Mammoth Lakes, CA (Wednesday, July 24, 2002) - The summer of 2002 marks one of the largest and most aggressive construction seasons in the history of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. $24 million in resort improvements focused on building a new gondola, designing four new retail shops, a restaurant and skier services building in the Village, on-hill enhancements to the Unbound Terrain Parks, upgrades to the Mammoth Mountain Inn and new cabins at Tamarack Lodge and Resort.

Village Gondola

In the 1960s, Mammoth Mountain's founder Dave McCoy first saw a need to de-emphasize the use of private automobiles in the resort town of Mammoth Lakes and began planning a route for a future gondola to link the town to the mountain. In the process, McCoy obtained private land easements for construction of the lift towers necessary to support such a lift. Forty years later, his vision is becoming a reality with the Village Gondola.

The 15-passenger gondola will transport guests from Intrawest's new Village at Mammoth, just north of the center of the town of Mammoth Lakes, to Canyon Lodge, eliminating the need for an automobile once in Mammoth. With the ability to handle 3,000 guests per hour, a six-minute ride on the new gondola will quickly and efficiently connect the mountain to après ski activities and lodging in the Village. The
Village Gondola is scheduled to open Christmas 2002, and ultimately the resort plans to request permits to construct a "ski-back" trail as an option to downloading on the gondi.

Mammoth hopes to fill the new Village with destination visitors who will more easily access the resort via direct flights to an expanded local airport. The final supplementary environmental impact review for an airport expansion to allow such flights is currently pending before the Federal Aviation Administration.

Village Services

Closely following the completion of the gondola will be the grand opening of the Village at Mammoth, a pedestrian oriented village built by Intrawest and featuring hotel/condo style units with dining, shopping and amusement opportunities. Mammoth Mountain is opening several new businesses in the Village to be leased from Intrawest, including 380 (three-eighty) Center, a new skier services building with equipment demos and rentals, lift ticket sales and activities desk, coffee shop, retail offerings and family services. The 17,000 square foot building will also be available to host corporate meetings, weddings and receptions. 380 Center will be available for the 2003-04 winter season. Rusty's, a new restaurant and bar, will provide quick service with quality food and a full bar with entertainment and California style sushi. The debut of Rusty's will coincide with the Village at Mammoth opening in early 2003. The Village's first lodging units are likewise slated to open in February or March of 2003.

Village Retail

Mammoth Mountain will also have a retail presence in the Village with the introduction of four new shops. McCoy Sports claims to be the traditional sport shop with a distinctly Californian twist. Box promises high-end active and leisurewear with highly personalized service, and Mammoth Memories will offer genuine Mammoth Mountain branded items and logo gifts, clothing, art, accessories and Mammoth Moments Photo service. The Unbound Snowboard Shop, the retail arm of the Unbound Terrain Parks on the mountain, will provide an outlet for
the latest freestyle gear, "Chill Zone", and pro athlete seminars. All four Mammoth Mountain retail shops are scheduled to open with
Phase I of the Village in early 2003.

Unbound Terrain Parks

Mammoth's Unbound Terrain Park will introduce a new pipe, The Super-Duper, that will be built in the Main Park boasting walls 22 feet high and measuring in at over 600 feet long. The new pipe is sure to attract the attention of young skiers and snowboarders, pro and amateur alike, from around the world. The Unbound is also expanding this year to cover more than 60 acres of Mammoth's terrain with features added to Jill's Run and Forest Trail. Snowskate enthusiasts will have their own place to session with the addition of a snowskate park near Canyon Lodge.


Mammoth Mountain is scheduled to open for the 2002-03 winter season November 7, 2002.