Citing concerns with possible drinking and driving, and questioning the appropriateness of alcohol sales in a family-friendly environment, Park County commissioners denied a request for a liquor license from Sleeping Giant Ski Area managers.The North Fork ski area's executive director, Ham Bryan, said the commission's decision would hurt the slope's business.

“I think you're making a big mistake, I'm going to say,” said Bryan after the commission did not grant the license. “I think you don't represent the public.”

The commission received one letter opposing the license, and Commissioners Jill Shockley Siggins and Dave Burke said they had received calls and in-person comments asking them not to approve the permit.

“This has been sold to the community as a family ski area,” said Siggins. She said that, in her opinion and in those of the folks that spoke to her, “There's a conflict between young children and having your glass of beer and wine. ... I don't think alcohol and a family ski hill blend well together.”

Bryan said Sleeping Giant was planning to locate the dispensing room in the lodge's loft in order to separate the alcohol from the youth. He said the slope was “not trying to create a party atmosphere,” and said alcohol sales were slated to stop at 5 p.m. He added that ski area plans include offering a bus service between the mountain and Cody, with $4 round-trip tickets.

He added that he thought those who objected to the license were in the minority. He said the people opposed to the license were likely to speak up, while those in favor likely would not.

“The chances of someone coming up to you and saying, ‘Oh, I think they should have a license',” are slim, Bryan said.

No members of the general public attended Tuesday's hearing on the license, but Deputy County Clerk Wardi Reber told commissioners that, in her opinion, it would be a mistake for the ski area not to have a liquor license.

“I don't remember ever a (ski) place not offering adults beer or wine,” Reber said.

After the commission opted not to grant the license, Park County Clerk Kelly Jensen told the commission that as a citizen, she believed their decision was “unfortunate.”

Burke suggested that Sleeping Giant's business could be boosted by the lack of alcohol sales — by families who appreciate the absence of liquor. Bryan disagreed, saying that he “absolutely” believed the commissioner's denial would damage business.

Earlier, Andy Quick, the ski area's general manager, said that one of the most popular questions has been, “Is there going to be beer up there?”

But Siggins said alcohol and skiing were “not a good mix.”

“You are running a family operation,” said Burke. “Predominantly, it's not a place for people to go drink.”

He characterized the North Fork highway as potentially treacherous and said serving alcohol at the remote ski lodge was “problematic.”

Commissioner Bucky Hall — the lone supporter of the license — questioned what then should be done with the area's other liquor licensed lodges, such as the nearby Pahaska Teepee Lodge.

“Does this mean we shouldn't renew Pahaska's liquor license?” Hall asked.

“Anybody up the Wapiti Valley (should be denied), is that what you're saying?” asked Bryan.

In a conversation after the discussion, Commissioner Tim French said that he wanted to see greater separation between the alcohol sales and youth.

“I want to look at their operation for a winter before I sign off on that (liquor license),” French said. He noted that in Red Lodge, liquor is dispensed in a building separate from the main lodge.

With only Hall supporting the license, the application did not come to a vote.

Commission Chairman Bill Brewer was absent Tuesday morning.

Jensen said Sleeping Giant had received a liquor license in the past — as she had stumbled across a license renewal from 1983 — but further details were not immediately available.