Donner Ski Ranch

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Donner Ski Ranch
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Donner Ski Ranch
Location in California
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Donner Ski Ranch
Donner Ski Ranch (the United States)
Location Donner Summit
Tahoe National Forest
Nearest major city Norden, California
Coordinates 39°19′5.93″N120°19′48.07″W / 39.3183139°N 120.3300194°W / 39.3183139; -120.3300194
Vertical750 ft (230 m)
Top elevation7,781 ft (2,372 m)
Base elevation7,031 ft (2,143 m)
Skiable area435 acres (176 ha)
Trails 52 total
Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg 25% beginner
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg 50% intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg 25% advanced
Lift system 8: 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 moving carpets
Snowfall 412 in (1,050 cm)
Snowmaking Yes
Night skiing None
Website www.donnerskiranch.com

Donner Ski Ranch is a budget-oriented, family owned ski area located on Donner Summit in the Tahoe National Forest of Nevada County, California. [1] [2] It is owned by Janet and Marshall Tuttle, who purchased it after it went into bankruptcy. [3] The area it is on has been used for skiing since 1937. [4] It has ski lifts on both sides of Donner Summit, and is located close to Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. 25% of its terrain is beginner, 50% intermediate, and 25% advanced, but of the 52 runs 16 are of beginning difficulty, 20 are intermediate, and 16 are advanced.

The rustic lodge, built-in 1947, is mostly made of wood, and has open pipes. The adjacent structure was built in 1951 by John Sloan Woodard, who owned and operated the resort from 1950-1956. Norm Sayler worked for Woodard at the Donner Ski Ranch starting in 1953, helping to build the ski area’s first chairlift in 1955. Sayler took over the management of the resort in 1958, and ran it for the next 46 years, while slowly acquiring most of the ownership. [5] The rustic lodge was renovated after its acquisition by its current owners. At the time of the acquisition, all of the ski lifts were painted as well. [6]

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References

  1. Keith Romig (2010). "The Latest DSP News". Donner Ski Patrol. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  2. "Donner Ski Ranch". Ski Tahoe. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  3. Maggie O'Neill (March 15, 2008). "Resort Report: Donner Ski Ranch". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  4. McLaughlin, Mark (2012) Skiing at Lake Tahoe Arcadia Publishing ISBN   9780738589060 pg 46-48
  5. Sierra Sun, History and Legacy of Donner Ranch Dec. 9th, 2016
  6. Hugo Martin (September 16, 2007). "Old school skiing Donner Ski Ranch in Truckee offers a retro slope experience". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 January 2015.