Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley

Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley is located in Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, with 21 ski trails served by three lifts. Mt. Lemmon is located about an hour from Tucson and is typically open from December until mid-April.

Mt. Lemmon History

During World War II, a group of skiers made up of Lowell Thomas , a noted journalist and adventurer, a local forest ranger, and many Davis Monthan serviceman which included Thomas’ son, later a Governor of Alaska, and Art Devlin, a future Olympic ski jumper and Television commentator, formed the Sahuaro Ski Club.

The well known cartoonist, Paul Webb, created a patch and membership certificates for the club showing a skier wrapped around a sahuaro cactus. Thomas sent honorary memberships to dozens of friends, famous personalities around the world, making membership a tongue in cheek must. A ski gala was held that first year at the Arizona Inn with many of Thomas’ friends in attendance. A Forest Service lease was obtained, an old model “A” with its tires removed propelled a rope tow and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley had its beginning.