Mammoth Lakes, CA – California’s Mammoth Mountain ski area turns 60 this year, and there’s quite a bit planned for this winter, including the re-opening of June Mountain, new air service routes and an Olympic Training Ground.
June Mountain, Mammoth Mountain’s neighboring resort, will re-open this winter with full operations following a dormant season in 2012-13, welcoming skiers and snowboarders beginning in mid-December. June will offer an experience for all levels of abilities and is particularly well suited to families and entry-level skiers and snowboarders. A long-term strategic plan will include a host of improvements and enhancements for this season and beyond, and will be announced by the resort when finalized, although Mammoth Mountain CEO Rusty Gregory has indicated in community meetings that immediate plans call for a replacement for Chair 1 and dramatically improved snowmaking. As in the past, Mammoth Mountain MVP season pass holders for 2013-14 will also have free access to June Mountain.
U.S. Snowboarding’s Scotty Lago trains this past May at Mammoth Mountain in California. (photo: Mammoth Mountain)
For air travelers to the Mammoth area, continuing daily flights from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco are in the plans, making it easier than ever for visitors from across the country to get to Mammoth via connecting flights.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has named Mammoth Mountain as an Official Training Ground for U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding through 2019, allowing top skiers and snowboarders in the country to prepare for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. Additionally, the 2014 Olympic Snowboarding Team for halfpipe and the new Olympic slopestyle event will be named at Mammoth during the final stop of this winter’s Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, to be held Jan. 18-19, 2014.
Mammoth’s Unbound Playgrounds and Adventure Zones, which offer a comfortable introduction to terrain parks for beginners and children, will have some additional interactive elements this winter. Big Bird and the Cookie Monster will rule in The Playground section of the park, which will have a Sesame Street West theme this winter.
Off the slopes, theMammoth Mountain Inn is undergoing a $700,000 renovation expected to be completed by this winter. The Mammoth culinary scene also continues to evolve, with an array of new options including celebrated chef Mark Estee’s CAMPO restaurant in The Village at Mammoth. Estee’s original CAMPO, located in Reno, Nev., was recently named one of Esquire magazine’s best new restaurants in America.
Lakefront Restaurant, a charming lakeside resort that has been a Mammoth staple for years, is introducing a new chef, seasonal menu and organic produce. This year, Mammoth Mountain Executive Chef Marc Mora has aligned Lakefront with two local farms that grow organic produce to provide fresh herbs and vegetables to the restaurant in order to showcase their new seasonal dishes.
Another new opening this year comes in the form of Underground Lounge, a space featuring a Hollywood vibe with an alpine twist. Music is the focal point of the Lounge, which accommodates a live music venue along with a bar, lounge, and VIP area. A contemporary menu features signature cocktails and Provençal comfort food highlighted by “tappatizers,” Chef Frederic Pierrel’s unique blend of tapas and appetizers.
