#26 - Sugar Bowl Academy - Donner Pass, CA
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 39° 18.998 W 120° 19.581
10S E 730497 N 4355323
History sign along the Hwy 40 Scenic Bypass at Donner Summit Overlook.
Waymark Code: WMW05D
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2017
Views: 1
History sign #26 of the Hwy 40 Scenic Bypass series.
Text of sign #26 - Sugar Bowl Academy
History
The current building at the head of Donner Pass on Old 40 was built for the Division of Highways in 1931 to serve as a dormitory for highway workers. That was the first winter the road was plowed and on-call workers needed accommodations. The idea to plow the road had been pursued by the Auburn Ski Club. When they finally took a train load of legislators to the snow the need was seen and the State began plowing the road. The building went up for auction in 1965 when Cal Trans moved to I-80 at Kingvale and became the Donner Spitz Inn with dormitories, bar, and a restaurant. By the early 70’s the inn became the Alpine Skills Institute, a center for telemark ski instruction. Now it is the Sugar Bowl Academy a private school. Pictured here: the building (1930’s) and its octagonal garage (collapsed by snow in 1983), the very first snow removal equipment (except trains) on Donner Summit, and signs at the top of Donner Summit (1930’s).
A Good Story
“Skiing on the 4th of July . . . the . . . average snow depth around Donner Pass that 1937-38 winter was 29 feet above the ground. I took a girl from San Francisco skiing — for her first time on skis — on part of the rope tow slope — by moonlight on the Fourth of July, 1938.” Johnny Ellis (built the first rope tow on Donner Summit on the mountain behind the Sugar Bowl Academy building)
Group that erected the marker: Donner Summit Historical Society
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
On Hwy 40 at the summit of Donner Pass.
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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