Mammoth Mountain opened a ski shop at Sierra Nevada Lodge last month.
Sierra Nevada Lodge expands menu of guest services/amenities
No one can accuse Jim Demetriades of timidity.
Demetriades, the owner of the Sierra Nevada Lodge property, which includes Rafters Restaurant, isn’t just waiting for the real estate market to turn in order to redevelop his six-acre property that lies along Old Mammoth Rd.
Instead, the existing property continues to transform itself before our eyes.
In his latest move, Demetriades and Mammoth Mountain reached an agreement for MMSA to open a ski shop on the Sierra Nevada Lodge property last month. The shop offers rentals, retail, logowear, and most significant, ticket sales.
As the Lodge’s General Manager Rhonda Duggan explained, Sierra Nevada Lodge remodeled the space and then leased it to MMSA, which staffs it.
The shop is open for both hotel guests and the general public.
Duggan said Mammoth Mountain is interested to see if there is demand for off-site locations for its services.
“It’s been popular thus far,” she said. “Guests just purchase their lift tickets and hop right on the shuttle across the street.”
Mammoth Mountain Senior Vice President Pam Murphy added, “It’s time we offer our guests a more complete product … This enhances our guest service.”
Mammoth’s other off-site ski shop is inside the Westin Monache.
In addition to the new ski shop, Duke’s Bar, inside the lobby of the Sierra Nevada Lodge, is now open seven days a week. Hours are 3-8ish in the evenings. The bar has a limited food menu, primarily featuring salads and pizzas that are prepared and delivered from Rafters Restaurant next door.
The artificial ice rink installed this November is also open from 1-9 p.m. every day weather permitting, with the emphasis on weather permitting, as there’s been more digging than skating this winter given the snowfall.
It’s not a real ice surface so it’s not terribly fast, but Duggan says it’s great for kids and beginners.
Prices (which include rentals) are $10 for adults, $7 for teens and $5 for kids. Locals skate for just $5 anytime.
If you’ve got pets, Sierra Nevada Lodge may be just the place for you. They’ve got pet-friendly rooms in all types.
And finally … there is no finally. It doesn’t appear Demetriades is done. He plans to open a new restaurant at the former Ocean Harvest location at the corner of Old Mammoth Road and Sierra Nevada Road this summer.
The name? The theme? “Nothing’s been decided yet,” replied Duggan.
