In 1982, the park granted California Guest Services a twenty-year concession to operate Lassen Ski Area, as it was formally known. This time there was a surprising catch. The contract carried a stipulation that when expired, downhill skiing would be phased out. The termination of downhill skiing came sooner than expected. In the spring of 1993, John Koeberer of California Guest Services contacted the park and asked if it would consider canceling the contract. Koeberer cited financial losses over the previous nine years. A contributing factor to the situation, was for the last five years due to low snow falls. The few cases of heavy storms arrived on weekends, discouraging use by the skiing public. The park obliged, although many regional ski enthusiasts were upset with this abrupt closure.

The story does not quite end there. Frequent visitors to the park over the years, are familiar how little development has taken place. After all, the only amenities to be found were Manzanita Lake and Drakesbad, the latter for many years was a private enterprise. Anyhow, back to the matter at hand. There was the unresolved issue as what to do with the ski chalet. It found a new life as an impromptu visitor center, a facility the park never had.

After years of wrangling where to build a full-fledged visitor center, it was decided the former ski chalet was the perfect spot. In 2003, the chalet was condemned and torn down. In 2008, taking its place the Kohm-Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center opened to the public. The name is the Mountain Maidu’s term for Lassen Peak, that translates to “Snow Mountain.”

By the way, on a final note, the park actively promotes cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park. It is worth the experience.

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