Summit County Citizens Voice

Corporate bottom line trumps community concerns as Mammoth Mountain makes short-notice decision to close June Mountain

June Mountain, a small gem of a ski area in the eastern Sierra of California, is facing closure. Photo courtesy Save June Mountain Facebook page. Click for more information.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY —Dave McCoy must be rolling his eyes, and Andrea Mead Lawrence is no doubt rolling over in her grave as yet another small mountain town  faces the sting of corporate economic realities with the impending closure of a ski area that has sustained local mom and pop lodges and retailers for decades.

Residents of friendly June Lake, set in a spectacular glacier-carved canyon in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, learned a few weeks ago that June Mountain won’t open for summer operations and may not open for the coming winter season — never mind that local motels have already booked numerous reservations for loyal customers.

June Mountain has been owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain for decades. Mammoth, founded by the iconic Dave McCoy, is now primarily owned by the Starwood Capital Group, a private East Coast investment group.

Some June Lake residents said it’s inconceivable that a corporation could make this type of decision, affecting so many people, on such short notice. They were left wondering why they weren’t warned a year ago, potentially creating an opportunity to stave off last minute ultimatums.

The town and the wider community have rallied to try and prevent the closure this winter, with some great discussion and brainstorming on the Save June Mountain Facebook page. (more…)

Filed under: business, economy, ski industry, Ski Resorts | Tagged: Dave McCoy, June Mountain closure, June Mountain ski area, Mammoth Mountain, Rusty Gregory, Starwood Capital Group | 6 Comments »