Neighborhood Focus: Mammoth Mountain

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Skiers and riders crowd the top of the mountain. Non-skiers can ride a new gondola from the main lodge to Mammoth’s summit and wander through the Sierra Interpretive Center and enjoy views of the Sierra peaks. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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The new and improved Mammoth Mountain is still affordable for families if you know how to hunt for bargains. Skiers and snowboarders on the slopes at Mammoth. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Budget-minded snowboarder Ryan Groat and son Luka, 4, of Huntington Beach enjoy sledding at Mammoth Mountain ski resort. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A skier races down the slopes at Mammoth. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Instead of taking $65-an-hour ski lessons at Mammoth Mountain, 5-year-old Eva Bissonette, right, gets a free lesson from dad Greg on the slopes. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A skier on the slopes. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Early season skiers crowd the Broadway Express at Mammoth Mountain. Lift tickets can be purchased at discount rates if you go during the off-peak season or on weekdays or buy them online. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Troy Keyes, right, has his new skis adjusted by the Ski Renter owner Rob Davis at his Mammoth Lakes shop. You can use coupons from the welcome center in town to get discounts on rental ski equipment. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Jessica Gilbert gives her son Oden, 3, a push up a slope at Mammoth Mountain ski area while giving him snowboard lessons at the resort. They didn’t buy a lift ticket, instead using a bunny slope to ride on and walking back up the small hill. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Skiers head up the mountain. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A snowboarder on the slopes. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Snowboarder Tommy Fynn of Brisbane, Australia, rubs mineral-laced mud from the bottom of Wild Willy’s hot spring near Mammoth Mountain on his face while enjoying the hot waters of the spring. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Budget-minded snowboarders Mary Llewellyn, 24, right, and Chad Dupraw, 29, enjoy homemade bologna sandwiches and a bottle of Charles Shaw merlot in Wild Willy’s hot spring. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A group of snowboarders pose for a photo after a dip in Wild Willy’s hot spring. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

By Katherine Tulich

Dec. 23, 2008 12 AM PT

Since the first chairlift was built in 1955, Mammoth Mountain has long been the favored winter playground for Southern Californians, despite the five-hour drive.

This season, getting to the slopes just got a lot easier with a newly introduced daily nonstop air service from LAX by Horizon Air.

But that’s not the only change on the mountain. In recent years, the area has been undergoing big cosmetic enhancements, including new multimillion-dollar developments, such as the Village with its cobblestone alleyways full of shops and eateries, and the mountain is also renovating its former reputation for average food fare by pairing with chef Joachim Splichal and his Patina Restaurant Group, which is sprucing up the dining options on and off slope.

Local faves

Head into the town of Mammoth Lakes for simple and reliable country-style breakfasts at the Stove (644 Old Mammoth Road, [760] 934-2821) and Schat’s Bakery (3305 Main St., [760] 934-6055) for great doughnuts and fresh sandwiches on hand-crafted bread. For all things snowboarding, there’s Wave Rave (3203 Main St., [760] 934-2471; www.waveravesnowboardshop.com), and founded by local skiers, it’s hard to beat the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Footloose Sports (3043 Main St., [760] 934-2400; www.footloosesports.com), who offer a wide variety of skiing merchan- dise.

New dining

Après ski stalwart the Yodler has been revamped into Cervinia (1 Minaret Road, [760] 934-0636; www.patinagroup.com), with an open kitchen and wood fire pizza oven offering a new menu of rustic Italian fare. For a more adventurous culinary experience, take a Snowcat “limo” from Main Lodge to picturesque Minaret Peak for a catered three-course picnic lunch (Snowcat Tours, 1-800-MAMMOTH; www.mammothmountain.com).

History

Housing the largest privately owned ski art collection (more than 10,000 pieces) in the world is Mammoth Ski Museum (100 College Parkway, [760] 934-6592; www.mammothskimuseum.org), with original paintings, historic photos and vintage posters (spot the one with Marilyn Monroe) celebrating the sport’s rich legacy. Take the Panorama Gondola from the Main Lodge for a spectacular scenic ride to the 11,053-foot summit of Mammoth Mountain, where the Top of the Sierra Interpretive Center (1-800-MAMMOTH; www.mammoth) offers interactive displays explaining the geological and volcanic history of the area.

Tulich is a freelance writer.

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Neighborhood Focus: Mammoth Mountain

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