2. Sierra ski ranch - barretts

First Sierra Ski Ranch lodge.


The rope tows looking from above US 50.

Sierra Ski Ranch, “The Ranch”, was started by two brothers with significant support from their wives, along with an extended family of friends and relatives who poured their hearts into making and running the venue. This chapter delves into the passion and inventiveness of everyone involved, some even risking their lives unknowingly in pursuit of The Ranch. As you have read in the history of the area, in the prior chapter, it is very rich and much of what went on near Echo Summit was a shared experience. People naturally helped each other both personally and in whatever pursuits they were involved with in developing the area. You will realize that this neighborly approach is true for Sierra Ski Ranch as well. This first generation of Sierra set the stage for the following generations, as each successive ownership adopted that family oriented, get the job done, collaborative theme, that helped build Sierra into the resort you know it as today.

The brothers Ray and Floyd Barrett, along with their respective wives, Janis and Audrey, created and built the first Sierra Ski Ranch from scratch in the fall of 1946. The first ski area was actually down on US 50 about 1 mile west of Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, just over the river. In fact, there was no parking lot at the time and people had to park along the highway and walk down the hill, over a small bridge and up the slopes to the lifts. Getting to the slopes was a bit harder then, than it is today.

The Barretts, along with some special friends, cut every tree on the slopes by hand and built and managed every one of the four rope tows they eventually had. They built coffee shops and lodges along with managing the area, that was open only on weekends and holidays. The area was extremely popular as it was easy to get to, had great runs and a super friendly atmosphere.

But the Barretts had other constraints on their time such as raising families and ‘day jobs’ at McClellan Field in Sacramento. So, when a part time employee, Vern Sprock, his new bride Bobbie and her parents (Clinton and Clara Pratt) offered to take over Sierra Ski Ranch in December of 1953, the hand off of Sierra took place.

Summer work party. Photographs courtesy of the Barrett family.