SAM Magazine—Beaver, Utah, Aug. 3, 2026—Eagle Point Resort will not operate this winter due to the significant impacts of the Cottonwood Fire on the resort's lift infrastructure, ski terrain, and surrounding forest lands. Flash flooding washed out the resort’s primary access road in July, further complicating ongoing remediation work.

"This is not the news we wanted to share, and we know it will be disappointing for our guests, homeowners, passholders, and the entire Beaver County community," said resort owner Shane Gadbaw. 

The Cottonwood Fire impacted approximately 300 acres of ski terrain, destroyed the resort’s Canyonside Lodge and the Tushar Ridge Warming Station, damaged four of the resort's five chairlifts, and contributed to the loss of 145 homes and condominiums within the Eagle Point community.

Resort officials determined there is not enough time to safely complete the needed inspections, repairs, restoration work, and operational preparations to open for the upcoming winter season.

“The damage to our lifts is significant, and the full extent of that damage is still being evaluated,” said Gadbaw. “We are scheduling rope inspections, non-destructive testing, and manufacturer inspections, and we believe it is likely that portions of our lift infrastructure, including several haul ropes, will require replacement. Those components can take months to manufacture and deliver, making it impossible for us to responsibly plan for winter operations this season."

Damage to State Route 153 through Beaver Canyon has left the resort accessible only via an unpaved route from neighboring Junction, Utah, slowing assessment and recovery efforts.

In addition to resort infrastructure repairs, Eagle Point is evaluating large-scale forest restoration projects across approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land throughout the Eagle Point community, with resort representatives currently interviewing forestry contractors and preparing grant applications.

Eagle Point burn map.

"Our commitment to Eagle Point has not changed," said Gadbaw. "While we are heartbroken to miss the 2026-27 season, our focus remains on supporting the families who were impacted, advancing recovery efforts, restoring the health of our mountain, and working with local, state, and federal partners to determine the path forward.

Forest restoration and watershed recovery is one of the initial priorities of BeaverTUF, a 501(c)3 community foundation formed in the aftermath of the fire.

“Healthy forests help protect our community, our water resources, our roads, our homes, and the long-term future of Beaver County,” said Gadbaw, adding, “Many grant opportunities require local matching funds, and donations to BeaverTUF help position our community to pursue those larger funding opportunities and bring additional resources into the area."

Pass holders will receive direct communication from the resort in the coming days outlining available options related to their purchase, according to a press release. Season pass holders may elect to receive a full refund of their 2026-27 pass, transfer their 2026-27 pass to 2027-28, or donate all or a portion of what they paid for their season pass to BeaverTUF, with refunds expected to be processed by Sept. 15.

“The road ahead won't be easy,” said Gadbaw, “but we remain committed to the future of this community and this mountain."