Anthony Lakes fundraising tops $600,000 for rental shop and youth center

ALORA provided a mid-February fundraising update saying the Mountain of Difference campaign has raised $600,000 toward a $1.5 million project to rebuild Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort’s rental and repair shop and construct a new youth center, Elkhorn Media Group reported. Elkhorn’s Feb. 17 account said the total was raised in roughly two months and broke the money down as $400,000 from foundation and government grants and $200,000 from donations. The resort and campaign were quoted in Elkhorn as saying, "We’re almost halfway there, and it’s all thanks to folks who have generously shown their love for Anthony Lakes."

La Grande Observer reported the same $1.5 million project cost while naming Travel Oregon, the Leo Adler Foundation and the Wilson Family Foundation among backers and saying ALORA has raised $400,000 in grants plus more than $150,000 in local donations. The differing donation subtotals - $200,000 in donations per Elkhorn versus "more than $150,000 in local donations" per La Grande Observer - reflect reporting from separate updates; ALORA said it is continuing grant work and outreach after announcing the campaign near the end of November 2025.

The rebuild will replace what ALORA has called the resort’s venerable but aging rental shop. La Grande Observer reported that the current building began life as a warming hut and was moved to its present location in 1967, citing the book Anthony, A Tale of Two Skis by Stan Ingram. Chelsea Judy, ALORA marketing director and controller, summed up the uncertainty about the structure’s age: "No one knows how old that building really is." La Grande Observer described the new design as occupying the same footprint with a second story that includes a common kitchen and several living spaces, and Elkhorn referenced a rental shop sketch design originally posted by Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.

Community impact drove the urgency. The Baker City Herald noted the existing shop outfits almost 400 children every Friday for Ski for the Health of It, an eight-week program for grades 4-12, writing that "Friday brings nearly 400 young skiers to Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort for Ski for the Health of It, an eight-week program for grades 4-12." Judy told La Grande Observer, "People have been really generous," and said, "Our goal is to keep fundraising through the year."

Local fundraising events are already underway. La Grande Observer listed a Feb. 10 benefit at The Depot in La Grande that began at 5:30 p.m., featuring Inquiring Minds, live music and a silent auction, with The Depot donating a portion of sales that night to the rental shop project. ALORA is planning a Baker City event later this spring and is pursuing additional grant applications to close the gap between the $600,000 raised and the $1.5 million target. With $600,000 raised toward a $1.5 million goal, roughly $900,000 remains to be secured if that total holds, and ALORA’s project page on AnthonyLakesORA.org lists donation options and project details for community members seeking to support the build ahead of the target of having the new facilities online by winter 2026-27.