Abandoned Iron Mountain Ski Area Near Lake Tahoe Hits Market , Offering Development Potential

The former Iron Mountain Ski Resort, a long-shuttered ski area with a complex and storied history near Lake Tahoe, is officially on the market for $4 million, according to a listing with the commercial real estate firm Colliers.

The roughly 65-acre property, located approximately 13 miles west of Kirkwood Mountain Resort, represents a rare opportunity for developers or ambitious ski-resort enthusiasts to acquire a significant tract of land in the sought-after Sierra Nevada corridor.

A Troubled History, A Future of Potential

Originally opened in 1971 as Silver Basin, the resort was designed with a unique “upside-down” layout—skiers could descend immediately from the lodge without needing a lift. Despite its novelty, the resort struggled with visibility and attendance. A candid 1972 newspaper ad from founder John Allen lamented poor management and low skier turnout, even blaming his wife for the beginner-friendly slope design.

After closing in 1974, the resort reopened as Ski Sundown in 1978, and later as Iron Mountain in 1983, boasting five chair lifts. However, it never gained traction and was eventually shuttered. Attempts to revive it in the early 2000s failed, and the Forest Service later deemed the site unsuitable for competitive downhill skiing.

Today, the site is an abandoned ski-history relic, with decaying ski lift towers and terminals still visible on the slopes. However, the Colliers listing emphasizes the property's significant development potential.

Key Listing Highlights:

  • Price: $5.8 Million
  • Acreage: Approximately 65 acres
  • Zoning: The flexible zoning permits a variety of uses, including campgrounds, RV spaces, and ski resort use.
  • Residential Development: Crucially, the site includes pre-approved building permits for 22 to 46 condo/townhome units, which agents suggest could anchor a mixed-use development.
  • Existing Infrastructure: Remaining ski lift towers are still on-site, offering a starting point for potential recreational development.

Colliers listing agent Matt Sarro noted the property's potential to SFGATE, suggesting, "I think the best opportunity is for a mom-and-pop type ski resort, surrounded by condos."

The site’s position off Highway 88, along the Mormon Emigrant Trail in El Dorado County, places it in a region popular for year-round outdoor activities. The area is currently used as a U.S. Forest Service Sno-Park, where visitors engage in snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

The sale offers a unique test for the Tahoe market: whether an investor will take on the challenge of resurrecting a ski operation with a challenging history, or capitalize on the in-place residential development approvals to create a new mountain community.

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