Schweitzer, the largest ski resort in Washington and Idaho, is expanding its village experience with the opening of the new Humbird hotel today. The boutique 31-room property provides ski-in/ski-out access to Schweitzer’s 2,900 acres of skiable terrain.
Set above the quaint town of Sandpoint, and only 80 miles from Spokane, Wash., Humbird offers a sleek updated take on the classic ski lodge with views of the mountains and nearby Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in the state.
“Humbird represents a real evolution in the lodging scene in North Idaho,” said Tom Chasse, president and chief executive officer of Schweitzer. “We took great care to build a beautiful hotel that will connect guests directly to the outdoor experiences they come here to enjoy. Equally important, we worked to ensure that Humbird will meet the needs of modern travelers by providing spaces where they can relax, recharge, refuel and even stay plugged in as needed.”
The three-story hotel, located in the heart of Schweitzer’s intimate village, offers 31 guestrooms with a mix of room types including single king rooms, double queen rooms and one oversized suite. Each room features an inviting window seat set against a panoramic window offering spectacular views of nearby Lake Pend Oreille.
Designed with travelers’ comfort in mind, rooms include items to aid mountain adventure such as boot dryers, locally roasted Evans Brothers Coffee and mugs hand painted by local artists. Locally produced bath amenities will offer a custom cedarwood and orange scent, formulated with aloe vera, jojoba oil, sunflower oil and avocado oil to help combat the dry winter air. Rooms also come with binoculars to take further advantage of the sweeping views.
The hotel’s design, courtesy of noted Portland, Oregon-based Skylab, is a contemporary take on the classic ski lodge that draws on the heritage of the area and connection to the natural surroundings. Built using mass timber construction, the sleek exposed wood structure conjures images of early mountain lodges with a minimal and modern feel. Inside, the hotel is decorated with historic photos sourced through a partnership with the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum as well as new artwork inspired by the surrounding lake, forest and snow.
Humbird offers ample space to relax including the Glass Room which serves as the hotel’s unique living room. Surrounded by glass on three sides, the Glass Room offers treetop views stretching across multiple states and Lake Pend Oreille. Flexible seating, perfect for relaxing or playing a game, melts into the design of the Glass Room to let the view and modern architecture shine. The Glass Room includes a foosball table and a large retractable projection screen, perfect to watch a movie or host a meeting.
Humbird hotel at Schweitzerl: Exterior rendering (top) and room interior. // Photos courtesy Schweitzer.
A third-floor rooftop deck sits atop the space with open-air views and a 12-person hot tub. Guests can also enjoy the well-equipped onsite fitness center and a heated community outdoor pool.
Located just off the lobby, Humbird’s onsite restaurant, Crow’s Bench, serves upscale Alpine-inspired cuisine. Design elements speak to the region’s lineage of outdoor recreation including globe lights hung above the bar that spell out “pray for snow” in Morse code.
Schweitzer’s Patrol Dogs, who assist Schweitzer’s Ski Patrol with daily duties, will host regular meet and greet sessions at the hotel. The Patrol Dogs will add some furry fun to Humbird’s après scene on select dates by relaxing and playing with guests on the hotel’s outdoor patio.
Phase two of Humbird, which includes a new Wellness Center and an innovative ski and gear storage system, is expected to open this summer. The new Wellness Center at Schweitzer will offer well-appointed therapy rooms for massages and spa treatments as well a tranquil relaxation room.
The facility will also offer ski storage lockers for Humbird guests on a separate floor. The tech centric ski lockers will be controlled by an app, allowing guests unfettered access to their equipment without a wait.
The hotel is named for the Humbird Lumber Company, which was the lifeblood of Sandpoint’s economy and community in the early 1900’s. More than just a place to work, Humbird Lumber Company built an all-encompassing community by attracting new residents to the area, building schools, functioning as the local store and even serving as the title sponsor of the local baseball team. The work and community attracted men, women and families who were hungry for adventure and enjoyed the outdoors, a spirit that is encapsulated in the hotel and is still pervasive among current visitors to the area.
Humbird is part of the resort’s multi-year master plan launched in 2017. This winter, Schweitzer also debuted several on-mountain improvements including new on-mountain dining and RFID technology to make getting on the slopes easier than ever. As part of the plan, Schweitzer will also debut a number of new residential real estate options, including 5-Needles at White Pine, a 26-unit expansion to an existing base-area condominium complex that is currently sold out and expected to complete construction within the next year.
Winter rates at Humbird start at $450. For more information, including reservations, please visit www.humbirdhotel.com.
Schweitzer open year-round for four-season recreation opportunities: Located in the rugged Selkirk Mountains of the northern Idaho panhandle, the new Humbird hotel (bottom right, artistic rendering), provides ski-in/ski-out access. // All photos courtesy Schweitzer.
