Nestled in the snowy peaks of Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is about to drop the most anticipated transformation since Walt Disney first invested in its legendary chairlift. This summer, the 86-year-old independent resort is diving headfirst into a $100 million renovation that’s less about going corporate and more about preserving mountain magic.

CEO Bridget Legnavsky isn’t just updating infrastructure, she’s crafting an experience that whispers “California mountain cool” while keeping the resort’s soul intact. “We want people to walk in and think, ‘I can’t believe a place like this still exists,’” she explains, embodying the kind of passion that makes Tahoe’s outdoor culture so magnetic.

Culinary Mountain Magic

Forget basic ski lodge fare. Sugar Bowl has recruited San Francisco chef Jason Landas to revolutionize mountain dining. Think elk-and-bison sausages, single-farm crudités, and locally sourced ingredients that transform lunch from a mere refueling stop to a genuine culinary adventure. Landas isn’t just cooking; he’s “disrupting the status quo” of ski resort cuisine.

More Than Just Slopes

Unlike mega-resorts chasing year-round revenue, Sugar Bowl is staying true to its winter roots. They’re strategically capping daily tickets, ensuring uncrowded slopes and maintaining that intimate community vibe. The renovations focus on enhancing guest experience, a two-tiered dining terrace, upgraded Village Lodge, and a faster gondola that promises to “transform the arrival experience”.

Preserving Mountain Heritage

With an architecture firm linked to the resort’s original designer, Sugar Bowl is threading a delicate needle: modernizing without losing its European-inspired charm. It’s a love letter to mountain culture that feels authentic, not manufactured, exactly what Tahoe’s adventure-seeking crowd craves.

As climate change and corporate consolidation threaten independent ski resorts, Sugar Bowl stands as a defiant beacon of what makes mountain communities special: character, community, and an unwavering commitment to the pure joy of skiing.