SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT / Sandpoint, ID
Harbor Properties and their Schweitzer Mountain Resort in north Idaho commissioned GPG to invent, design and produce the nation’s first entertainment-focused ski lift experience around their new high-speed ‘six-pack’ 6 person-per-chair lift.
The “ski-through” project had to satisfy local residents as well as seasoned skiers from across the U.S. Design and production had to be accomplished within an eight month timeframe. Non-theatrical craftspeople had to be trained to bring the designs to life since it was not practical to relocate talent from the west coast.
From the beginning, the goal of the project was to inspire the imagination of skiers young and old – to provide a lift queue experience like none other in the ski industry. After opening in the winter of 2000, the Stella barn became “the” place to discover while on Schweitzer’s slopes. Born from Geoff’s fictitious story of crafty Phineas J. Schweitzer and his innovative ‘cable carriage’ (named for his industrious wife Estella), it was exciting to find the old pioneer barn in the real wilderness. And the comfortable ride to the top aboard the mountain’s ‘Fast Stella’ became the quickest in the region.
GPG environmental design and production of the Stella barn continues to generate financial returns today in the form of word-of-mouth recognition across the country.