WHO WE ARE
Discover Taos Ski Valley’s heritage, mountain beauty, and commitment to community and sustainability.
Explore Our BlogOUR HISTORY
In the early 1950s, Swiss ski pioneer Ernie Blake spotted this awe-inspiring mountain's towering vertical and snow aspect at the base of the Rocky Mountains from his Cessna 170 during his routine commute between the Santa Fe Ski Basin and the Glenwood Ski Area. From that day forward, Blake, his wife, Rhoda, and their children, dedicated their lives to building a destination, their way. The whole family relocated to what is now Taos Ski Valley in an eleven-foot camper and got to work.
What began as a small hill with just one lift and one run (the current Snakedance on the frontside steeps), quickly grew into a world-class resort with the help of other ski pioneers like Jean Mayer, the French junior champion skier who arrived in 1957 to found the award-winning Ski School and create the revolutionary Ski Week tradition. The Blakes created a pure mountain experience, where local culture and traditional European hospitality formed a welcoming spirit rooted in the natural environment. That essence remains at the core of the resort to this day.
OUR PURPOSE
Enjoy • Protect • Give
Our appreciation for the mountains runs deeper than skiing and riding.
Committed to enjoying, protecting, and giving back to our mountains and community, we became the first mountain resort to earn B Corporation certification in 2017. B Corp provides a framework to run our business responsibly, benefiting the environment, our team, guests, and community, while connecting us to a global network of businesses that inspire us to continually improve.
It’s not the end goal, but a guide to help us reduce our carbon footprint, support our staff, and champion responsible practices.
OUR VISION
At Taos, four guiding principles shape every decision, with each component equally important in creating a unique, world-class destination in the heart of the Sangre de Cristos.
Iconic & Independent
Better, Not Bigger
Confluence of Cultures
B Corp Ethos
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TAOS SKI VALLEY
Each component is as important as the next. Together, they create the unique, world-class destination nestled in the heart of the Sangre de Cristos.
Our vision does not expand our resort boundary, but instead focuses on enhancing the guest experience both on and off the mountain. In the past few years, this has included projects like the beautiful slopeside lodging, The Blake, which pays homage to the incredible history and art of the region, the state-of-the-art Rio Hondo Learning Center and beginner terrain, and becoming an all-season destination by launching summer activities like lift-served mountain biking and a Via Ferrata guided climbing experience. In the upcoming years, differentiated restaurant choices and replacing older lifts with high-speed lifts will help disperse crowds.
As we look towards the future, we want to ensure that we never to lose the soul of what makes Taos so special. Guided by our history and surroundings, we vow to remain true to the people and places that were fundamental to Taos's formation.
Hotel St. Bernard
Preserving the Heritage
Jean Mayer helped solidify Taos Ski Valley’s place as a world-class resort, and all those who met him, skied with him, or stayed at the Hotel St. Bernard were graced with his warmth and passion for the sport and the mountain. Although Jean is gone, his legacy will live on. We’re thrilled to share the vision for the future of this famed hospitality experience.
Master Development Plan
In accordance with the terms of the Ski Area’s Special Use Permit, Taos completed a Master Development Plan (MDP) in 2021 to outline plans for future improvements on National Forest Service lands within the Ski Area boundary. Several public engagement and outreach meetings occurred during the planning process of the 2021 MDP, in order to better develop and refine concepts for improvements at the Ski Area. The map below shows the full range of improvements proposed in the MDP.
For more information about the Master Development Plan and the planning process, please watch this recording from the May 2021 public forum: Master Development Plan Virtual Public Forum (May 4, 2021).
To keep up to date on the Carson National Forest’s review of the proposed improvement projects, please visit the Forest Service website.
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