Winter Fun
From the steeps of Slide Peak to long cruising intermediate trails to the region’s best beginner terrain to Southern California’s only chairlift serviced sledding area, Snow Valley has something for everyone during winter. In addition to our fantastic terrain, Snow Valley’s award winning Learning Centers offer lessons for all ability levels and ages.
Summer Fun
During the warmer months, Snow Valley offers lift serviced mountain biking, the Scenic View Chair, hiking, special events and more! The mountain abounds with plenty of fun and challenge in addition to some of the most scenic views around Southern California.
Dedication to Guest Service
Snow Valley is dedicated to complete Guest satisfaction. We’ve been in the recreation business for over 80 years and want your Snow Valley Experience to the best it can be. We've been working hard to create an exceptional Guest Experience by installing Southern California's first and only high speed 6 seat detachable lift, The Snow Valley Express. In fact in the past few seasons we've invested nearly $9 million into the mountain.
History
Learn about the History of Snow Valley – from when it was started in 1924 up to what has been done in recent years. Take a stroll down Snow Valley’s memory lane-- we hope it gives you some insight on how we began and where we are today.
1924
-Jack Northrop, world-renowned aviation designer, builds the first “sling lift” in San Bernardino Mountains.
-Prior to its construction, people were forced to hike up the hill in order to ski down.
-Skis weighed nearly 20 pounds and were roughly eight feet long.
-Originally named “Fish Camp” for the pond located nearby (located at the top of Chair 5); the hill quickly became a favorite among the few locals who knew how to ski.
1937
-Norwegian ski jumper, Sverre Engen, opens “Fish Camp” as a commercial ski area complete with food concession and ski rentals.
-Under a “Ski Permit” granted by the U.S. Forest Service, Engen constructed a small lodge and remodeled the sling lift for the increasing number of visitors.
1938
From the collection of Mark Landis
The lodge at Snow Valley, in 1952. The current chalet-style lodge was built in 1953. Snow Valley’s ski facilities began with a single rope tow in 1937, and today, the facilities include 12 Lifts: 1 six-passenger, high-speed chair; 5 double chairs, 5 triple chairs, 2 surface lifts/moving carpets.
-Arrowhead Springs Hotel (currently headquarters for Campus Crusade for Christ) took over the site with the intention of offering their guests skiing at the “Fish Camp” in the winter, as well as swimming and tennis in the summer.
1941
-Arrowhead Springs Hotel forced to file for bankruptcy.
-Another Norwegian ski jumper, John Elvrum (member of the 10th Mountain Division in the 2nd World War), purchased the lease to “Fish Camp” for $5000.
-“Fish Camp” renamed “Snow Valley Ski Resort”.
1948
-Snow Valley incorporates.
1949
-Snow Valley installs their first chair lift.
1951
-Base lodge construction completed.
1960
-First double chair lift built.
1971
-John Elvrum, principal owner/operator, sold his interest to the parent company, Snow Valley, Inc.
-Jack Rindall, John Elvrum’s long-time assistant was appointed General Manager
1974
-W.R. Sauey became an owner of Snow Valley.
1988
-Austrian-born Benno Nager assumed the role of General Manager.
1989
-Snow Valley’s base facilities burnt to the ground. The fire happened in only a matter of minutes.
1994
-Snow Valley spends 1.5 million dollars on a York Automated Snowmaking System. 32 of the 356 snowmaking hydrants are computer controlled and will make minor adjustments for minute changes in weather conditions.
-Over 25,000 feet of pipe and 4 miles of wire are laid throughout the mountain in support of snowmaking capabilities for “Slide Peak.”
1996
-For the 1996/1997 ski season, Snow Valley dramatically lowered the cost of a lift ticket. This came when the Industry standard was to continually raise ticket prices. One year later, another regional market leader followed Snow Valley’s lead and lowered their price.
-Snow Valley built the most innovative snowboard park in the United States. Enthusiasts from all over the Southland ventured to Snow Valley to see what all the hype was about. Schighridj, (Sky-Ridge) is the first park ever built that actually flowed from hit to hit. For the first time ever, riders were able to link their tricks and maneuvers in a flowing, non-stop continuous run.
1998
-Phil Jones, former President and General Manager of the Park City Ski Area in Utah, accepted the General Manager position with Snow Valley Mountain Resort.
-In the summer of 1998, Snow Valley made an exorbitant amount of changes and expansion to its base area facilities to provide for a more guest-friendly recreational area.
1999
-In the summer of 1999, Snow Valley hosted the Willow Fire base camp for more than 2,200 fire fighters. The Willow Fire was the largest wild fire in the history of San Bernardino County.
-Snow Valley successfully made its first summer debut in hosting beautiful on-site weddings.
2000
-Snow Valley installs the latest technology snowmaking fan guns, which replace compressed air type snowmaking guns.
-Water cooling towers were installed which reduces snowmaking water temps from 49 degrees to 37 degrees.
2001
-Snow Valley’s base area Chalet is remodeled to provide for more user-friendly food and beverage guest service.
-Rick Redin is appointed as Snow Valley’s Operations Manager. Rick had previously worked for 23 years at Mount -Snow Resort in Vermont. Throughout his employment at Mount Snow, Rick worked a variety of different positions including his most recent position there as the Maintenance Manager.
2002
-Snow Play proven to be a growing success, Snow Valley enhances its Snow Play area with snowmaking and more terrain.
2003
-CLAWA (Crestline Lake Arrowhead water agency) and water pipeline approved, Snow Valley continues to move forward.
-Two new Bombardier snow grooming machines have been purchased.
-Four new snow making fans added.
-New tractor with mower to enhance trail maintenance.
-Kevin Somes joins the Snow Valley family as Marketing Manager.
2004
-New conveyor lift purchased for the Children’s Learning Center.
-Rick Redin appointed General Manager.
-The terrain park is renamed, “The EDGE.”
-Snow Valley continues to move forward with regards to the CLAWA project, continuing the permit process and working closely with the United States Forest Service.
2005
-Upper reservoir rebuilt and SMI Polecats added
2010
-Most successful season in years.
-Fleet of SMI Puma totally automated snowmaking fan guns added to our snowmaking system.
2011
-A new drive system was installed on Lift 1.
-Snow Valley had invested over $200K over the last 4 years in order to upgrade its ski and snowboard rental gear.
-New drives added to lifts 3,6,12 and 13.
-New Bison Snowcat added to fleet.
2013
-Lift 13 rebuilt and converted to Leither-Poma lift.
-New Prinoth Bison Snowcat added to the grooming fleet.
-Kevin Somes, previously Vice President of Marketing, named Vice President and General Manager.
2014
-Numerous SMI Super Polecat automated snowmaking fan guns added.
-Kari Brandt named Mountain Patrol Manager.
2015
-Over $1 million invested into the area.
-New fill line will allow for continuous snowmaking operations during optimal snowmaking conditions.
-Significant investment made to rental fleet.
-New observation deck added to the Children’s Learning Center.
-Dave Miller named Human Resources and Risk Manager.
-Mike Tomlinson becomes Food and Beverage Manager.
-Matt Ward appointed Adult Snowsports School Manager.
2017
-New 6 Passenger High Speed Detachable Lift Installed, Replaced old Chair 1, over $6 million invested
-New Trail access to Upper Wine Rock, right side of top of chair 1
-Long Time Lounge Manager David Lawrence named the new Base Area Operations Manager
-Dennis Bentson named the Mountain Patrol Manager
-Relocated Upper Wine Rock Ski Patrol hut to top of Chair 1
-Buildings refurbished, Ski School Area, New ramp for Adaptive Learning Center
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