The first two years Ted and Marge tried it, enough people showed up that they didn't lose money. But year three? It was a bust, a complete bust. A mom-and-pop operation cannot afford busts. So the Seeholzers decided to turn off the floodlights that illuminated runs off the beginner Little Beaver chairlift and to cut back to conventional daytime hours.
Partway through that winter without night skiing, the Seeholzers were approached by ClaVel Haslam, a prominent figure in LDS ward and stake activities in North Logan. Haslam wondered whether the Seeholzers would be willing to turn the lights back on and rent the resort for a night so his fellow churchgoers could have a group outing appealing to grownups and children.
The Seeholzers agreed.
Little did they know what an attraction this by-reservation approach to night skiing would become.
Now Beaver Mountain is booked for the season - one night is left open to all comers - and there is a waiting list of 28 groups looking to get onto the schedule.
"Some nights we get so many that we have 250 kids up on the mountain," said Seeholzer, while working behind the ticket counter of his quaint resort 26 miles up Logan Canyon (www.skithebeav.com). "That [Little Beaver] chair over there is filled to loaded, I tell you."
Church groups account for much of the visitorship. "How many wards are there in the Cache Valley?" Seeholzer asked rhetorically. "And how many groups from [Utah State] University? And companies in the area?"
Renting groups have to guarantee the resort a minimum of $600. That's enough to cover 60 lift tickets at $10 a shot. Beaver Mountain also provides equipment rentals for $10, lessons for $5. If a group wants food, the Seeholzers will open the Culinary Concepts Cafe for a fee.
Most groups, comprising church people, bring their own.
"They bring a lot of chili and doughnuts," said Adam Nielson, an 18-year-old Sky View High School student, who sets up tables for night events in the lodge.
The A-frame lodge provides an ideal setting for a group activity, said Gennie Olson, who last week brought more than 200 people up from the Hyde Park 6th Ward.
"Beaver Mountain is awesome to do this at such a nice price. It's just very affordable for young families," said Olson, whose personal entourage included her husband, Jerry, and three generations of descendents. "There's room in the lodge so if you don't ski or board you can visit. We had a corner where the little kids were on blankets watching cartoons. It was just a good winter party."
The night before, Todd and Nancilee Summers, of Deweyville, braved a blizzard to bring their four boys up.
"This is how all of our kids learned to ski," she said while tending to her 10-week-old daughter. "It's just fun to come with your friends and all of your kids' friends come at the same time."
mikeg@sltrib.com
