Ski Shops Dallas

How Many Jobs Disappear If Mt. Hood Inc. Leaves Oregon?

Over the last few decades, Oregon has lost several company headquarters  -- think Louisiana Pacific or Oregon Steel Mills.

Each time it happens, the state loses hundreds of jobs with good salaries.

But some economic engines can't just up and leave.

Like Mt. Hood.

In our continuing look at the mountain’s economic impact, that we’re calling “Mt. Hood Inc.,” Kristian Foden-Vencil heads to the mountain to find out how many jobs it creates.

It was a collection of small old cabins between Sandy and Brightwood where this guilty reporter once dumped visiting parents.

But the little yellow huts and big green shamrock aren't there anymore. The whole place has been taken over by one of the mountain's fastest growing companies: Windells.

Windells is a camp for kids who're into snowboarding, BMX, skiing and skate boarding.

Vice President Rachel Lemons gives the grand tour.

Rachel Lemons: "We are looking at one of the largest skate parks here in Oregon. We've been constructing this for about a year and a half. And what's beautiful about the skate park is that it's really built around the trees and the existing buildings that we have here."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: "Well and also, it's like you come and stay in a hotel, you've got a little room. But you walk out and you literally walk onto the stake park."

Rachel Lemons: "Right. It's amazing in the summertime. We'd invite you to come back in the summertime and we've got 200-plus people just skating everywhere."

Tim Windells is the brains behind this booming outfit. He was raised in Boulder and became a professional snowboarder in the late 80's.

But instead of setting up shop in Colorado, he chose Mt. Hood -- because he can ski year round and the glaciers face south -- so he can soak up the rays and shred at the same time.

Tim Windells: "When we first started off there was a lot of friction. There was a ton of friction. We bought our first motel, which was the Oregon Ark Motel and everybody was telling us how that place was going to go out of business and we're going to mess it up and we're going to bring in the drunks and drug addicts. Well, what we found out was there were a ton of drunks and drug addicts already."

But that friction was 20 years ago and locals will now tell you that the motels have been fixed up and business has increased.

During the peak season for example, about 140 people work here. They’re looking after another 150 snowboarders who buy food, outerwear and entertainment on the mountain.

Q&A: Will it be cheaper to purchase ski apparel in Dallas or Salt ...

Dallas. most of the store in the ski and snowboard areas are more expensive adn dont really have much sale stuff. you could always go online to the stores and try on some jackets and get a size adn then go online and try to find something you really like and then get that! thats what i do.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

– ski apparel

There are always sales going on in ski towns. You’ll almost always get hosed AT the ski resort if you need to buy something, but independent ski shops off resort property almost always have sales.

There are certain brands and styles that never go on sale simply because of their popularity or because the details of the product rarely change from year to year.

However if you find a sweet deal in your hometown before your trip by all means snag the goods!

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