REST IN PEACE PREACHER BOB
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort lost a friend and icon this month when longtime season passholder Robert Lusk, aka "Preacher Bob", passed away. Bob got his nickname at Sierra Resort when he started a tradition of donning a monk’s robe and blessing the slopes at the beginning and end of each season. He would also perform unofficial one-day marriages on the slopes when he came dressed as a monk.
Bob was an enthusiastic backcountry skier. In his younger days, he would sleep overnight in the parking lot so he could be the first one into Huckleberry Canyon on a powder day. Bob also loved skiing Sierra’s trees and could almost always been found East of East or West of West on powder days.
One of Sierra Resort’s original “Official Snow Inspectors”, Bob liked to say he was coming up for some Vitamin S. One of his favorite pranks was to ski down the El Dorado line on a mushy spring day, laying down sucker tracks to see how many people would follow him in.
Bob was well loved at Sierra Resort and he will be remembered and missed for a long time.
There is quite a story behind Sierra-at-Tahoe® Resort and with each new season the story gets better and better. SierraTM Resort has been providing fantastic skiing and riding for people right here in our backyard and many whom travel from faraway. In addition to providing great skiing and riding, Sierra Resort is committed to our environment, because we know that its health is key to our success. We appreciate our sponsors and partnerships allowing us to provide a superior snowsporting experience for our guests.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort was the brainchild of a long-time Tahoe local, Vern Sprock. Sprock dreamed of opening a ski operation for many years and was finally successful in 1946 when he cranked up the bullwheel at what was then known as Sierra Ski Ranch. The Sprock family was successful in operating the resort until 1993 when the resort was sold to Fibreboard.
The “Ranch,” as it was then known to skiers all over the area, was located further down Highway 50. The ski resort was moved to its present location in 1968, when the California Department of Transportation began widening Highway 50.
Over time, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort has grown to be one of Lake Tahoe’s largest ski resorts with over 2,000 skiable acres, serviced by ten chairlifts, including three express quads. In July 1993 new owner Fibreboard brought many changes to Sierra Ski Ranch including the new name – Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort. Fibreboard also brought several innovative programs and guest focused services to Sierra Resort.
Booth Creek Ski Holdings' purchase of the resort in 1996 continued to fuel additional industry firsts for Sierra Resort. Sierra Resort has a long reputation of legendary terrain, excellent location and great value. Sierra Resort’s strategy of being “Lake Tahoe’s Full Service, Value Oriented Day Use Snowsports Resort,” is continually emphasized by providing great service, great value, big fun and a commitment to innovation. Sierra Resort strives to provide the level of service that our guests go home talking about and come back expecting.
1859-1878: Tahoe is clear-cut to supply lumber to support the nearby