelor, which seeks nearly $50 million in damages, is still winding through the legal process<\/a> after being filed in August 2022. There could be other non-public cases or other factors that could cause MountainGuard to leave in the coming months too; for example, the Mount Hood Skibowl case that forced the mountain to shut down its bike park wasn\u2019t even reported on until the eight-figure verdict came down.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Oregon Government\u2019s Leisurely Timeline<\/h4>\n

So how should we look at these cases now? Well, for the state of Oregon, there\u2019s some good news and some bad news. The good news is that while these cases remain a looming threat, they\u2019re unlikely to reach a verdict or settlement before this fall\u2019s insurance renewal period. Most Oregon ski resorts operate on annual insurance cycles that renew in September or October, so unless something unexpected like an accelerated settlement or surprise verdict happens, it\u2019s likely that MountainGuard will remain in the Oregon market for at least one more winter.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the bad news: the threat hasn\u2019t gone away, and the major lawsuits currently in motion could very well result in eight-figure payouts over the next 12 to 18 months, which could force MountainGuard to exit before the 2026-27 season. But perhaps the most concerning part of this whole situation is there\u2019s very little chance the state will act in time to prevent that outcome. Oregon\u2019s next legislative session won\u2019t be until February 2026, which is already over six months from now at this point. But in even years, the state\u2019s legislative session is just 35 days long, practically only allowing for priorities like budgets, transportation, housing, and public safety\u2014and making it exceedingly unlikely that liability reform would even be considered for debate. It is worth caveating that in recent days, an emergency session was called for this upcoming August; however, it’s narrowly focused on transportation funding and transit layoffs, so the chances of liability insurance being taken up are essentially slim to none. So unless another emergency session is called or a surprise court ruling comes about, the legal environment is unlikely to improve before February 2027\u2014and by that point, there\u2019s a concerningly real chance it will be too late.<\/p>\n

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The Oregon legislature\u2019s comically short session length in even years means that it won\u2019t realistically be able to tackle the liability crisis again until 2027\u2014unless it calls an emergency session.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n

The collapse of Oregon\u2019s ski resort liability protections was set in motion by a tragic injury and what one could reasonably assume was a well-meaning court ruling. But a decade later, the lack of a legislative fix threatens the survival of the state\u2019s entire ski industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the sky isn\u2019t falling quite right now, and it\u2019s more likely than not Oregon\u2019s ski industry will have one more season of insurance left. However, if no action is taken soon, the window to avoid a full-scale coverage collapse in the coming months could close fast. For now, all eyes are on the legislature, the courts, and the lone insurer left.<\/p>\n

So with all of this being said, is there any way you can take action? Well the biggest way is if you live in Oregon, contact your state legislators<\/a> and tell them how you feel. If you don\u2019t live in Oregon, consider supporting organizations like Protect Oregon Recreation,<\/a> which are actively lobbying for legal reform in this space and could use all the help they can get. And finally, no matter where you live, tell your friends and family about this\u2014the more people who put pressure on the key players here, the more likely lawmakers are to prioritize solutions before there isn\u2019t a ski season anymore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 Resorts like Mount Hood Meadows are at risk of a complete shutdown within the next 12-18 months due to an escalating liability crisis. \u00a0 Background When it comes to skiing and riding in the United States, the state of Oregon has long been a strong regional choice for those in the Pacific Northwest. That\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":928,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=926"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":938,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926\/revisions\/938"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}