Yellowstone Times

It has been announced that Red Lodge Mountain will not reopen its ski area this season. The popular ski run initially announced a March 16 week-long closure as a precaution amidst the coronavirus outbreak but has decided to extend that due to the virus numbers and nationwide social distance enforcements.

"We care immensely for our employees, customers and local communities, which made this the toughest decision I have been involved in during my time at Red Lodge Mountain," General Manager Jeff Schmidt said in an email, as reported by the Independent Record.

Despite being closed indefinitely, Schmidt said there could be a reopening if "health recommendations dramatically improve and we receive one of our famed late spring/early summer snowstorms, conditions permitting."

The run is usually open through April, when it has seen some of its best weather in the past.

"This decision has weighed heavily on our hearts, however, we feel strongly about doing our part in controlling the spread of COVID-19," read an email issued statement apology to its customers.

Additionally, the mountain eased up on its cancellation and refund policy for date-specific lift tickets in wake of the global pandemic.

"We will review policies on other products and reach out to those customers in the coming weeks," said the email. "Please note, we anticipate a high call volume over the next few days and appreciate your patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries. In the meantime, customers are encouraged to visit our website for updated information and answers to frequently asked questions."

Other ski areas in Montana are closed for the season, including Bridger Bowl near Bozeman, Big Sky Resort, Showdown Ski Area andWhitefish Mountain Resort in the Flathead Valley.

As of Sunday evening, the nationwide COVID-19 numbers have grown to over 140,000 confirmed cases and 2,405 deaths, according to a CDC report. The United States now faces the most-confirmed cases in the world.