Area history

Mammoth's lush meadows and sheltering forest were first inhabited by native Paiute and Shoshone Indians. Included among the first white men to visit the area were famous explorers such as Captain John C. Fremont "The Pathfinder", Richard Owens, Kit Carson, and Joseph Walker who passed through during their early campaigns of discovery leaving us with many of the names we know today such as the Owens Valley and nearby Carson Pass.

Mammoth was first settled by white men seeking their fortunes in gold. News of rich finds and stories like that of the Lost Cement Mine drew miners from the gold and silver fields in Nevada and nearby Bodie and Aurora to the Lakes Basin just above the current Town of Mammoth Lakes. Organization of the Lakes Mining District on Mineral Hill near Lake Mary took place in 1877. A year later the district was renamed the Mammoth Mining Co. by the new owner General George Dodge of Civil War and Union Pacific fame. As was typical of boom or bust mining towns the Mammoth Mining Co. was closed in 1880 having proved more bust than boom.

Early in the 20th century the majestic mountain peaks around Mammoth attracted famous mountaineers such as Clarence King, Norman Clyde, Jules Eichorn, Walter Starr Jr., and the great naturalist John Muir. These mountaineers' love and dedication to their calling still inspires modern day climbers living in and around Mammoth today. In the early 1930's sportsmen keen on catching trophy sized trout discovered the plentiful waters nearby and fishing camps and lodges soon took the place of deserted mining camps.

In 1938 Dave McCoy built the first ski rope tow on the north eastern slopes of McGee Mountain just south of Mammoth Lakes. In 1941 he obtained a roving permit from the Forest Service for this portable rope tow and set it up wherever he found the best conditions. The northern slopes of Mammoth Mountain always held the best snow, and when the roads and weather permitted, he would set up the portable rope tow there. That year on Thanksgiving Day over 250 skiers skied down Mammoth's famed slopes.

After building his first chair lift in 1955 McCoy went on to build one of the largest ski resorts in the country. Today, Mammoth Mountain has 30 lifts including 1 Express Six Pack, 8 Express Quads, 1 Quad, 8 Triples, 6 Doubles, 2 Gondolas (a third under constructions),and 4 Surface lifts.

In 1996 a partnership was formed between the Intrawest Corporation and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Three new village areas, The Village at Mammoth, Sierra Star, and Juniper Springs, are being constructed. A new gondola is being built that will carry passengers directly to the ski slopes from the Village at Mammoth near the heart of town. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has simultaneously upgraded the Main Lodge, Canyon Lodge, and is currently in the planning stage for a new ski lodge at the base of the Eagle Express Chair Lift (formerly Chair 15) at Juniper Springs. A new gondola replaced the existing one at the Main Lodge, and most of the area's ski lifts have been replaced with new high speed lifts. Over the next several years an additional $800 million is expected to be spent in development in the resort, including new lifts, restaurants and lodge facilities on the mountain. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is in the process of upgrading the entrance to town, and creating more pedestrian friendly corridors for the visitor as well as the local.

Today the Town of Mammoth Lakes is home to 7500 year-round residents, swelling to nearly 35,000 on a busy weekend. Popular attractions include skiing, snowmobiles, dog sledding, and soaking in natural hot springs during winter months, and the summer season attracts leagues of golfers, backpackers, hikers, fly-fishing enthusiasts, and other nature lovers.

Surrounded by public lands such as USFS and BLM lands, Mammoth is limited in its ability to expand beyond the original town site of approximately 2500 acres. Walking a tight rope between maintaining the original charm of a small mountain community and developing into a modern world class year-round resort has resulted in a delicate balance between those opposed to any development, and those intent on over development. Mammoth is fortunate to have one of the most beautiful mountain skylines in the world and today still enjoys most of it's mature pine and fir trees within the town limits. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is privileged to have many quality public facilities including a very successful school system, a new college, a modern hospital, an airport, and plans for a performing arts center.