AFTER THE FIRE: EAGLE POINT LOOKS AHEAD
When the Cottonwood Fire and subsequent flood struck Eagle Point Resort this summer, owner Shane Gadbaw watched nearly two decades of work change in a matter of weeks. In this Season 8 premiere of Last Chair, Gadbaw joins host Tom Kelly to share the story of the destruction it left across the mountain community and the Eagle Point ski community's passion to return.
A Midwest native, Gadbaw’s path to Eagle Point began far from Utah, spending teenage ski days at Michigan’s Mount Brighton, a career on Wall Street and, eventually, a leap of faith that brought his family to Beaver, Utah. Over the years, they helped build Eagle Point into a small, personal ski area where guests know the owner and employees wear many hats.
“It started Monday at 3:30, and it burned Eagle Point Tuesday by 3:30 or earlier than that. this fire was. It was as hot as a fire can get and it just tore through the resort area.” - Shane Gadbaw
Then came the fire. Four of five chairlifts were damaged. Canyon Side Lodge was destroyed. Some 145 cabins and condos were lost. Just as cleanup began, monsoon rains sent floodwaters racing through the burn scar and tore apart the state highway from Beaver.
But amidst the devastation, Gadbaw sees opportunity in the future. He calls it a “great reset”—a chance to rebuild a more resilient, reimagined Eagle Point. With support pouring in from across the ski industry and the Beaver community, the goal is clear: welcome skiers and riders back in 2027.
Mark your calendars now for November, 2027 – the return of Utah’s Eagle Point Resort.
How You Can Help
Many have asked how they can support the recovery effort. The Cottonwood Fire disrupted the lives and mountains we love, but the people of Beaver County, Utah are tough in the face of adversity. With partnership and persistence, together we will renew the Tushar Mountains and build a more resilient future — one acre at a time.
BeaverTUF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to help address recovery, restoration, and watershed rehabilitation efforts not covered by insurance or government assistance programs. In addition, BeaverTUF will play an important role in helping provide matching funds required to pursue state and federal grants that can bring additional recovery resources into Beaver County. To learn more or contribute, visit BeaverTUF.org.
