Silver Mountain Corp., the Redmond, Ore.-based operator of Silver Mountain Ski & Summer Resort, has bought the 1,500 acres of ski terrain on which its resort near Kellogg, Idaho, is located.


Separately, the company plans to start work this spring on a five-story condominium-and-retail building at the base of its gondola in Kellogg in the first phase of whats to be called Gondola Village.


That development will be located on 3.4 acres of parking Silver Mountain owns along Bunker Avenue in Kellogg, just north and east of the gondolas base. Skiers and other visitors to Silver Mountain ride the gondola 3.1 miles up the mountain to the ski resort, which has multiple ski runs accessible from six ski lifts, Silver Mountain spokesman Stephen Lane says.


Silver Mountain General Manager Brian Rhodes says the company bought the ski hills terrain in late December for just over $1 million from Mission Mountain Interests Ltd., from which it had leased the property for a number of years.


Now, Lane says, Well be in control of our own destiny. It gives a lot more freedom to make decisions we need to within that area.


The ski resort might consider adding ski runs or selectively logging trees to create a tree-skiing area. It also might expand its snow-making capabilities to allow it to guarantee early openings. Silver Mountain currently has limited snow-making capabilities.


Meanwhile, the planned condominium building at Gondola Village will include about 64 living units on the upper four floors of the building and 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor. The building will be within walking distance of the gondola landing and will be called Morning Star Lodge.


Plans call for condos that are to range in size from 350-square-foot studios to 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom units. Silver Mountain plans to begin pre-selling the condominium units on March 27, and expects the building to be completed late this year, Lane says. Leif Nelson, Silver Mountains director of real estate marketing, says the condominium units will range in price from $99,000 to $400,000.


For the retail space, Silver Mountain hasnt disclosed specific users yet, but the space is expected to accommodate a restaurant, ski services, and other retail uses.


Rhodes says the cost for developing Morning Star Lodge hasnt been determined yet, but in general, Silver Mountain plans to invest a total of $14 million to $15 million in Gondola Village.


Lane says the addition of housing and other amenities is necessary to increase the resorts customer base.


Its hard to grow without increased lodging, he says.


Keaton King Inc., of Redmond, Ore., is the general contractor for the condominium and retail buildings at Gondola Village, and Architects West PA, of Coeur dAlene, designed them.


Future phases of Gondola Village are expected to include an entertainment plaza.