The Canyon Lodge neighborhood offers a wide variety of properties with “walk to the lifts” convenience.
The Canyon Lodge area encompasses the most western part of the Mammoth Lakes private land mass as it butts to the Ski Area’s boundary. The original chairlifts numbered 7 and 8 were built in this area in the 1960’s. The area was fondly referred to as “7 and 8.” Eventually the massive European-style base lodge that is there today was constructed and named Warming Hut 2 (“The Hut”). Intrawest influenced the name change in the late 1990’s to Canyon Lodge. The area has a mix of very large pines and firs and the soil contains substantial volcanic pumice that typically drains very well. The topography is less flat than many areas of Mammoth and this area includes some of the highest elevations in Mammoth’s private land holdings.
Real Estate Growth Explodes
The early 1970’s saw an explosion of condominium development around the parking lot of Warming Hut II; Mammoth West, Chamonix, Mammoth Ski & Racquet, The 1849, St. Anton and Courchevel. Mammoth Point, TimberRidge Condos and Discovery Four were built in that era on the southern periphery. This created a massive new bed base with almost immediate lift access. The Austria Hof Lodge and Restaurant/Bar was built at the top of Canyon Blvd. right on the parking area below the ski runs.
Meanwhile, the subdivision lots at TimberRidge Estates were developed up Davison and John Muir Roads. And hundreds of residential lots were developed below Warming Hut II down Canyon and Lakeview Blvd. These subdivisions are known as Mammoth Slopes 1,2,3,4 and 5. The developer, Eastern Sierra Development, built spec homes in these subdivisions that still stand today. With great foresight, they created a lift easement down through these lots. In the early 2000’s that recorded easement is what allowed the construction of the Village gondola. The original easement was conceived for a small chairlift of the era. But the modern gondola was significantly wider. That design challenge facilitated the narrow egg-shaped gondola cars of the Village gondola.
Before the Village redevelopment occurred, the base of this area featured several large motels and small lodges, a gas station, Pioneer Market, a small commercial building that housed the original Footloose store and even a County courtroom. Condominium projects were built along lower Lakeview Blvd. including Seasons Four, Crestview, Lakeview Villas, Mammoth View Villas and Mammoth Estates.
In the early 1980’s the massive Mountainback condominium project was built along Lakeview Blvd. and Sierra Megeve was built on the corner overlooking The Hut. Canyon Ski & Racquet and Helios was built in the lower area. Silverbear was constructed in the late 1980’s.
A New Era of Canyon Lodge Real Estate
The character of the single-family residential neighborhood has changed much like the rest of the Mammoth neighborhoods. The original small vacation and weekend homes became much larger during the late 1970’s / early 80’s boom. The homes built in the later 1980’s tended to be more modest and efficient but started to grow into the 90’s. Since 2000 the homes average 2500+ square feet with large garages. The values of these more modern homes can go $1M+. The Canyon Lodge area/neighborhood is a mix of local residents and a greater number of second homeowners.
Many of the residents and visitors in the Canyon Lodge neighborhood utilize and enjoy the shuttle that loops down Lakeview Blvd. and up Canyon Blvd. Riders can get to-and-from the Village area, or get on the gondola, or ride all the way back up to Canyon Lodge. The ski-back trail that runs north of this neighborhood is a feature but is generally underutilized. The combination of ski lift access and the proximity of the Village amenities make this area very popular with both residents, second homeowners and visitors. But it does tend to be less “peaceful” than other Mammoth neighborhoods.