Eagle Point Resort will not open for the 2026 to 2027 winter season after the Cottonwood Fire damaged most of its lifts and destroyed key buildings at the southern Utah ski area. For travelers, this is a full season closure, not a delayed opening or a temporary pause.
The resort announced the decision on August 3 and said there is not enough time to complete safe inspections, repairs, and rope replacements before winter. Anyone who already bought a 2026 to 2027 season pass now has three choices: request a full refund, move the pass to the 2027 to 2028 season, or donate its value to the BeaverTUF recovery effort.
- What changed: Eagle Point Resort says it will remain closed for the entire 2026 to 2027 ski season.
- Why: The Cottonwood Fire damaged four of the resort’s five chairlifts and affected roughly 300 acres of ski terrain.
- What was lost and how to reach it: The operator says two guest buildings were destroyed and current access is limited to an unpaved route through Junction.
- Passholder decision: Choose a refund, a transfer to 2027 to 2028, or a donation to BeaverTUF.
- Refund timing: Eagle Point expects refunds to be completed by September 15, 2026.
This is a season cancellation, not a weather delay
Mountain travelers are used to opening dates moving when snow arrives late. This announcement is different. Eagle Point is removing the whole ski season from the calendar because the work involves lift systems, structures, and access, not simply snowmaking or trail preparation.
The resort’s official closure announcement says the fire affected about 300 acres of ski terrain and damaged four of five chairlifts. Before those lifts can carry guests again, the operator says they need inspections, repairs, and rope replacement. That is the kind of safety work that cannot be rushed to preserve a holiday opening date.
The fire also destroyed Canyonside Lodge and the Tushar Ridge Warming Station. An aerial image used with this article shows the exact Eagle Point property before the fire. It should not be read as a picture of the damage or of either destroyed building.
The closure reaches beyond the resort boundary
Eagle Point sits near Beaver, Utah, and normally gives skiers a quieter alternative to the large resorts along the Wasatch Front. A full winter without lift operations changes lodging, driving, and pass decisions for travelers who planned to use southern Utah as a ski base.
The operator says 145 homes and condominiums in the surrounding community were also lost, a toll also covered by The Salt Lake Tribune. That explains why the recovery is larger than rebuilding a guest facility or reopening a single trail. Owners, seasonal workers, and local services are dealing with a community level disruption at the same time the resort is assessing its own infrastructure.
Travelers should not assume that a condo listing, vacation rental, or older package description near Eagle Point still comes with normal ski access. Verify the property’s current condition, cancellation terms, road access, and whether any advertised lift benefit applies during a season when the resort will not operate.
Passholders have three different choices
The refund option is the simplest choice for anyone who needs the money back or plans to ski somewhere else this winter. Eagle Point says refunds are expected by September 15. A traveler with a card replacement, closed account, or changed billing address should watch for direct instructions from the resort and keep the original purchase confirmation.
Moving the pass to 2027 to 2028 keeps the purchase with Eagle Point, but it also asks the traveler to accept future uncertainty. The resort has announced its intention to rebuild, yet it has not published a complete reopening schedule, lift repair timeline, or final 2027 to 2028 operating calendar. A transfer makes the most sense for someone comfortable waiting for those milestones.
The BeaverTUF option turns the pass value into recovery support. That is a donation decision, not a travel credit. Passholders should read the resort’s election instructions carefully and keep the confirmation showing which option they selected.
| If this describes you | Best next move |
|---|---|
| You need a ski trip this winter | Request the refund, cancel affected lodging, and choose another mountain with confirmed pass access. |
| You want to return when Eagle Point reopens | Consider transferring to 2027 to 2028 after reviewing future operating updates and transfer terms. |
| You want to support local recovery | Consider BeaverTUF, then save the donation confirmation and any tax documentation provided. |
| You booked lodging near the resort | Contact the property now about road access, its condition, refund rules, and whether skiing was part of the package. |
| You hold a multi mountain pass | Rebuild the itinerary around another included resort after checking blackout dates and reservation requirements. |
Do not treat current road access as normal winter access
Eagle Point says access is currently limited to an unpaved route through Junction because the usual approach was affected. That note matters even outside ski season. A map may still offer the familiar route, while real conditions and official access instructions tell a different story.
There is no reason for a leisure traveler to make a damage sightseeing trip. Roads and services need space for residents, recovery crews, and authorized visitors. Anyone with legitimate business in the area should use current instructions from Eagle Point, Beaver County, and Utah transportation authorities rather than an older navigation route.
For a replacement winter trip, compare total driving time and not just straight line distance. Southern Utah alternatives may require a longer transfer, different tires or chains, or lodging in another town. If a multi mountain pass is involved, confirm that the alternate resort is included for the exact 2026 to 2027 season.
Booked a pass: Make the refund, transfer, or donation election and save the confirmation.
Booked lodging: Ask whether the property is operating, reachable, and willing to refund a stay originally built around Eagle Point skiing.
Built a road trip around Beaver: Replace the ski days before locking other nonrefundable pieces of the itinerary.
Considering 2027 to 2028: Wait for a documented lift repair plan, access update, and operating calendar before treating a reopening as certain.
The recovery clock is longer than one winter
The season closure creates a clear answer for this winter, but the next season remains a developing story. Resort recovery depends on lift inspections, equipment availability, construction, roads, utilities, and the wider community rebuilding around the mountain.
A transferred pass is therefore a vote of confidence, not a guarantee that every part of the resort will look or operate as it did before the fire. Future announcements should distinguish between limited reopening, partial lift service, and a full return. Those details will determine whether the mountain works for beginners, families, and travelers who need particular terrain.
The most useful next update will not be a general statement that recovery is progressing. Travelers need dates, which lifts have passed inspection, how guests will reach the property, what lodging and food service will be available, and what happens to transferred passes if another delay occurs.
- A final deadline and clear process for passholder elections.
- Confirmation that refunds have been processed by September 15.
- Lift inspection results and a repair sequence for the four damaged chairlifts.
- A safe public access plan replacing the temporary unpaved route.
- A 2027 to 2028 operating calendar with enough detail for lodging and flight bookings.
- Terms protecting transferred passholders if the reopening plan changes.
How to rebuild a southern Utah ski trip
Start with the piece that has the least flexibility. If lodging near Beaver is refundable, cancel or move it before committing to a substitute resort. If flights or a larger Utah road trip are fixed, identify mountains that fit the existing arrival airport and driving route.
Then compare the whole replacement, including lift access, parking, lessons, rentals, and winter driving. A cheaper room can become a worse value if it adds hours on icy roads. Families should also confirm that lesson ages, beginner terrain, and child care match what they expected at Eagle Point.
Deep Arrival’s ski trip packing list can help rebuild the gear side of a replacement itinerary once the new mountain, weather, and transportation plan are confirmed.
Most important, keep the closure in perspective. Travelers have alternatives for one winter. Residents and resort workers are rebuilding homes, workplaces, and access after a destructive fire. A practical change of plans leaves recovery routes open and gives the community time to do the work safely.
Will Eagle Point Resort open at all during the 2026 to 2027 ski season?
No. The resort says it will not operate for the 2026 to 2027 winter season.
Can passholders get their money back?
Yes. Eagle Point lists a full refund as one of three choices and expects refunds by September 15, 2026.
Can a pass be used in a later season?
The resort says passholders may transfer a 2026 to 2027 pass to 2027 to 2028. Travelers should keep the transfer confirmation and follow reopening updates.
Does the resort know when it will reopen?
It has identified 2027 to 2028 as the transfer season, but it has not published a complete construction schedule, lift repair timetable, or final opening calendar.
Is the road to Eagle Point open?
The resort says current access is limited to an unpaved route through Junction. Travelers should follow current local and operator instructions and avoid unnecessary trips into the recovery area.
