Bogus Basin, in the Boise Ridge north of Boise, grew from a nearby winter mountain into a year-round recreation area within the Boise National Forest. Its name likely comes from gold-rush swindlers who made fake gold dust above Boise City. Alf Engen selected the ski site in 1939, and it opened in 1942 with a rope tow before expanding with new lifts, night skiing, Nordic trails, and summer activities. A crucial turning point came in 1953, when J. R. Simplot bought the struggling operation’s lifts and leased them back, helping prevent its collapse. It later gained broader influence through a low-cost season pass introduced in 1998.