Brundage Mountain Resort is expanding its real estate development business beyond the confines of the resort’s base area.
Plans to carve a subdivision out of a parcel that includes the Activity Barn were approved earlier this month by the Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission.
The subdivision, called Wood Run Heights, would create 14 lots from 27.6 acres that would be connected to Norwood Road south of Moonridge Drive. Wells and septic systems would serve each of the lots.
“I actually like the location for the subdivision,” P&Z Chairman Ken Roberts said. “I think it’s very appropriately placed.”
The subdivision would be in the southeast portion of a 116-acre parcel that contains the Activity Barn, the site of Brundage’s snow tubing hill. The Activity Barn’s operations would not be affected by the subdivision, according to April Whitney, a spokesperson for the resort.
“There may potentially be trails/pathways connecting the two, but that would be the extent of the interaction with Activity Barn,” Whitney said.
Funding tool for resort’s main operations
The subdivision is not expected to have any permanent affiliation with Brundage. Instead, the resort plans to sell the lots to raise money for other projects. Whitney did not specify how much money Brundage hopes to earn from the lot sales.
“Proceeds from the homesite sales will be used toward projects and expenses that support Brundage Mountain’s core mission—Mountain first, mountain always,” she said.
Brundage could begin work on infrastructure for the 14 lots as soon as this fall, depending on market conditions and weather.
Brundage began operating the Activity Barn in 2016 and bought the 116-acre parcel in 2020 from Mirror Pond LLC, a company registered to Diane DeBoer. Deboer and her late husband, Judd, formerly owned Brundage Mountain Resort.
Updated permit
In 2023, Brundage updated a conditional use permit for the Activity Barn in preparation to expand its operations from being seasonal to daily.
The updated permit allows for events of up to 500 people. Weddings would be capped at 150 guests, under the permit. Any music concerts would require separate approval by the county P&Z.
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Brundage’s application for the permit outlined several planned improvements at the Activity Barn site, including a disc golf course and multi-use trails for walking, mountain biking, and running.
Other planned improvements include employee housing and an expanded parking area.
The Activity Barn’s operations span about 35 acres on the site, with another 27.6 acres slated for the Wood Run Heights subdivision. That leaves about 53 acres unaccounted for.
Earlier this year, Brundage offered to donate some of the land as a site for the Mountain Community Center, a public fieldhouse facility proposed late last year.
The Activity Barn site, along with other sites, remains under consideration, said Johanna Defoort, a member of the citizen group behind the Mountain Community Center proposal.
