Hoodoo Ski Area Owner Chuck Shepard has a vision of himself resting by the fireplace of the mountain’s new lodge.

”But it’s not going to happen for a while,” said Shepard, who awoke at 4 a.m. Friday to help plow the ski area’s parking lot. At 11 a.m. he apologized for being tired, and then continued to bounce between the construction of the new lodge and organizing the mountain’s opening day.

About 200 people from both sides of the Cascades braved their way up a snowy Santiam Pass to take the first powdery runs of the year on Hoodoo’s slopes Friday. The ski area staff expected an additional 800 on Saturday.

However, Shepard had some news for season pass holder 18-year-old Josh Lambert, and other ”Hoodoo Regulars,” who claim that days ”don’t get much better than this.”

They might just yet.

The ski resort plans to open a portion of its new 60,000 square-foot lodge as soon as Christmas and have the whole building completed in time for Hoodoo’s Winter Carnival in February.

”Everything is just bigger and better,” said Shepard on a tour of the new building. With the moving ski lifts visible through large windows, about 50 construction workers continued hanging sheetrock, installing insulation and working on the heating system.

The retail and rental sections of the $5 million lodge are scheduled to open in December, Shepard said.

The 50,000 square feet of new guest space will follow shortly after. The lodge will have a bar, designed by Shepard, seating for up to 1,000 people, and a rentable conference room.

Although it is fairly large, Shepard said he is doing his best to make the lodge feel comfortable and homey, including adding his own personal design touches.

”We’ve kind of tried to make it seem like a lodge that someone like Bill Gates would have as a ski home,” he said. In addition, Shepard has paid special attention to the details required of ski lodge: lower rises on the stairs, cushy rubber floors in the bathrooms and a roof that can hold up to 20 feet of snow in an earthquake.

The resort is also working on another $5 million of improvements including a new rope tow, kids carousel and snow skate terrain park to open this year, and two new lifts and snow tubing area to open next winter.

”It’s been a little difficult trying to get everything done this fast,” Shepard said. He added that many of the subcontractors were working overtime and weekends to finish the project. ”We’re trying to build a building that would usually take two years and get it done in eight months,” he said.

For now, Hoodoo’s South Lodge remains open as the main gathering area for hungry skiers, the 100-plus staff and people buying lift tickets.

Four heated, canvas tents hug the outside of the building, providing a space for more people to eat lunch and temporarily housing the rental and retail shops.

General Manager Tasha McFarland said the staff and guests have been a good mood, despite the transitional set-up.

”It’s like we’re between moving from house to house and we’re living out of suitcases,” said McFarland, who is Shepard’s daughter.

Her own office was stacked with boxes of computers, uniforms and bottled drinks.

”We’re so excited to be in the new place,” she said. And she’s not alone. Several ”Hoodoo Regulars,” stopped by the ticket office to express their excitement about the new lodge.

”This is going to be the neatest ski area around,” said one man as he passed McFarland on the way to the lunchroom.