Sugar Bowl Resort on Donner Summit, near Truckee, CA, celebrates its location by boasting, “It’s Different Up Here”. And it’s true. There is something about the crispness of the air and the brilliant sunlight that complement the epic runs and fantastic tree and cliff skiing to be found there.
Dickson Realty is now offering discounted lift tickets to the resort to the general public. Lift ticket prices will be just $90, versus $95 at the slopes for adults. You can stop in at the Donner Lake office, at the gateway to the mountain itself at the base of Old Highway 40 at 15947 South Shore Drive. The office is open daily, 10-4pm. They will also be available through your favorite Dickson agent.
Sugar Bowl is celebrating its 75th year this year and their history is a rich one. The resort was founded by an Austrian ski fanatic, Hans Schroll, with initial investors including Walt Disney. Back in 1937, Schroll’s capital was still tied up in a then occupied Austria. Disney invested the now seemingly small sum of $2500 and in turn his name was stamped on the peak that would become home to the first chairlift in California, opening in 1939.
California's first chairlift drew large crowds that first season and attracted the attention of Hollywood glitterati right away. Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn, Norma Shearer, Claudette Colbert and many others enjoyed the resort's picturesque slopes and European feel. In 1946, Norma Shearer saw a photograph of the then desk clerk's daughter and decided the girl should be in movies. Thus was born the career of Janet Leigh.
World War II stopped the resort in its tracks but it was soon back in business and offering the first gondola in the state of California in 1953.
The end of the 20th century saw massive improvements in the resort with the addition of the Judah Lodge, slope-side parking, new lifts and more. $22 million and ten years in completion, the modern Sugar Bowl Resort was born.
In 2012, Sugar Bowl took over management of Royal Gorge, the country’s largest cross-country ski resort. And in 2013, they unveiled another improvement plan including a new ski-in, ski-out Sugar Bowl Academy campus, and a fitness, spa and ski training facility.
You’ll find more history and photos here. Enjoy – and see you on the slopes!
