Donner Summit, CA – A coalition of preservation groups have purchased California’s Royal Gorge Ski Resort, thereby removing from development 3,000 acres of land atop Donner Summit that constitute North America’s largest cross-country ski area.

In the deal announced this week, the conservation groups paid a total of $11.25 million for the property from Bay Area developers who defaulted on payments on a $16.7 million loan. The developers had planned to construct 950 condominiums and single-family homes at Royal Gorge, which they acquired from the ski resort’s co-founder, John Slouber, for an estimated $35 million in 2005. The plan drew vehement opposition from environmental groups, including Sierra Watch.

Following the loan default, after a judge placed the property in receivership environmental groups The Truckee Donner Land Trust, The Trust for Public Land and the Northern Sierra Partnership stepped forward to purchase Royal Gorge and remove the property from development.

“This is great news for all of us who love Donner Summit and the northern Sierra Nevada. The Royal Gorge property has
been a top priority for us for decades, and now we finally have the opportunity to protect it for generations to come,” said Perry Norris, Executive Director of the Truckee Donner Land Trust. “The response from the community is inspiring.”

““This is a wonderful opportunity to protect one of the prime spots in the Sierra,” added Sam Hodder, California Director of The Trust for Public Land. “It is great that we can preserve this property and its stunning scenery, rather than losing it to development.”

The groups have until a December 20, 2012 closing date to raise the money to fund the purchase. They plan to keep the ski area open to the public, with management operated by nearby Sugar Bowl ski resort.