Invision Capital and Karl Kapuscinski of Southern California’s Mountain High Resort today announced their acquisition of Dodge Ridge, a mid-sized area located between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Longtime Dodge Ridge owners Frank and Sally Helm are retiring after 45 years at the helm. Kapuscinski, who brings more than 30 years of resort management experience at Mountain High, Stevens Pass, Spirit Mountain and others, will become President and CEO of both resorts. Dodge Ridge General Manager Jenni Smith will remain in her role reporting to Kapuscinski.
Dodge Ridge operates a fleet of eight chairlifts four surface lifts on 862 acres of the Stanislaus National Forest. The new ownership group may be better equipped to upgrade aging lifts, some of which date back to the 1960s and ’70s. Dodge Ridge remains among the 15 largest US resorts without a detachable.
“Dodge Ridge is one of those extraordinary skiing and riding experiences that comes with a lot of passion and a lot of history coupled with a great mountain vibe that’s really warm and friendly,” said Karl and Audrey Kapuscinski in a statement. “We think it’s critical to maintain the very core of the resort and its personality and identity, and that’s going to be our goal from day one. We are extremely proud that Sally and Frank chose us as the new owners of Dodge Ridge and please stay tuned as we look forward to future announcements and developments.”
Dodge Ridge will join the Powder Alliance, a global reciprocal program of which Mountain High is a founding member. Other partners in the alliance include Oregon’s Timberline Lodge and Loveland Ski Area in Colorado.
Lift Blog 
It is a nice gesture to give season passholders at both resorts access to each other effective immediately and not wait a year. However, I am skeptical about any future investments at Dodge Ridge, as Mountain High has not seen a new lift in over two decades.
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I could see at least three detachables:
Lift 7 with a longer alignment starting at the base
One replacing lifts 4 and 5,
One replacing lift 3
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That sounds like 18 million dollars worth of lifts. Hmmm, I wonder what percentage of that they paid for the whole ski area??
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My Quad plan would be…
one would replace chair 2 and remove chair 1.
one would start at base of 3 ending at top of 4 and remove both 3/4
one would replace chair 7 in same location adding an intermediate trail from quick/stage to base of new quad.
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I loved the image of the Riblet center post double. Do they get the award for the most Riblet lifts still operating?
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Maybe the most center posts?? (4)
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Mt Spokane still has 5 all original center pole double Riblet lifts, with chair 1 claiming to be the first double. Cool lifts.
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I would think Snoqualmie has the most Riblet lifts still spinning. I can think of at least nine.
Alpental Chair 2 forever!
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Yes Snoqualmie takes the cake with 10 Riblets and Big Powderhorn has 9 still operating.
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It puts a smile on my face seeing yet another resort join the Powder Alliance! It’s such an excellent, underrated collective and I like seeing it continue to grow, like the Indy Pass.
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Major Kudos to both Frank and Sally Helm on your ‘retirement’! Awesome owners who invested their heart and soul into DR. Always there, always hands-on and imminently approachable – their devotion, passion and integrity made Dodge the jewel that it is today!
Gonna miss you guys!
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