My wife and I spent last week visiting friends Bob and Laurie Walker who live in Minden, Nevada. From their house it’s about a twelve mile drive to the Heavenly Valley ski area. Of course you climb some 3000 feet during that drive.
On our first day we skied with some other locals: Charlie Barone, his wife Leslie, and John Edmundson. All three of them have been skiing Heavenly for more than 40 years! Charlie was excited since the day before he had skied with Wayne Wong and Jim Plake, Glen Plake’s father. I’m sure we were a let down from that company!
I rode up the lift with John who had the most knowledge of Heavenly’s history and picked his brain for the inside dope.
In 1953 Chris and Dottie Kuraisa moved their family to South Lake Tahoe with the goal of starting a sporting goods shop. A funny thing happened and Chris ended up spending their life savings to lease a small ski operation called the Bijou Ski Run. It only consisted of a couple of rope tows, but they were in the ski business.
Their first season was a success, but Chris had higher aspirations. In particular his aspirations included 10,000 foot Monument Peak which loomed over South Lake Tahoe. He struck up a partnership with some of the local casino owners to raise money. They moved the tows higher up the mountain and added a 4000 foot long chairlift.
On December 15th, 1955 the area opened under a new name: Heavenly Valley.
In 1964 the Kuraisas sold their share of Heavenly to San Francisco attorney Hugh Killebrew who would quickly gain full control. He saw the potential of developing the Nevada side of the mountain and by 1967 Heavenly could claim to be “America’s Largest Ski Area”.
Killebrew was a colorful, energetic man with many celebrity friends who soon graced Heavenly’s slopes. He was the nephew of Harmon Killebrew, baseball Hall of Famer. Hugh Killebrew married one of the original Toni Twins – you know, “Which twin has the Toni?” Long-time Red Sox fans blame Hugh Killebrew for shortening Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg’s career! Killebrew took Lonborg to the top of Gun Barrel, Heavenly’s notorious mogul trail, and basically dared him to ski it. Lonborg broke his leg and missed most of the next season.
In 1977 Hugh Killebrew was killed in a private plane crash that also claimed the life of Heavenly ski school director Paul Pfosi. Killebrew’s son Bill and wife Ellie took over the reins of Heavenly Valley following the accident.
Following the Killebrews, Heavenly’s ownership has changed several times. In 1997 Les Otten’s American Ski Company took over and then in 2002 current owner Vail Resorts, Inc. became the owner.
And of course in 1998 Sonny Bono died as a result of striking a tree just off the edge of the Orion’s trail at Heavenly. Lots of correct answers to that trivia question from last week. The first correct responder was Stowe’s Lyndall Heyer. Others with the correct answer included Jack Pickett and Bill Kornrumpf.
The most striking feature of Heavenly Valley is Lake Tahoe. The California side of Heavenly offers constant views of one of our nation’s treasures. You never get tired of looking at the lake’s many shades of blue surrounded by mountains
The second most striking feature is the tree skiing that Heavenly offers – no play on words intended. We didn’t get a chance to sample it due to snow conditions, but those big, widely spaced western evergreens sure look inviting. Locals estimate that over 75% of the skiable terrain at Heavenly is in the trees.
January 21, 2016 at 9:31 pm
It’s too bad that the new owners of heavenly ski resort have ruined the city and the mountain. In my opinion they do not care if you enjoy the ski resort they just want to separate your money from you. But of course that is what big corporations always do the ski area used to be very friendly when it was owned by the original family. Now locals are just a inconvenience and The truth is the real locals don’t even ski at heavenly there are plenty of people that move up here for one season and call themselves locals what a joke.
And the reality of the ski area is it is not that great or challenging of a ski area compared to major ski resorts around the world
April 23, 2016 at 5:04 am
paul pfosi is still missed in new England. as a staffer at the famous buchika’s ski shop in Haverhill. ma. I had opportunity to meet many ski greats like paul pfosi and wayne wong
January 28, 2017 at 12:52 am
Thanks for helping fill in some blanks. My brothers & I started skiing Heavenly back in the 50’s when I recall a rope tow at the top of Ski Run Blvd. At around that time the main chair lift was built and we skied Gunbarrel (the Face). Also at around that time, the Lodge was located on Hwy 50 and Ski Run, presently the Red Hut. As I recall that lodge burned down and was located to its current location. Definitely remember the “warming hut” & much more. Also notable in the early days was Stein Erickson as Ski School Director. I have been skiing Heavenly for over 60 years mostly as a local resident.
June 1, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Hi Doug,
I am the new owner of a last original Heavenly Valley Gondola Car and am trying to find some old pictures of the little red car operating. Do you or any of your buddies have any photos? Vail Corp has not been very helpful of course.
Any help would be appreciated!
Mike
February 4, 2018 at 6:28 pm
My wife and I live in Meyers and have skied Heavenly Valley since 1965. As a young twenty year old, I took a break from school in 1971-72 and shared a cabin now the underground parking lot on Paradise at the bottom of Ski Run and took advantage of all that Heavenly and South Shore offered. We moved here permanently in 2010, after careers in the Bay Area. Although there is wonderful skiing to be found at all resorts around the basin, Heavenly Valley remains special, and for many reasons. The terrain has never become routine whether we seek long cruisers with gorgeous views, challenging mogal runs, or the trees and the deep. Too, Heavenly has only become a better resort since Vail came to town–we can’t get on a lift now without the operator’s friendly welcome. The snowmaking is exceptional, and the attention to safety is evident. The handling of today’s crowds is as good as one can expect. One caveat to our point of view is that we are weekday skiers–weekends are for chores or a backcountry ski.
I so enjoy reading someone else’s positive recollections of a Heavenly Valley and South Shore that bring back memories and images of my/our past. Thanks for sharing.
Here are a few recollections that might stir up some thoughts of the past:
Cecil’s Market
Jason’s Shingle
Barney’s
The Nugget
The Outdoorsman
The original three Tahoe Keys model homes
Farfy’s Fireside Fundominiums
South Shore Drive-in Theatre
Harvey’s Wagonwheel
Sahara Tahoe (The House of Lords)
Grey Hound Bus Station
Poor Pierre’s
The Dog Patch
Jimboy’s Tacos
Bella Union
Ink’s Bijou Market
Park Ave. Theatre (Raley’s Center)
Post Office (Raley’s Center)
Smorgy’s Restaurant (Raley’s Center)
Horseback riding off Al Tahoe Bld
The Tepee on Hwy 50
West Bowl Chair, Ridge Chairlift, and Scorpion Woods
Little Norway
Freel Peak Cafe
Bob & Ethel’s Breakfast Cafe
The Orange Julius
Safeway Store and laundry at the Y
The American Legion Dance Hall (Jim Burgett)
Camp Richardson’s Snack Shack Dances (Now The Beacon)
Atlantic Richfield Gas Station at Round Hill
The Midnight Mine
Yank’s Station
Opening Day at Kirkwood
Manny’s Bar & Grill
Hells Angels in Kentucky Fried Parking lot at Ski Run
Ski Run Liquors
Nancy & Dick’s Ski Shop
The Book atop Mt. Tallac
Camp Richardson Campfire Circle
Two Bears at Stateline
$7.50 Heavenly Valley Ski Tickets
July 3, 2020 at 5:43 pm
izzys
Carlos Murphy’s
Marie calenders
Bandana pizza
Snack shack ragan beach
Beacon
Swiss chalet village
July 3, 2020 at 6:24 pm
I worked at heavenly valley in the offices with Brady Hodge. We had the John Denver pro skiing then. Worked with John Denver – bob beattie. Lots of stars. And pro skiers. Phil and ?? Marr brothers. Franz Weber stayed at my house. Those were fun years. Lived in Tahoe 13 years. Best years ever.
February 6, 2019 at 8:05 pm
5$ pitchers of Margaritas at Cantina los Tres Hombres
25cent crap tables at Harveys Inn after we H employees cashed our paychecks
February 24, 2019 at 3:49 am
Does anyone remember the exact name of the Jeep Pro Ams that were held on the face of Heavenly in the mid 1990s?
May 30, 2019 at 5:17 pm
My daughter was named for the Christiania Restaurant although I altered it to Christi-Ana but that was my favorite restaurant when I lived up there in the 70’s.
August 27, 2019 at 5:33 am
Great to read reminiscent memories from other Tahoe folks. Allow me to fill in a few blanks – Paul Kennedy’s Steak House. El Pavos, Rojos, The Vagabond, Original Red Hut, the original Dory’s Oar, Monte Vista, After Dark, the Old RoundHill Mall, the Sunday Edition of the Tribune, Raleys on lower Kingsbury, Lucky’s Grocery, original Womack’s Bar-B-Q, Tahoe Palace, the WayStation, Mark Lanarts, Doug Storm, Skip Sayer, Bill Kingman – all on the radio, the old glassed in cabaret lounge at Harrahs, Mall and the Movers, Glen Lucky at Tahoe. (and the Beat Goes on . . .)
February 26, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Hugh Killibrew Sexually abused me at eight years old. I still deal with the repercussions of that .
November 29, 2021 at 12:07 am
He is dead can can’t defend himself.
December 15, 2022 at 9:05 am
Thank you. While I was not sexually abused, I worked for him and he got a big kick out of destroying peoples lives. I could tell you tales but what would be the point! Let’s just don’t be so quick to put him up for Sainthood!
Paul, Ingrid, and Sherry were the other 3 in the plane the day it went down. They were good people and I have always grieved for them.
July 3, 2020 at 5:38 pm
Bill killebrews wife name was Abbey. I know. I worked there 1979-80 with them and his adopted brother, Michael. Ate at their house. Stan Hansen was there as well. Bill’s mother was one of the Toni hair twins.