Press Release: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
December 27, 2000
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave official notification Friday to the Town
of Mammoth Lakes that the Mammoth/Yosemite Airport is the recipient of nearly $30 million in federal funds which
will be spent on improvements at the airport to accommodate commercial air service.
The FAA funding comes in the form of a Letter of Intent which commits $28.7 million over a two-year period to the
Mammoth/Yosemite Airport. Airport construction will begin this spring and includes: lengthening the runway from
7,000 feet to 8,200 feet; widening the runway from 100 feet to 150 feet; strengthening all existing asphalt and
concrete; installing a ramp to facilitate large jet aircraft, and building a terminal facility. These infrastructure
improvements are designed to accommodate Boeing 757 aircraft which are used in other mountain communities in Colorado
and Wyoming with similar direct air programs.
The Town of Mammoth Lakes is located in Central California in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Long a
favorite of Southern Californians, Mammoth Mountain is California's premiere mountain resort known for big-mountain
skiing, long ski seasons, and 300 days of sunshine annually. A haven for winter recreation and a gateway to Yosemite
in summer months, Mammoth Lakes hosts approximately three millions visitors each year, almost all of whom arrive
by vehicle. The development of the Mammoth/Yosemite airport is a major step in expanding services to the existing
population and guests of the Eastern Sierra.
``This is a tremendous accomplishment for the resort and the community of Mammoth Lakes. It takes us one step closer
to fulfilling our vision of becoming a world-class destination resort,'' said Bill Manning, Mammoth/Yosemite Airport
Director.
``For the past 30 months the Town and resort have illustrated an incredible public-private partnership resulting
in the achievement of this significant milestone,'' said Rob Perlman, Executive Director of Marketing for Mammoth
Mountain Ski Area.
Throughout the process, Town and resort officials worked closely with American Airlines and during the next several
months will determine flight schedules, routing, and details for jet service into Mammoth Lakes. ``Mammoth has
always had a world-class mountain and a world-class town. Bringing direct air service to the community addresses
the access issue which has so long been considered a deterrent for destination travelers,'' added Perlman.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. The company owns and operates
Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Cross Country Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth
Mountain Bike Park, Mammoth Mountain Inn and also operates Juniper Springs Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Club in Mammoth
Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit http://www.mammothmountain.com
SOURCE: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area