Eighty-six years ago, groundbreaking for the road to Bogus took place four days after Thanksgiving on November 28, 1938. It took more than $300,000 and two years to build the road.
Boiseans have been thankful for that winding road ever since because it enables snowboard and ski enthusiasts to get to the slopes in less than an hour. If you don’t want the challenge of that gnarly drive of more than 170 curves in 16 miles, ride the shuttle.
There were no snowplows in the early years of that twisting road. It was one-way going up in the morning, and in the afternoon, it was one-way going down. World War II interrupted the plans to open the resort in December 1941, but the resort finally opened on December 20, 1942, and 200 people braved that road to enjoy three feet of snow, a foot of fresh powder, and a 500-foot rope tow.
Ever wonder how Bogus Basin got its name? One story relates that in the 1860s some swindling miners created fake gold dust they pawned off as the real thing. Their enterprise was set up in the basin that the ski area now calls home. When the miner’s scheme was revealed, the area was christened Bogus Basin.
Transforming the area from a miners’ hangout to Boise’s wintertime gem wasn’t easy. It took people of vision and a community effort, which still exists today. The Boise Ski Club and the Boise Junior Chamber of Commerce decided that skiing would be an economic boon to the area.
They recruited Alf Engen, one of America’s most decorated ski jumpers and the father of the American powder technique, to find a site for the ski area. Engen and his team explored by skiing 150 miles, on three different trips, looking for the ideal site. When Engen saw Shafer Butte he said, “This is where you want your ski area. It has wonderful snow, great runs along the ridgeline, it has the most dependable snow, and it lasts long in the season.”
Engen felt it was one of the best ski areas he’d found in the Northwest. Twenty-seven ski areas within the Intermountain region were planned and designed with the touch of Alf Engen.
The first chairlift at Bogus was installed in the fall of 1959 at Deer Point, and night skiing debuted in December 1964, expanding the range of activities for visitors and making Bogus Basin a more versatile destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
Still run by volunteers, Bogus Basin is dedicated to affordable, accessible, and enjoyable mountain recreation and education for the Treasure Valley Community—a gathering place for families to enjoy outdoor recreation in the beauty of natural surroundings, just minutes from the city.
Today, you can enjoy alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, snowboarding, and night skiing at Bogus Basin, all thanks to the foresight and hard work of Boiseans 86 years ago, who envisioned a place where the community could come together to appreciate Idaho’s winter beauty.
If you’d like to curl up après-ski with a book about Bogus, check out *Building Bogus Basin* by Eve Chandler.
Several notable skiers started at Bogus Basin.
A member of the 2002 U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski team, Dane Spencer (born 1977) was the top racer in his age group when he made the U.S. Ski Team at age 16, after growing up with the Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation.
Sandy Shellworth (born 1944), a graduate of Boise High, competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics at Grenoble and finished 21st in the women's downhill at Chamrousse, showcasing the strong athletic tradition fostered at Bogus.
Sara Studebaker (born 1984) learned to ski at Bogus Basin and, as a member of the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic teams, placed 34th in the 15 km individual at Whistler Olympic Park, Canada, and sixth in the 4 x 6 kilometer relay at Sochi, Russia. She was also a member of the U.S. Biathlon Team, proving that Bogus has been a nurturing ground for athletes who achieve on the world stage.
Ride the bus during the weekend and on holidays or stay the night at one of the many nearby accommodations, which provide easy access to the slopes and a warm retreat after a day in the snow.
Susan Saad, Director, Community & Customer Relations, notes that during the summer, Bogus hosts over 100,000 guests who enjoy a downhill bike park, The Basin Gravity Park, Idaho’s only mountain coaster, The Glade Runner. Try mountain biking, a climbing wall, scenic chairlift rides, or attend free music events, free yoga, and guided nature hikes, making Bogus a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.