The new owners of the Resort at the Mountain have a big challenge on their hands after an early-morning fire December 30 destroyed a two-story building and displaced 40 guests at the height of the winter season on Mount Hood. The cause of the three-alarm fire is under investigation. Quick response from local firefighters contained the blaze to just one lodging building among many at the 157-room, 209-acre resort. No serious injuries have been reported, but 16-unit Building 4 is destroyed.

The Resort at the Mountain was first developed by Samuel Welch in the 19th Century and has grown into a major resort with a 27-hole golf course built in 1928 and 180 local employees. University of Oregon alumnus Xiaoyan Yan and his downtown Portland-based company Y Hospitality RATM LLC bought the business from Coastal Hotels in July and formed a partnership with Best Western Hotels to run the lodging operation. Other outside partners were brought in to run the golf and food operations.

Wednesday’s fire broke out in weather cold enough to freeze up fire hydrants. According to a news story by Stuart Tomlinson of the Oregonian, firefighters arrived at the resort just two minutes after the fire alarm sounded Wednesday morning, with the building “already fully engulfed in flames.”

Some guests jumped from second-story balconies in back of the building into soft snowbanks below. Others carefully lowered children, leaving behind most – or all – of their belongings.

According to Tomlinson’s article, the resort was able to accommodate displaced guests in other rooms, with assistance from the American Red Cross for clothing and emergency aid. Firefighters from the Hoodland Fire District got help from Sandy, Estacada and Clackamas 1 fire districts, along with the Gladstone and Gresham fire departments. 25 pieces of equipment were used to contain the blaze.

Anyone with upcoming reservations for Building 4 at the Resort at the Mountain should call the resort at 503-622-3101.

Last modified: January 1, 2016