BEND, OR -- An effort to bring Mt. Bachelor under local ownership is gaining momentum. "We captured lightning in a bottle," says Dan Cochrane, Co-Chair of the newly created Mt. Bachelor Community Inc, "It's on every level: it's on a community level, it's on an anti-corporate level, it's a nostalgic level that goes back to the old ski hill." He tells KBND News, "This is an old ski town. It's kind of strayed from that. But the overarching feedback I'm getting from very well-connected members of this community, they're very excited about the idea of the old ski town coming back."

Mt. Bachelor's current owner, POWDR Corp, announced last month it plans to sell the Bend ski resort. Cochrane admits the idea to buy it started as a bit of a joke, but it quickly took off and the group realized it might be possible. The group presented their proposal to the Bend City Council Wednesday night, asking for formal support. "We would like to submit a letter of intent to Chase and we'd like to have a letter from them," says Cochrane.

The group is also asking for support from the Governor and the state's Congressional delegation, "This is absolutely about the Central Oregon community. This isn't just about Bend. This is about the state. This is about the Pacific Northwest. This is about the underdog and the snowsliders and everybody that wants to get behind this." Cochrane adds, "This is a chance to kind of bring everybody together under this one very passionate, nostalgic, incredible opportunity. And, we consider it a legacy moment for our state." 

The group says there should be broad support to keep the resort's revenue from going to an out of state buyer. Cochrane says, "We have the chance to keep that in our local community. But also, to further the support for the jobs at the mountain, as the second largest employer in Central Oregon."

Mt. Bachelor Community Inc launched a GoFundMe page Wednesday, which raised over $6,000 in under 12 hours. A= party at Drake Park next month is the official kickoff for the cause, where the community can meet those involved and learn more. That event is October 12, from 3 to 5 p.m.