Royal Gorge History

Royal Gorge opened in the 1970s when Nordic skiing in the U.S. was still in its infancy, and as the sport grew to near European popularity, it became renowned worldwide with more than 200 kilometers of skiing across nearly 6,000 acres of scenic terrain. In 2005, the property was sold to Bay Area developers who announced plans for a large resort with 950 units and 85,000 square feet of commercial space, drawing strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups who saw it as too large and ill-suited to Donner Summit's character. Poor economic conditions and a lack of investors led the property into foreclosure, creating an opportunity for the Truckee Donner Land Trust and its partners, The Trust for Public Land and Northern Sierra Partnership, to purchase it. In August 2012, they signed an agreement to buy the land for $11.25 million, beginning a five-month grassroots fundraising campaign in the Sierra Nevada. After months of negotiations and fundraising, the property was permanently protected on December 12, 2012. The acquisition included 3,000 acres on Donner Summit, the Royal Gorge, 351 acres in Negro Canyon, and Van Norden Meadow, and it was regarded as one of the Sierra's most important conservation victories in a generation. West of Donner Pass, the historic and scenic property includes tall peaks, old growth forests, streams, meadows, parts of Native American trade routes, the Overland Emigrant Trail, and the transcontinental railroad. Van Norden Meadow, one of the few large sub-alpine meadows north of Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows, was slated for restoration. The land also contains the headwaters of the North Fork American and South Yuba Rivers, important to California's water supply. The region supports numerous amphibians, 20 species of mammals, nearly 100 species of birds, more than 500 species of vascular plants, at least 16 rare and protected plant species, and one of the richest documented diversities of butterflies in North America. The Truckee Donner Land Trust is working to restore Van Norden Meadow, improve forest health, and create sustainable trails, while the area continues to offer year-round recreation including Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, wildflower and bird viewing, and access to snow-free ski trails leading to peaks with views exceeding 75 miles.

California · United States