Mountain Luxury Real Estate Blog

The Powder Mountain Story

Powder Mountain is one of the few ski resorts in the United States able to boast all natural snow. You won’t find a snow making machine on any of the 5500 skiable acres. Amazingly, this resort receives and average snowfall of 500 inches per year in the Utah mountains making the resort’s name, Powder Mountain, even more appropriate. It is filled with controversy and is a juxtaposition of old and new. Powder Mountain has a personality, a place in our hearts and a story.
Frederick James Cobabe was an orphan from age 15. His life was that of a sheep herder and in time he managed to acquire a herd of his own, along with land in Eden that would later become our beloved Powder Mountain. Rumor has it, the land was extremely over grazed but Frederick began conservation practices improving the vegetation and water shed. In 1948, Frederick’s son, Alvin Cobabe purchased the 8000 acres of land his father had accumulated including land in the high mountain slopes. Alvin was resourceful and managed careers in ranching, construction and livestock but in 1956 decided to sell the businesses and attended the University of Utah Medical School. He completed his education at the age of 45, the oldest graduate at the time, and opened a practice in Northern Utah.
One fateful day in the 1950’s while riding horses along the resort’s Lightning Ridge, a friend suggested the high mountain land would make a great ski area. Alvin liked the idea and began to acquire adjacent land. By 1972, the idea became a reality when Alvin Cobabe opened Powder Mountain on approximately 14,000 acres of land.
Only the Sundown lift was open during that first season. Ski lessons were taught, the area was lit for night skiing, and hearty food was prepared for famished skiers on an outdoor barbeque. In 1973 the Main Lodge and Sundown Lodge were added and the second lift, Timberline, was built to accommodate the crowds. A shuttle service was added in 1981 which allowed enthusiastic skiers onto open powdered runs. With the increasing popularity of snowboarding, Powder Mountain became the first Utah ski resort to welcome snow boarders in 1984. As skiers and snowboarders started coming in droves to enjoy the pure, champagne powder at Powder Mountain, the Sunrise lift was soon built and the Paradise Lift followed in 1999.
With Dr. Cobabe at a ripe 88 years old, a decision was made to sell the resort and in 2006 Western American Land Holdings took ownership. A master plan was developed for the resort and local controversy began. But that was only the beginning; Powder Mountain applied to become Powder Mountain Town utilizing a loop hole that has since been corrected to qualify. Locals began posting “Stop Powder Mountain Town” everywhere in the Ogden Valley and are in active litigation with the new owner mostly from a position of being placed into a town and not allowed to have any representation. All the while, Western American Land Holdings is also in litigation within its group with accusations of fraud and misrepresentation.
The new master plan for the resort was expected to be controversial, rarely is any development in the area not. It is a community passionate about preserving its rural ambience and any new-comer should understand this. The resort needs new facilities, lodges, lifts and infrastructure improvements. It all takes money and development could potentially supply funds. But amidst all of this, Powder Mountain is still covered in snow. The shuttle buses still run skiers back up the canyon after runs in Powder Country. Lightning Ridge draws you to the slopes of James Peak, inspiring you just as Dr. Cobabe was years before that is the place for some amazing turns. It is business as usual, smiling skiers and one of the best raw skiing experiences available in the States.
Powder Mountain isn’t a glitzy resort. It feels like the 1970’s and it feels like home. It is a down-to-earth ski mountain, offering more snow covered area than any resort in America. It was the first resort and perhaps the only to offer snow kiting and with open arms, it was the first resort for snowboarding. What does the future hold? Great skiing and boarding to be sure. Perhaps those in dispute can find a balance, that perfect place between turns where you feel weightless and you know, everything is going to be alright.
With its history, restored by an orphan, realized by the oldest medical student graduate, to a good argument over its future; this organic mountain belongs here, in Northern Utah

Visit www.PowderMountain.com for more information on passes, reserving a mountain guide (highly recommended), snow kite lessons, cat skiing, heli-skiing, and our favorite trip up Lightning Ridge. Summer season now offers old school motor cross on a track designed by Jeremy McGrath.