Mt. Bachelor, Bill Healy's Dream: History & Development of Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort

Forty years ago Bill Healy and a few avid skiers in the Bend area envisioned a ski resort on nearby Mt. Bachelor. Five of them pledged about $50,000 and offered $25 shares of stock to residents of Central Oregon, determined to keep the proposed resort in local control. They estimated they could start out with two rope tows, a Poma lift and a small lodge if they could collect $100,000. Even skiers were reluctant to buy stock in Mt. Bachelor fearing it was too far removed from population centers to be financially viable.

But the young promoters were not discouraged and they filed articles of incorporation. Then in 1958, after obtaining the proper permits from the forest service, Bill Healy and his supporters built a small clubhouse, purchased a ski lift and began operating on weekends only. From then on their performance has been one of yearly upgrading. Today Mt. Bachelor operates 14 chair lifts including 7 Super Express Quad chairs. From its modest beginning, Mt. Bachelor has now become a world class ski resort, the scene of Olympic ski training and national competitions for skiers and snowboarders. It all started with what most people called an impossible dream.