THE SUGAR BOWL CONNECTION

In Royal Gorge LLC's repellant, "Introducing the Vision-Royal Gorge-A Wilderness Edge Community",  would-be investors are assured that Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is completely in step with Royal Gorge's plans to build 600 or more units east of Soda Springs Road, in little Serene Lakes. 

Royal Gorge touts:

"Acquiring a board-ratified letter of intent between Royal Gorge LLC and Sugar Bowl downhill ski resort to connect Royal Gorge and Sugar Bowl resorts, build three new chairlifts and downhill ski trails at Royal Gorge, and a new portal to Sugar Bowl." 

"With the board-certified, signed letter of intent between Royal Gorge and Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge will offer the largest combined cross-country and downhill ski experience in North America." 

"Ski Camp will connect the entire existing Sugar Bowl downhill resort to Royal Gorge." 

"With a signed letter of intent between Royal Gorge and Sugar Bowl, downhill skiing would extend to Royal Gorge." 

Sugar Bowl had been chillingly quiet about the extent of their entanglement with Royal Gorge.  Now it appears that they've been sitting back, perhaps waiting for the flack to blow over, in hopes of enlarging their bed base by 600 or more units (dwarfing what has been built recently at Squaw Valley and Northstar combined).  This construction, if zoning and general plan changes are allowed by Placer County, will turn Serene Lakes into Sugar Bowl's backdoor- the backdoor burdened by all the noise and traffic of 600 or more added cars on a day to day basis, and the nightly cacophony of grooming machines. Serene Lakes will pay in loss of peace for money added to Sugar Bowl's bottom line. 

Sugar Bowl will have effectively expanded it's footprint by a very large measure, calling into question how it can even pretend to be a "green" ski resort.  By signing on to this development, and by maintaining their silence, they've lost the trust of the surrounding community,  and stand to lose the trust and business of those who had hoped they were making an honest effort to stand with the ski resorts who seek true sustainability.  

Royal Gorge has been equivocal about what exactly constitutes the "portal" to Sugar Bowl embodied in their plans.  They've strained to give the community the impression that the "portal" is a very low key connection.  Yet when you read their booklet for investors, you come away with the impression that Sugar Bowl, and Royal Gorge, are, for all practical purposes, merging as one resort.

Sugar Gorge,  or Royal Bowl- it all adds up to clearcutting, disruption and death of wildlife, and a blot upon Donner Summit.  

Sugar Bowl, we thought better of you.

KTG