Powder Mountain Winter Resort is one of few ski resorts in the nation that has been continuously owned and operated by the same family since opening in 1972. On any day in the winter, there may be four generations of the Cobabe family on the mountain. Dr. Alvin Cobabe, his daughter Aleta Cobabe, and granddaughter Jamie Lythgoe serve on the management team. Jamie's children are often found snowplowing at Sundown with PowderKids. At 88, Dr. Cobabe is still active in the resort's operations.

The resort had humble beginnings as the winter range for Frederick James Cobabe's sheep herd. Frederick, who was orphaned at age 15, moved around from family to family until he went to work for Charley Scmaltz. He tended camp for Charley's herders taking his pay in sheep until he built a herd of his own.

Frederick established a summer range in the Grand Targhee area. A prohibition on grazing was enacted when the land was incorporated into the national forest system. Between 1902 and 1948, Fred accumulated land for a summer range around Eden, Utah. Old timers say that this property was severely overgrazed by previous owners and hardly a blade of grass could be found. The watershed was so poor that Wolf Creek dried up each fall. Fred's soil conservation practices greatly improved the vegetation and Powder Mountain now is known as one of the best watersheds in the Wasatch Mountains.

Fred's son, Alvin F. Cobabe bought the livestock company with its 8,000 acres in 1948. Just a few months later, Fred was killed in an automobile accident.

When the ranch needed a reservoir, Alvin bought heavy earth moving equipment. He delved into the earth moving business to help pay for the machinery. A career in ranching, livestock and construction, however, just did not satisfy Alvin. In 1956, at 42, he sold the companies to enroll in pre-med classes at Weber College. Although the businesses were sold, he retained the property. He graduated from the University of Utah Medical School at age 45 and returned to northern Utah to establish a medical practice. At that time, Dr. Alvin Cobabe was the oldest person to graduate from the school.

While horseback riding with friends along Lightning Ridge in the 1950's, someone casually mentioned that the terrain would make a great ski resort. The idea rang true with Dr. Cobabe and he began to amass adjacent property adding to the thousands acquired from his father. When the resort opened on February 19, 1972, he owned 14,000 acres.

Only the Sundown lift was open during Powder Mountain's first season. The area was lit for night skiing and a ski school was established. Food was prepared on an outdoor barbecue. The Main Lodge, the Sundown Lodge and the Timberline lift were added to operations for the 72-73 season.

Timeline

1971-72	Powder Mountain opened February 19 with Sundown Lift. Ski School began.
1972-73	Main Lodge opened. Sundown Lodge opened. Timberline Lift opened.
1975-76	Hidden Lake Lift added.
1981-82	Shuttle service for employees and for Powder Country started. Customers began requesting a ride and Powder Mountain now operates three buses and one van.
1984-85	Powder was the first Utah resort to allow snowboarding.
1986-87	Hidden Lake Lodge opened.
1989-90	Columbine Inn opened with two condominiums and five hotel rooms.
1990-91	Powder Mountain granted permission to Diamond Peaks Heliskiing to land on James Peak and at the Hidden Lake parking lot.
1994-95	Sunrise Lift opened.
1999-2000	Paradise Lift, a quad, opened up an additional 1300 acres of lift accessed terrain. Cat skiing moved to Lightning Ridge accessing an additional 700 acres. Powder Mountain became resort with the most skiable terrain in America.
2001-02	Rails added at the Sundown Lift area.
2005-06	Terrain Park added off Hidden Lake run.

• Alaska • Arizona • California • Colorado • Idaho • Montana •
• Nevada • New Mexico • Oregon • Utah • Washington •
• Wyoming • Alberta • British Columbia •