About Alpine Meadows Ski Area

In 1961 a number of San Francisco families pooled their resources to build a new ski area. Their involvement was not that of investors in a business venture but rather an endeavor to further their favorite past-time -- skiing. Alpine Meadows came about as more of a small area at Tahoe for family and friends of the investors to share the fun and excitement of skiing. It was an area built by skiers, for skiers. The area started out with 50 employees and 500 skiers to it's current stature of 750 seasonal employees and capacity to handle in excess of 6000 skiers per day.

The atmosphere of family skiing fun and skiing with friends that started in 1961 has carried over the years and grown to a relationship of genuine friendliness between the management and staff at Alpine and the skiing guests. This friendliness has become the trademark and reputation of Alpine Meadows.

Alpine Meadows was the brainchild of John Riley who, in 1961, developed Ward Peak as an alternative to the 'fast lane' pace of Squaw Valley. In 1971 Nick Badami entered the picture as Alpine's Chairman of the Board. In 1981 the company reorganize, Alpine Meadows of Tahoe Inc. becoming the parent holding company of subsidiaries Alpine Meadows Ski Corporation who's president is Howard Carnell and Park City Corporation, acquired in 1975. In the 1994 the Corporation was purchased by Powder, a privately held corporation based in Salt Lake City. In 1995 they purchased Boreal and Soda Springs ski areas.

Alpine has now grown to an area with 2000 acres of ski terrain (35% advanced, 40% intermediate and 25% novice)on 1800' vertical drop. There are 11 chairs and 2 surface lift. Snowmaking covers 200 acres from Alpine Bowl and the top of Scott to the base area. Natural snow fall averages +29 feet per season which 'normally' lasts from Thanksgiving to Memorial Day

In its first season, 1961-62, Alpine started with 3 lifts (Summit #1, Big Poma which is now Kangaroo and Little Poma now Tiegel Poma).

The rest of the lifts went in as follows:

Roundhouse #2 (originally called Avante) was installed in the 1962-63 season. Little Poma was moved to the Meadow area the same year.

Weasel Pass #3 went in as far as midramp in '64-65.

Sherwood #4 (originally called Down-Ward) in '65-66 was built along with some shuttle pomas to get people back and forth through Scott Meadow.

Alpine Bowl #5 was installed in '66-67 and Weasel was extended to Sherwood and the old Scott T-bar (now gone) was installed from the base of Scott Meadow, below Mid Ramp to nearly the top of Scott Peak.

Subway and Lower 40 were installed in '68 and the Plateau T-bar (now gone) went in above 8-A on the West Creek side to above Loop Road.

Meadow #6 chair replaced the Little Poma in 1971

Yellow #7 went in for the '72-73 season and Plateau was removed and Scott #8 went in the season of '73.-74

Kangaroo #9 replaced the Big Poma in 1975

Subway #10 chair replaces the Subway Poma in 1979

Lakeview, #11 the most recent chair to be installed, was built for the '84-85 season and replace the Scott T-bar. That same season Roundhouse was converted to a triple.

National Ski Patrol Mission Statement
History of the National Ski Patrol
About Alpine Meadows National Ski Patrol
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
Alpine Meadows Snow Statistics