Heavenly's 70th Anniverary

1960: The Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley put the entire Tahoe region on the global map,
massively increasing winter visitation and cementing Tahoe as a world-class snow destination, fueling Heavenly’s growth.

1962: Heavenly Tramway Opens
The construction of the aerial tramway transformed access to the upper mountain and gave visitors a breathtaking ride above Lake Tahoe. Heavenly began drawing visitors year-round, blending winter adventure with summer sightseeing.

1965: Gunbarrel & Early Expansion
As skiing exploded in popularity during the 1960s, Heavenly expanded its terrain and infrastructure. The resort added new lifts - including the iconic Gunbarrel run, which quickly became a proving ground for expert skiers. Heavenly’s reputation for big vertical and Sierra sunshine began taking shape, drawing visitors from across California and beyond.

1968: The Nevada Expansion
The addition of the Boulder and Dipper chairs opened Heavenly’s Nevada side, officially linking California and Nevada skiing - a first of its kind in the U.S.

Early 1970's: South Shore’s Casino Boom
The South Shore casino corridor undergoes major expansion, bringing nightlife, concerts, and tourism that helped shape Tahoe’s “ski all day, play all night” identity.

1972: California Base Lodge & Modernization
The 1970s brought a wave of modernization to Heavenly. The California Base Lodge was expanded, snowmaking technology was introduced across key areas, and improved grooming opened more trails to intermediate skiers. With the rise of ski culture and après-ski, Heavenly became known not just for its terrain, but for its vibrant mountain lifestyle.

1974: Freestyle Takes Flight
Heavenly hosted national freestyle championships, cementing its place in ski history as a home for innovation and energy on the slopes.

1978: Expanding Horizons:
New lifts and lodges rose across both states, giving skiers more runs, more vertical, and more views than ever before.

1984: A Community Grows
With South Lake Tahoe booming, Heavenly became the heart of a vibrant ski culture - known for its après scene, powder stashes, and the best views in the Sierra.

1984: Snowboarding begins gaining traction in Tahoe
Heavenly becomes one of the early major resorts to embrace the sport, helping launch Sierra snowboard culture.

1988: High-Speed Lifts Transform the Mountain
Heavenly entered a new era in the 1980's with the installation of its first high-speed quads, dramatically reducing ride times and elevating the guest experience. Increased lift capacity, expanded snowmaking, and major terrain improvements helped position Heavenly as one of the premier ski destinations in the West.

1989: A Vision for the Future
Heavenly continued to modernize its lifts and snowmaking, preparing for a new era of mountain experiences.

1990: A New Name for a New Era
The resort officially adopted the name Heavenly, embracing its legendary terrain and connection to both California and Nevada.

1990's: South Lake Tahoe sees a surge in film and commercial shoots
Thanks to the dramatic views and easy access, Heavenly’s vistas and Lake Tahoe’s shoreline appear in multiple productions, boosting global recognition.

1997: Taking It Public
Heavenly became part of the American Skiing Company, ushering in major upgrades and expanded guest services.

1998: Gondola Construction Begins
The 1990's were defined by innovation and accessibility. Heavenly announced the construction of the Heavenly Gondola, a transformational project that would link the resort directly to the heart of South Lake Tahoe. The decade also saw significant trail enhancements, resort-wide technology upgrades, and improved guest services.

2000: The Heavenly Gondola Opens:
A new era begins with the launch of the Heavenly Gondola, connecting the vibrant base village directly to the summit - a seamless blend of adventure, entertainment, and views of Tahoe’s iconic blue.

2002: Joining the Vail Resorts Family
Heavenly joins Vail Resorts, bringing world-class operations and the Epic Pass to Lake Tahoe.

2002: Gondola Opens & Village Transformation
The early 2000s marked one of the most significant guest experience upgrades in Heavenly’s history: the opening of the Heavenly Gondola. This new access point reshaped South Lake Tahoe’s economy, spurred the development of the Heavenly Village, and created one of the most scenic lift rides in the world. Major terrain parks and new lift upgrades further defined the decade.

2004: Heavenly Village officially debuts
It introduced shops, dining, music, and nightlife that redefined the visitor experience and created the iconic base area we know today.

2012: The Skyline Trail Opens
The Skyline Trail linked the California and Nevada sides at the summit, symbolizing Heavenly’s spirit of connection and discovery.

2013 - 2015: Big Investments & Modern Mountain Experiences
The 2010s brought continued reinvestment—upgraded lodges, improved dining, major snowmaking enhancements, and expanded event programming that strengthened Heavenly’s local community ties. The resort became known for its signature après experiences, iconic appearances, and its role in shaping modern Tahoe winter culture.

2015: Epic Discovery Launches
Heavenly expanded into summer with zip lines, ropes courses, and mountain exploration, becoming a year-round destination for adventure.

2018: New Guest Experiences & Infrastructure Upgrades
Heavenly rolled out exciting new offerings for the 2018-19 season, including guided Winter UTV mountain tours from the top of the gondola and the upgrade of the “Galaxy Chair” from a double to a triple chairlift.

2020 - 2022: Innovation, Technology & the Future of Skiing
Heavenly continues evolving in the 2020s with major capital improvements, sustainability initiatives, digital guest tools, and enhanced on-mountain programming. With new lift upgrades, expanded snowmaking efficiency, and technology centered guest experience updates, such as Epic mix!

2022: North Bowl Express High-Speed Chair Opens
On December 19, 2022, Heavenly opened the new North Bowl Express high-speed detachable 4-person chairlift, replacing an older fixed-grip 3-person lift. The upgrade increased uphill capacity by more than 40% and improved access to less-used terrain.

2023: DJ Cat Becomes a Tahoe Favorite
Heavenly’s roaming DJ Cat elevated on-mountain experiences with high-energy sets, themed weekends, and surprise pop-ups across the resort. The Cat quickly became a guest favorite, blending music and mountain culture in a way unique to Heavenly and helping define a new era of social, shared winter fun.

2024: John Summit Draws Record-Breaking Crowds
In winter 2024, Heavenly made history by hosting a record-breaking John Summit performance, drawing thousands of skiers, riders, and fans to the mountain. It became one of the most attended events in resort history, showcasing Heavenly’s ability to blend world-class skiing with world-class entertainment.

2025: Celebrating 70 Years of Heavenly
Seven decades of unforgettable runs, stunning lake views, and mountain memories. Today, Heavenly remains a place where the thrill of the Sierra meets the magic of Tahoe blue and the best runs are still ahead.