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The evolution of Mammoth Mountain and the town of Mammoth Lakes is one diverse in background and history. From early settlers looking for riches in the form of gold, to spanning thousands of years back where volcanic eruptions formed the area out of molten rock.Occupying only a speck on this far reaching timeline but still a monumental moment, Mammoth Mountain celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2003/04 season. One person's dream has evolved into a half-century of fun, exhilaration and lasting memories for millions of visitors.
Mammoth Past & Future
Mammoth, originally established as a gold mining town, gained prominence for another kind of treasure-its incredible skiing terrain and the staggering beauty of the Eastern Sierra.Mammoth Mountain was formed 200,000 years ago as the result of a series of volcanic eruptions, the most recent of which occurred 50,000 years ago. The Mono Lake Paiute inhabited the Mammoth area for roughly 1,000 to 1,500 years before mining pioneers moved to the region in search of a new mother lode. In 1857, German miners lost in the mountains found a ledge of gold at the headwaters of the Owens Valley River. Named Lost Cement Mine, the find drew thousands of prospectors who followed rumors of the largest bonanza outside of Virginia City. The area, then known as Mammoth City, experienced a population and economic boom.
The town boasted hotels, saloons and two newspapers in 1879. However, a combination of poor yields, embezzlement, fire and severe winters hampered the prospectors' efforts. By 1888, only a few remained. Mammoth Mining Co., owned by General George Dodge of San Francisco, had been the largest of the corporations and the name stuck.By the early twentieth century, Mammoth experienced a renaissance as a haven for fishing, camping, hiking, mountaineering and horseback riding. But it was die hard skiers with their portable rope tows that contributed most significantly to Mammoth's growth. Powered by Ford Model A truck motors, these rope tows allowed skiers to experience the rush of alpine skiing. Skiers could pull off Highway 395 and be propelled up McGee Mountain, Deadman Summit and Conway Summit.
In 1945, Dave McCoy, one of these dedicated rope tow operators and a hydrographer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power who had been skiing the region since the 1930s, obtained the rights from the Forest Service to build a permanent rope tow on Mammoth Mountain. Armed with his knowledge of snowpack and snowfall patterns, Dave pledged to develop the mountain. He knew Mammoth had the best snow and terrain, and hundreds of hearty skiers agreed. Ten years later, he installed the mountain's first chairlift. On Thanksgiving Day in 1955, Chair 1 opened with 250 eager skiers crowding in lift lines two to three hours long. The future of Mammoth was secure.
Mammoth evolved from these humble beginnings into a world class mountain resort. Through vision, determination and hard work, Dave developed California's favorite mountain resort, a place generations of skiers and riders have loved for its snow and its spirit. Long lift lines are a thing of the past. 27 lifts, including the "six pack" Eagle Express, along with high speed quads and the Panorama Gondola whisk visitors to their destinations. Summer brings mountain biking on Mammoth's extensive trail network.
In 1996, Mammoth partnered with Intrawest, the leader in mountain resort development, to further expand both the mountain's capabilities and the town's appeal. The Village at Mammoth, with condominium properties, restaurants, retail space, skier services at the Mountain Center and the Village Gondola, opened in 2003. Having celebrated over 50 years of Ski Area operation, sportsmanship and camaraderie in the 2003/04 season, Mammoth has retained its title as California's favorite mountain resort and continues to improve upon its reputation for generations to come.
Mammoth Timeline
| 2007-08 |
Cloud Nine Express, Mammoth's second six-pack chairlift, replaces Chair 9.
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| 2007 |
Top of the Sierra Interpretive Center opens on the summit of Mammoth Mountain.
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| 2005-06 |
Most snow for the season, since 92/93 with 668 inches (56 feet).
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| 2005 |
Main Lodge dining facilities are fully renovated and renamed Broadway Marketplace.
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| 2004 |
Chair 17 is upgraded from a three-seater to a high-speed quad re-named Schoolyard Express, becoming the focal point of a new on-mountain learning area. Massive snowfall (607 inches) leads the the Ski Area to open two weeks before schedule in October and close July 4th, recording the second snowiest winter on record.
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| 2003 |
The Village, Mountain Center and Village Gondola officially open, providing more options and convenience for guests.
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| 2001 |
Mid Chalet is renovated and reopens as McCoy Station complete with new food court, restaurant and retail shop.
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| 2000 |
Eagle Express, first detachable six-pack at Mammoth, opens replacing Chair 15 and 24. Little Eagle Lodge opens as a temporary base facility.
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| 1999 |
8-passenger gondola complete on lower gondola, old 6-passenger gondola is retired.
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| 1998 |
Chair 4 replaced by Rollercoaster Express detachable quad, Gold Rush Express opens, Upper Panorama Gondola replaced with 8 passenger gondola, Mill Café opens.
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| 1997 |
Chair 18 removed, Chair 5 becomes a triple, Chair 2 replaced with detachable quad and renamed Stump Alley Express, Chair 6 and T-bar 2 replaced by detachable quad called Thunderbound Express, Chair 3 replaced by Face Lift Express detachable quad.
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| 1996 |
Eastern Sierra College Center, a branch of Cerro Coso Community College, opens with seed money from McCoy and the Mammoth Lakes Foundation.
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| 1996 |
Mammoth Mountain and Intrawest, the leader in mountain resort development, team up to realize Mammoth's long-term goal of becoming a world-class four-season mountain resort.
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| 1995 |
Hut 2 is renamed Canyon Lodge.
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| 1994-95 |
Longest season at Mammoth Mountain. Open from October 8, 1994 to August 13, 1995.
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| 1994 |
Chair 16 is upgraded to detachable quad, Chair 27 opens.
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| 1994 |
Mammoth Mountain installs elevated people mover to transport guests from Chair 2 to the Main Lodge sundeck.
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| 1992-93 |
Most snow since 68/69 with 617 inches (51 1/2 feet).
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| 1991 |
Snowmaking expands to cover Chair 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 26 and the lower gondola.
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| 1989 |
Mammoth Mountain allows snowboarding on all slopes.
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| 1988 |
Chair 26 replaced T-bar, new detachable quad named Broadway Express replaces Chair 1.
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| 1986 |
Mammoth purchases nearby June Mountain.
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| 1985 |
Chair 24 and 25 open, Chair 2 is upgraded to quad.
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| 1984 |
Chair 7 replaced with a triple chair.
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| 1982 |
Chairs 22 and 23 open.
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| 1980 |
Chairs 20 and 21 open.
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| 1979 |
Chairs 17, 18 and 19 open.
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| 1976-77 |
Least snow for the season with 90 inches (7 1/2 feet).
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| 1975 |
Chairs 15 and 16 open.
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| 1973 |
Hut 2 (Canyon Lodge) opens.
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| 1972 |
Chairs 11, 12, 13 and 14 open.
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| 1970 |
Chair 10 opens.
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| 1969 |
"The Great Snow of '69" hit the Sierra dumping up to 25 feet of snow in just a few weeks burying the ski area. Rapid accumulation of snow and limited snow removal resources led to total burial of the main lodge with snow tunnels leading down from the surface to chair lifts and lodge entrances.
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| 1969 |
Chairs 7, 8, and 9 open.
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| 1966 |
First gondola to the top of the mountain opens.
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| 1965 |
Chair 6 and lower gondola opens.
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| 1965 |
Chair 5 opens.
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| 1962 |
Chair 4 opens.
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| 1959 |
Chair 3 opens.
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| 1956 |
Chair 2 (now called Stump Alley Express) opens.
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| 1955 |
Thanksgiving Day - Mammoth Mountain's first chairlift opens with eager skiers crowding in lift lines two to three hours long.
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| 1953 |
The first Main Lodge opens, nicknamed "The Pit".
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| 1953 |
Forest Service awards Dave McCoy permit to operate permanently on Mammoth Mountain on the condition that he develop the mountain.
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| 1948 |
McCoy gets a temporary special use permit for a permanent location, on today's Broadway, which supersedes his roving permits. The permit is year-to-year and may be revoked each year.
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| 1941 |
McCoy obtains roving permit for his own portable rope tow powered by a Ford Model "A" engine and started skiing Mammoth Mountain when weather allowed.
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| 1938 |
McCoy secures permit to operate permanent rope tow on McGee Mountain. He sells his Harley-Davidson for $85 to raise funds for equipment.
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| 1936 |
McCoy starts working for DWP as a snow surveyor and later hydrographer.
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| 1924 |
Original Tamarack Lodge building built by Pasadena heiress Mary Foy for entertaining her socialite and movie star friends.
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| 1915 |
Dave McCoy born in Los Angeles.
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| 1881 |
Much of Mammoth City destroyed by fire.
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| 1878-79 |
Mammoth City flourishes as a mining town.
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| 1878 |
Mammoth Mining Company was founded in Mammoth City.
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| 1857 |
German miners lost in the mountains find gold at the headwaters of the Owens Valley River.
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