California — Sugar Bowl should be one of the most well-known ski resorts in California, yet it isn’t. This is despite Sugar Bowl having a storied history, high-speed lifts, and varied terrain. Perhaps it’s because Sugar Bowl isn’t on the Epic or Ikon Pass, which keeps it off the radar for most. However, some significant changes are underway there that will point some eyes towards the ski resort in the years ahead.
Earlier this summer, Sugar Bowl announced its $100 million “Transformative Revitalization Project,” which will bring forth lodge renovations, a gondola replacement, and more. A breakdown of these projects and what’s been done so far this summer is below.
Village Lodge: A significant renovation of Sugar Bowl’s historic base lodge is currently underway. The deck is set to be replaced by a bigger deck with terrace seating and firepits. Below the deck will be a spacious locker room. These will vary between two and four-person lockers, and will have built-in boot dryers inside of them. The kitchen’s size inside the lodge is being doubled, which is allowing food and beverage to expand their menu with local ingredients.
So far this summer, the deck has been removed, and work has commenced on building the locker facility.
New Gondola: Back in 1953, Sugar Bowl opened up the Gondola, which connects Old Highway 40 to the ski resort. This made Sugar Bowl the first ski resort on the West Coast to have a gondola. The four-person gondola cabins will be replaced by a Doppelmayr detachable eight-person gondola lift. The terminal for the gondola and parking structure will be refurbished with slope stabilization and structural reinforcements. This project will take place during the 2026 offseason, with it expected to be operating for the 2026-27 season.
Main Lodge: Next spring, work will begin on refurbishing the Main Lodge, which used to be known as the Judah Lodge. The entry plaza is set to be redesigned, which will make the entry and exit process for vehicles easier. The spaces for ticket sales, the rental shop, and the ski school will be refurbished to provide a better guest experience. Over at the Food Court, the finishes and furnishings will be updated, resulting in better customer flow. A Ski Beach is also planned, which will allow beginners to have a comfortable learning experience.
Other Projects: The Athlete Zone, a terrain park which debuted last winter, will see further improvements and updates for the 2025-26 season. A snowmaking project on Vanderbilt will result in quicker openings and better conditions on the key racing trail. Other referenced projects include additions to the hiking and biking trail networks, beautification of resort properties, and environmental stewardship work.
Click here to learn more about Sugar Bowl’s revitalization.
Image/Video Credits: Sugar Bowl Resort
