Before Mount Shasta Ski Park existed, there was the Mount Shasta Ski Bowl. The Ski Bowl, which operated from 1959-1978, is remembered for its picturesque backdrop and terrain.
In Skier72’s latest episode of The Lost Resorts, he covers the history and topography of the Mount Shasta Ski Bowl.
There are multiple reasons why the Ski Bowl ultimately closed. The first reason was the endless amount of lawsuits that the ski area faced. Secondly, the Ski Bowl frequently operated at a loss, resulting in growing debt. Thirdly, varying weather patterns made being open challenging at times. The fourth reason a planned expansion was rejected by the U.S. Forest Service in its final years of operation, further derailing its financial viability and potential. Ultimately, the final nail in the coffin was a 1978 avalanche that destroyed five of the Green Butte chairlift’s towers.
It genuinely bums me out that this place couldn’t make it. If it could have remained open, it would have probably been one of the most iconic ski areas in California.
For more information, check out Skier72’s video below.
Image/Video Credits: Skier72
