Dodge Ridge sold to owners of Socal ski resort
The 45-year owners of the Dodge Ridge Ski Resort in the Stanislaus National Forest announced their retirement Monday and the sale of the popular recreation destination to Invision Capital, owners of Mountain High Resort in Southern California, and Karl Kapuscinski, president and chief executive officer of Mountain High Resort.
Owners Frank and Sally Helm are just the second family owners in the 71-year history of the resort.
“Dodge Ridge has been the love of our life for Frank and me. We have committed our love, sweat and tears for this place,” said Sally Helm in a phone interview with The Union Democrat on Monday. “We are so grateful to the team — the present team, the team from the past — all those people that made Dodge Ridge such a great place that was our love.”
Dodge Ridge, located adjacent to Pinecrest Reservoir in Tuolumne County off of Highway 108, offers 12 lifts, a 1,600 vertical drop and 862 acres of skiable terrain, said a news release from the resort.
New ownership will assume control of all resort facilities, which includes the United States Forest Service Special Use Permit, and the operation of the Pinecrest, Clark Fork and Brightman Flat USFS campground complexes.
Kapuscinski, who has worked at Mountain High since 1997, has known Frank and Sally for over 20 years through the California Ski Industry Association.
“I always looked at Dodge Ridge, knowing Frank and Sally and their situation as a very similar resort as Mountain High,” he said. “It’s not a mega resort, and it really fits our DNA, my DNA.”
Kapuscinski was described as bringing 30 years of ski area operations experience to Dodge Ridge. He grew up in Vermont and has run resorts in New York, Minnesota and Washington, among others, he said.
“I’ve enjoyed this business in multiple areas and been successful in all the areas I’ve been involved with,” he said “We see it as a very natural progression.”
Kapuscinski said he plans to lease a home in the Pinecrest area to split time between Tuolumne County and his other home in Southern California.
Invision Capital is a financial partner in Mountain High and Dodge Ridge, Kapuscinski said, noting that the operations would be run independently and separately from each
other, with Dodge Ridge employees being retained.
Dodge Ridge General Manager Jenni Smith will remain in her position and lead the team under Kapuscinski, the release said.
“I would say wholeheartedly, Karl has really developed a love for Dodge Ridge,” Helm said. “It’s just so special to hand the ski area over to him and see his vision for the future. I absolutely think there’s going to be another 71 years to come, no question in my mind.”
Kapuscinski and Sally Helm declined to share the sale price at this time.
The new ownership was set to begin this month, the news release stated.
Kapuscinski said Dodge Ridge was an attractive acquisition due to its economic base in Tuolumne County and draw to Central Valley and Bay Area patrons.
“Dodge Ridge is definitely a huge attraction for our area. Not only does it provide a great winter destination, but it employs so many of our locals,” said Visit Tuolumne County CEO Lisa Mayo, who said even she worked there in high school.
“I think when you talk to people there’s a lot of generational happy feelings about that place,” she said. “I’m certain Frank and Sally wouldn’t sell that to someone who wouldn’t carry on that tradition of being a great family destination.”
Helm estimated over 150,000 visitors a year to the ski area, many tens of thousands more during off-season operations from their management of the USFS campgrounds.
Mountain High Resort is located in Wrightwood, off Highway 2 in Los Angeles County.
Mountain High offers 290 skiable acres, a 1,600 vertical drop and multiple lifts at north, west and east sections of the resort.
Mountain High does between 250,000 and 300,000 visits a year, Kapuscinski said.
In future plans, Kapuscinski described a “general freshening” of Dodge Ridge to maintain a “newer look,” though he described the updates as cosmetic and intended to add value during the various seasons.
“We’re definitely looking to make improvements
going forward, but we’re not trying to change it into something it isn’t,” he said.
The additions include facilitating mountain biking trails, disc golf and yeararound restaurants in the off-season, as well as the potential for snowmaking and other snow activities in the wintertime.
The Helms have already received approval for a liftaccessed mountain biking plan which may be developed now under the new ownership, the release said.
“The new owners truly appreciate the family oriented culture that has made this resort special for over 70 years, and the existing Dodge Ridge team will continue to deliver the guest-focused culture our visitors have come to expect,” said Sally Helm in the news release.
Dodge Ridge opened in 1950 by the Purdy family. The Helms bought it in 1976.
Helm said chief among their investments and expansions was the installment of Chairlift 7 in 1985 and Chairlift 8 in 1998, which tripled the skiable acreage available on the mountain to snowboarders and skiers.
In 2007, the release stated, they completed a $6 million renovation which included the addition of the 16,000-square-foot Family Lodge.
In 2020, the year of Dodge Ridge’s 70th anniversary, their snowfall totals for the season topped the majority of other ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada at 223 inches, or just under 20 feet.
Sonora Area Foundation Executive Director Darrell Slocum said the Helms managed The Helm Family Fund and the Dodge Ridge Resort Charitable Fund during their tenure as owners. The Dodge Ridge fund will now fall under the responsibility of the new owner, he said.
“I’ve been honored to partner with Frank and Sally and other Dodge Ridge personnel on assisting them in meeting their charitable giving goals,” Slocum said.
Slocum said prominent business and social leaders in Tuolumne County voiced support for the sale and for the stewardship of the Helms during the tenure of their ownership.
Slocum provided comments from Dana Mayo, SAF board member and general manager of J.S. West and Co.; Charles and Kate Powell Segerstrom, the former a Sierra Business Council board member and the latter a Tuolumne County Superior Court judge; Anne and Ron Patel, the former a local tax professional and the latter the former longtime CEO of Black Oak Casino; and
Stacey Martin Dodge (no relation to Dodge Ridge), co-owner of Sierra Resource Management.
Slocum said Dana Mayo, who is Lisa Mayo’s husband, served on the Tuolumne County Business Council Executive Board with Frank Helm.
“The incredible impact that Frank and Sally Helm have had in Tuolumne County is immeasurable. From providing world class recreation for locals and visitors, employing thousands of community members over the years, providing an incident command center during emergencies, and promoting stewardship of the land, their generosity is felt now and will for years to come,” Dana Mayo said.
The Segerstroms were described as longtime patrons of Dodge Ridge and friends of the Helms.
“Cheers to Frank and Sally Helm for making the Dodge Ridge slogan of ‘Family Owned, Family Loved’ ring true for so many decades.,” they said. “Just as the Helm family has been a very generous supporter of our county for more than 45 years, their major improvements to Dodge Ridge have allowed our family and so many others to raise new generations of expert skiers on the slopes at Dodge. We are forever grateful to Frank Helm for his leadership.”
Ron and Anne Patel won the Irving J. Symons Award in 2019 and knew the Helms for many years in a professional business capacity, Slocum said.
“During our 20-year stay in Tuolumne County we have come to know Frank and Sally Helm as dedicated business owners, not only for growing and nurturing their family business, but for sharing their success with Tuolumne County,” they said. “Dodge Ridge has been, and hopefully will continue to be, a significant attraction to so many visitors to our County.”
Stacey Martin Dodge also knew the couple for many years in a professional and personal relationship, she said.
“Tuolumne County is lucky to have Frank and Sally. Yes, they have the ski resort and campsites, but we as a community also gain from their generous donations and contributions to a multitude of organizations. They have positively impacted both small groups to large non-profits and have done so without grandstanding. They do all this with huge hearts and quiet hands — a pair that needs to be noticed. I’m privileged to be able to call them my friends,” she said.
Season pass holders for 2021-22 will have unlimited access to lifts and skiable acres under the new ownership.
Dodge Ridge is also now considered a partner in the Powder Alliance, which advertises free skiing and riding perks at 15 other partner resorts throughout the western United States, Canada and Japan.
“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,” Kapuscinski said in the news release. “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.”
Helm said her and Frank planned to enjoy Tuolumne County during their retirement.