All of the holdings of Royal Gorge and all of the Rancho Monterrey land and the Ice Lakes Lodge have been sold to a new company headed by Todd and Mark Foster and Kirk Syme. It is unclear, but it seems that this same group also may be in negotiations to purchase the Soda Springs Ski Resort and additional commercial property in Soda Springs. The Fosters also own a house in Sugar Bowl.

Royal Gorge, Ice Lakes Lodge and Rainbow lodge will continue to be open under the current management for the foreseeable future.

The Fosters are grandsons of Jack Foster of Foster City and manage Foster Enterprises while Kirk Syme manages Woodstock Development in Burlingame (no website!).

The Rancho Monterrey properties include large parcels of land adjacent to Soda Springs Road leading up past Bogus Basin to Crow's Nest and down into Van Norden. It also includes land to the west of Hilside adjacent to the Summit Station and going down toward Long Lake. In total, the purchase includes approximates 3000 acres.

The DSAA is trying to set up a meeting with these new owners to hear a bit more about their plans. Over the next year, the DSAA is developing a Community Development Plan which will try to express the desires of the community to help guide new projects. We hope to work with developers, residents, and business and homeowners in this process with the goal of improving our region in a manner that benefits everyone.

More details and conjecture to follow after the next DSAA board meeting on Thursday, October 6th at Ice Lakes Lodge (open to the public). Just the facts for now. The Sierra Sun has an article on the deal as well.