Sitting southwest of Lake Tahoe and about 13 miles west of Kirkwood Mountain Resort lies Iron Mountain, a small ski area that’s been closed since 1995. It boasts around 65 acres of land and the lift towers and terminals are still there, albeit now as structures in need of some fixing up. But if you’ve been dreaming of owning a ski resort (or tearing it all down to erect condos), the old Iron Mountain could be yours for $5.8 million.
According to an online real estate listing, the land where Iron Mountain used to operate could be used for any number of developments, including pre-approved building permits for 22–46 condo/townhome units.
“Zoned for campgrounds, RV spaces, and ski resort use, the site also features existing ski lift towers, making it ideal for recreational or resort development. Priced at just $89,000 per acre or $2 per square foot, this flexibly zoned parcel is a rare find for investors and developers looking to create a premier destination in a sought-after location,” the listing reads.
Silver Basin (Iron Mountain’s Original Name) Trail Map From 1972. Photo: Skimap.org
The original version of the Iron Mountain Ski Resort opened in the 1970s, then called Silver Basin. It changed owners and endured a three-year shut down before its first full decade in existence. New lifts were built in 1978 and more financial challenges, poor snow conditions, and heavy competition from nearby Kirkwood forced the resort to shut down once again in 1980, according to Skier 72. The resort re-opened as Iron Mountain in 1983 and then, once again, was shut down between 1986 to 1989. It operated shortly as Carson Ski Area in 1994 and 1995 before closing down once again, and a revival was attempted around the turn of the century, but it never re-opened.
Iron Mountain has sat idle in the 25 years since, looking like a ski area of a dystopian future. Nobody’s had luck turning a profit on this “resort,” but plenty have tried. Still, you know somebody’s reading this wishing they had $5.8 million to open up their own Tahoe resort and be the one who finally gets it right.
