Schweitzer Mountain is the largest ski resort in Washington and Idaho and for anyone visiting the resort the options for lodging are numerous. The town of Sandpoint, located 12 miles down the mountain, has many options and the resort also has plenty of on-mountain lodging, but now there is a new boutique hotel located in the heart of Schweitzer’s village that should be given serious consideration.

The Humbird is Schweitzer’s newest destination hotel and represents the next evolution in mountain architecture. Designed by Portland, Oregon-based group Skylab Architecture, it draws on the heritage of Schweitzer Basin yet uses contemporary design and building techniques to create a truly unique mountain lodging experience. Familiar forms are reimagined through a composition of precision-fabricated natural materials for a 21st-century solution. Located on Schweitzer Mountain, it is 1.5 hours northeast of Spokane and set within the Rockies of Northern Idaho at the nexus of two distinct ranges, the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, and the location offers ready access to year-round recreation opportunities.

• Related: Schweitzer, ID Report: Windows of Sunshine, Lake Views, & 1 Long, Untracked Pacific Powder Run 

The hotel is working with Schweitzer to develop a master plan for future development, including the hotel and support facilities. Humbird begins the transformation that will redefine the mountain experience. Leveraging the properties of mass timber construction such as beauty, sustainability, and structural efficiency, the complex will bring together tradition and innovative materials in a contemporary, future-forward expression.

The 31-unit, 66,580-square-foot hotel will be ski-in, ski-out, and will provide on-slope accommodations as well as hospitality and support services to reframe Schweitzer as a year-round destination. Anchoring the Schweitzer village, the bar-shaped hotel will take advantage of the steep site by nestling into a notch cut into the slope, creating space for a covered parking garage.

The hotel’s exterior will be shaped by board-formed concrete, exposed wood structure, metal panels, and large expanses of glass. Primary gathering spaces will feature exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT), including ceiling planes, glulam beams, and columns to evoke a familiar lodge-like aesthetic.

The lobby and welcome area are situated atop the below-ground parking area. Once inside, the interiors will take inspiration from classic ski equipment and fashion, including the bright ski suits of the late 20th century. Guest rooms will be arranged over three floors offering views of nearby Lake Pend Oreille.

Bracketing the hotel are two amenity areas including the hotel’s family/living area called the Glass Room which will be a place for guests to relax and play games. On the opposite end of the building, the Crow’s Bench will be the hotel’s signature 50-seat restaurant, where guests will be able to eat, relax, as well as take advantage of the adjacent 15-seat bar and lounge areas, which cozies up to a grand fireplace. Other amenities include an indoor retreat or co-working space, and a small fitness facility. A third-floor outdoor terrace will feature an oversized hot tub affording views of the surrounding mountain landscape and Lake Pend Oreille below.

The next time you are planning to visit Schweitzer for the 2,900 acres of amazing terrain spread out over two huge bowls and renowned tree skiing, make your lodging just as incredible. Unique, unspoiled, and uncrowded, Schweitzer feels like home to everyone who makes the journey, especially if you stay at the Humbird.

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