Bierstube deck demolished due to structural concerns

Skiers and snowboarders seeking a sunny après-ski venue at Whitefish Mountain Resort can no longer rely on the outside deck at the Bierstube. The deck at the popular bar has been demolished because of safety concerns.

Resort officials say they decided to tear down the deck in November after a routine inspection revealed structural issues with the foundation.

“It was in bad shape,” resort spokeswoman Riley Polumbus said. “We didn’t want it to collapse with people on it, so we made the decision to knock it down.”

This isn’t the first time the building’s structural integrity has been a cause of concern. In 2011, the resort finished a two phase effort to rebuild the foundation after it was discovered the building was beginning to lean.

Engineering analysis revealed the need to raise the building’s northeast corner and pour new concrete. The resort also shored up the south and west sides with new footings.

The Bierstube has been a part of Big Mountain’s culture since the 1950s. The business has been at its present location since 1967 after a fire destroyed the original Bierstube.

Resort officials have made no firm decisions on whether it will rebuild the deck or what will happen next at the site, but changes are possible.

Polumbus said resort officials have considered building a hotel at the site, but they also recognize the important role the Bierstube plays in the ski resort’s history.

“We’re always in planning mode for the future,” Polumbus said.