McCall, ID (Thursday, May 29, 2003) - Scottsdale, Arizona-based Intrawest Golf announced Tuesday that it will partner with Tamarack Resort near McCall, Idaho, to oversee the development of Tamarack’s brand-new ski mountain and Robert Trent Jones II 18-hole golf course, and manage the amenities at the first ski, golf and lake resort to be built in the United States in 22 years.

The unique agreement marks the first time that Intrawest Corporation, a significant resort-management group in North America, has forged an agreement with a third party - in this case, Tamarack Resort - to develop and manage the full amenity package at the resort.

Tamarack’s ski operations will open in December 2003, and the golf course will be shaped in the summer of 2003, with championship play set to begin in May 2005. Tamarack also offers scenic paddling and power boating on Lake Cascade, real estate investment opportunities in the form of ski-in and ski-out properties, mountain biking and hiking trails, a 22K Nordic skiing system, and more.

“The addition of Tamarack Resort to our portfolio of world-class facilities is extremely exciting for our team,” said Intrawest Golf President Jeff Stipec. “With this new partnership, we are able to integrate our golf, ski, and resort experience with their expertise in community development, thereby creating what we hope will be one of the best recreation experiences in the country.”

“Our new relationship with Intrawest will allow us to blend our original vision with the most seasoned and proven resort-management firms in North America and Europe,” added Jean-Pierre Boespflug, President and CEO of Tamarack. “Intrawest shares Tamarack’s philosophy of creating the highest-quality resort possible that will create phenomenal, lasting memories for our guests every day, from sunrise to sunset.”

Boespflug said he is “extremely excited” to be working in partnership with Intrawest Golf, a division of Intrawest Corp., because of its reputation in the resort industry, earned at the company's resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb in B.C., Mammoth in California, and Canadian Mountain Holidays heli-ski operations.

Tamarack Resort was fully permitted in the spring of 2003, with a 49-year lease on about 2,100 acres of Idaho State Endowment Land. The resort also has nearly 1500 acres of private property for home sites, chalets, condominiums and the golf course. At full buildout in 15 years, Tamarack is expected to build 2,000 housing units. Located 100 miles north of Boise, Tamarack can be reached with direct flights from 16 major U.S. cities via the Boise Airport and coach service to the resort. Private aircraft can fly into McCall, located 17 miles from Tamarack, although there are no immediate plans to offer commercial direct-flight programs into McCall.

Tamarack spokesperson Steve Stuebner's comments regarding Intrawest's partnership lead to speculation about the future level of the developer's involvement in the Idaho resort. "There have not been any discussions to date about Intrawest getting involved
in financing developments at Tamarack -- at least not yet," said Steubner. "To my knowledge, Intrawest is not an investor -- at least not yet. Tamarack is paying and will pay Intrawest for its services on a monthly basis."

Along with nearby Brundage Mountain Resort, the Tamarack development has the potential to raise the consciousness of skiers and riders about recreational opportunities in central Idaho. "Northern Idaho has Schweitzer and Silver Mountain," explained Brundage spokesperson Mary Naylor. "There's Sun Valley down south. Hopefully, this will make people aware of the skiing opportunities here in central Idaho."

The success of the Tamarack development will depend upon its ability to attract a significant destination market to a region seldom visited by skiers at present. With a sparse local population, Naylor opined that while at first Brundage skier visits may drop as the local skier base is split between the two resorts, the Tamarack development may ultimately prove successful for all.