Mt. Hood Meadows, an Oregon mountain resort renowned for its summer snow, has ceased operations for the remainder of the season due to the encroaching Grasshopper Fire. The resort announced its closure on Tuesday after being placed under a Level 3 'go now' evacuation order.
As of Friday afternoon, the Grasshopper Fire had burned across approximately 87,000 acres and was roughly 20 percent contained, according to InciWeb. The wildfire, first reported on July 23, has been attributed to lightning. High winds in recent days have contributed to the fire's increased energy, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal Blue Incident Management Team.
"We understand that this decision has a real impact on our guests, and especially our Team, and we want everyone to know we did not take this decision lightly," Mt. Hood Meadows stated. "This is not how we wanted our summer to go, but if there is one thing we are really good at, it is making the best out of a tough situation."
Greg Pack, president and general manager of Mt. Hood Meadows, described the situation as a "double–whammy," noting that the resort had also been forced to close early during the ski season due to low snowpack. Despite the financial impact of these closures, Pack indicated the resort is not in financial peril due to prudent management and low debt.
The resort, located about 70 miles east of Portland, is providing support to firefighters by opening its parking lot for over 300 personnel as a 'spike camp.' Pack urged the public to adhere to evacuation orders and avoid closed areas.
Wildfire Impact and Evacuations
Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill described the wildfire as one of the most challenging he has encountered from an evacuation standpoint in the last 10 to 15 years. As of Wednesday, six homes and 15 buildings had been lost to the blaze, according to the Wasco County Sheriff's Office. Damage assessments are secondary to active firefighting efforts, the sheriff's office emphasized.
Evacuation notices remain in effect for portions of Hood River, Wasco, and Clackamas counties. Marilyn Ronfeld, a county resident, called the fire "devastating," impacting areas she has frequented for decades.
More than 1,800 personnel, including 45 firefighting crews, 135 fire engines, and 11 helicopters, are involved in the response. International crews from Australia and New Zealand have also joined the effort.
State of Wildfire Preparedness
Governor Tina Kotek signed an executive order on July 29 to provide the state fire marshal with enhanced resources to combat the wildfire. Oregon is experiencing its most severe year on record for land burned by large wildfires, with over 2.3 million acres consumed, surpassing the previous record set in 2024. Jean Nelson-Dean, public information officer for the Northwest Coordination Center, noted that 96 percent of Oregon and the Northwest are currently experiencing drought conditions, with some areas in severe drought, anticipating a difficult fire season.
Mt. Hood Meadows expressed anticipation for welcoming visitors back in the winter, stating on Facebook, "we are stoked to welcome everyone back up here once the snow falls."