Sandpoint, ID

The Outback Inn is found on the backside of the Schweitzer Mountain Resort by chair 5, otherwise known as Stella. As one of the few structures left at Schweitzer that has not been recently remodeled, The Outback gives patrons a step back in time, with the feeling of a true ski lodge. The Outback provides skiers a convenient location to stop for a quick bite to eat or a ski in, ski out restroom break. If you are stopping for food you can leave your skis or snow board outside on the racks provided.

If you are stopping for food, price ranges are from $2 for snacks to $4 to $7 for a meal of either hotdogs, chicken or hamburgers, potatoes or a bowl of soup to help warm you up on your day of skiing or snow boarding. Beverages are also available of soda, hot spiced wine, canned beer, teas and hot cocoa. Cash and debit/credit cards are accepted. I spent about $11 for my meal of a hotdog, a can of beer and a small bag of chips.

The Outback has both indoor and outdoor seating. Inside seating was not hard to find, even at noon. Outdoor seating was also easy to find as well, however I suggest indoor seating as the ambiance of The Outback made it a fun experience. Old skis adorn the walls along with decorative mini lights giving the Outback Inn a true ski lodge feel.

Directions: For the easiest way to get to the Outback Inn from the village, take the Quad/ Great Escape chair lift to the top of the mountain and depending on your skiing ability you can take numerous black diamonds off of The Great Divide run or you can ski down the Great Divide, continuing on to Down the Hatch, Vagabond and Cedar Park, all blue square ability runs. The Outback Inn is located at the bottom of Cedar Park. Last chair lift rides from the backside end at about 3:30pm.