Sixty Years of Snow, Spirit and Community
By Kari Ferguson
On a crisp winter morning in 1966, the first chairlift at Diamond Peak whirred to life, carrying a handful of hopeful skiers up the slopes that tower over Incline Village. The air was filled with the kind of excitement only explorers know – a blend of pride, vision and maybe just a touch of disbelief that this dream had finally come to life.
What began as a small, community-built ski area on the north shore of Lake Tahoe would soon become a beloved local treasure – a place where generations have learned to ski, created friendships, and felt the rush of carving fresh turns above the most amazing lake in the Sierra Nevada.
Snowflake Lodge in 1967
Diamond Peak wasn’t just built for skiers and riders, it was built for the community. When Incline Village was still young, residents and local visionaries came together with a shared belief that their mountain could become a gathering place for families, neighbors and visitors alike.
They envisioned a resort that was welcoming, scenic and true to Tahoe’s laid-back spirit. Sixty years later, that vision still shapes every run, every laugh in the lift line and every sunset from the Snowflake Lodge deck.
In those early years, the resort – then known as Ski Incline – offered just a few lifts and a lodge. But what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in character. Locals remember the days when ski boots were heavy, lift tickets were paper, and everyone knew each other by name.
Parents taught their kids to ski on the beginner slopes, and those kids grew up to teach theirs. It wasn’t uncommon to see three generations on the slopes together – proof that the mountain has always been much more than a ski hill; it’s been a family tradition.
As the decades rolled on, Ski Incline grew, the name changed to Diamond Peak, the lifts got faster and the mountain’s amenities expanded, but the heart of the resort remained the same.
The addition of the Crystal Quad chairlift in 1987 opened up stunning new terrain and panoramic views of Lake Tahoe that continue to take visitors’ breath away. Snowmaking technology and sustainability initiatives helped ensure that the mountain could thrive even as winters in the basin changed. Through it all, Diamond Peak stays true to its roots: a locally loved mountain with a huge heart and a friendly face.
Warren Miller filming at Ski Incline
Ask anyone who’s spent time here, and they’ll tell you – Diamond Peak is more than just a place to ski and ride. It’s the sound of laughter echoing off the trees. It’s hot cocoa in the Loft Bar after a bluebird day. It’s neighbors catching up at the Loft Bar, sharing stories of “that perfect powder day.” It’s a mountain that reflects the best of Tahoe — community, adventure, and connection!
Now, as Diamond Peak celebrates its 60th anniversary, the story is still being written. The mountain continues to innovate while honoring its heritage – embracing sustainability, improving guest experiences, and welcoming new generations of skiers and riders to its slopes.
From the seasoned locals who have skied here since the beginning to the wide-eyed kids clipping into skis for the first time, every visitor becomes part of the Diamond Peak story. (Read on below for a few of these memories.)
And as the sun sets over Lake Tahoe, painting the snow in the beautiful alpine glow, one thing is certain: Diamond Peak’s magic has endured for 60 years and it will keep shining for many more.
Jen Volz then and now – as a youth at Ski Incline and an adult at Diamond Peak
Memories from Jen Volz:
In 1981, my family became residents of Incline Village. I was 9 years old when I got my first IVGID pass, which I proudly wore around my neck like it was Olympic gold. I learned how to actually ski at Ski Incline with my instructor Jill. Skiing was the thing I couldn’t wait to do — and Jill was the person I couldn’t wait to see. She was, and still is, an absolute gem.
I have so many unforgettable memories at Diamond Peak. We’d get up painfully early just to score “pole position” parking in the top lot closest to the lodge. I still remember approaching the top of Lodgepole with my mom who misread the sign, “Keep your tips up!” (Not quite the ski advice she thought it was.)
But the funniest memories always came from my dad. Growing up back East, he’d only learned to stop one way: the hockey stop. Turns out, that’s not ideal on a ski hill. His “brakes” over the years included: a metal trash can, boundary poles, bushes, neon-orange fences, and — on more than one occasion — unsuspecting visitors waiting for the Red Fox lift. If you ever heard, “Excuse me, pardon me, I’m so sorry!” while simultaneously being used as a human bumper, that was my dad. He always appreciated that you slowed him down — literally.
Of course, Diamond Peak has changed. The resort is bigger, the crowds are larger. But when I get frustrated on packed days, I remind myself of something: back in 1981, I was just as clueless and just as excited as the new visitors are today. Skiers then — and hopefully now — showed grace, patience, and a whole lot of laughter.
One thing hasn’t changed: Diamond Peak creates memories that last a lifetime. I know this because I lived it. And now, my kids — who are adults themselves — get to live it too. Though to me, it will always be Ski Incline!
Happy 60th!
The Wiltsek family has been skiing at Diamond Peak since the 1970s!
Dana Wiltsek memories:
Dana Wilksek in 1976 at Ski Incline
We’ve had our home in Incline since 1967 and Ski Incline was our home mountain and where I learned to ski (age 59 now). We’d drive up EVERY weekend from San Francisco to ski. We had season passes which I still have from the late ’60s to the early ’70s and a locker (dark red if I recall) in the locker room — I can still remember the smell.
My mom LOVED Luggi Foeger – he was like a rockstar walking around the lodge and on the mountain. But the funniest — given the chairs were named blue chair (later upper blue was added), red chair, yellow chair and later upper yellow (which is how I still reference them) — when my mom needed to go to the restroom she’d say — “I have to go to the white chair.”
Kim Ramsey and his friend Jim – then and now
Kim Ramsey memories:
Here is a photo from March 2, 2017 when my friend Jim (on the right in the photo) skied his last day on his birthday. He was 64 years old at the time. He told me that day would be his last as his body was giving out. He passed away on June 30, 2024. We had been skiing Tahoe since the 1960s together. The second picture is of us in 1978. Thanks for keeping your resort open all these years. I’m now taking my sons to Diamond Peak, so the tradition continues.
Corby Agid memories:
I skied at Incline in 1974 when I was 10 years old and don’t remember much other than riding slow two-seat chairlifts during a storm. I lived in Sacramento back then and skied mostly at Sierra Ski Ranch (now Sierra-at-Tahoe), when it had three chairlifts and two poma lifts.
I’ve lived in Reno since 2002 and only rediscovered Diamond Peak just two years ago after mostly skiing at Mt Rose. I fell in love with the mountain immediately. The mountain with all of the glades and low-key vibe reminds me of growing up at Sierra Ski Ranch before it became corporate owned in the ’90s. Skiing at Diamond Peak brings back so many memories of my early years.
