Los Angeles’s Closest Ski Resort Has Been Around For Nearly A Century

At just 90 minutes from Los Angeles, Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood markets itself as “Southern California’s closest ski resort.” And while generations of Angelenos have grown up skiing at this popular alpine destination, not everyone is familiar with its history dating back nearly 100 years. Mountain High comprises an area that was once divided into three separate ski resorts, meaning today’s skiable area covers a respectable 50-60 runs across nearly 300 acres at 8,200 feet of elevation. Here’s a closer look... A century of skiing at Mountain High ------------------------------------ The origins of today’s Mountain High Resort date back a century ago to the first resorts in the Big Pines Region of Angeles National Forest. Big Pines Park opened on Labor Day of 1924, and was even under consideration for the 1932 Winter Olympics, according to Mountain High. Although that Olympic bid ultimately went to Lake Placid, the Big Pines area continued to grow in subsequent years, especially as a destination for the world’s best ski jumpers. By the 1940s, the new Blue Ridge Ski Area was welcoming skiers on the slopes of the former Big Pines Park, although operations nearly completely halted with the arrival of World War II. After the war, the mountain’s first chair lift was introduced in 1947 — it was only the fifth chair lift in the United States. Over the subsequent decades, ski resort entrepreneurs began developing more parts of the Big Pines area for ski tourists. By the early 1980s, Orange County businessman Terry Tognazzini bought the Holiday Hill and Mountain High areas, unifying them as one of the premier ski resorts in Southern California. In 1997, a new company bought the ski area and transformed it into today’s Mountain High Ski Resort, upgrading everything from the grooming equipment to the snow making facilities. Popularity grew steadily from there, and the resort is now one of the most popular ski destinations in California. Visiting Mountain High Ski Resort --------------------------------- Mountain High makes for a compelling alpine escape from L.A., which you can reach by car in just an hour and a half. The resort is divided into three linked base areas : The West, which has terrain parks and night skiing; the East, which has longer cruiser runs and steep descents; and the North, which has dedicated tubing and snow-play areas. Many visitors stay in the charming Wrightwood village , a cozy mountain town where you can find homey cabins, motels, and cafes to relax in. 🌐 Learn more : Mountain High Ski Resort Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/mountain-high-ski-resort-wrightwood-california/