Squaw Valley History

I picked up the book in Truckee a couple of weeks ago and finally got time to sit down a fully read it. (of course when I first got it I looked to see the chapter on How to Buy an Olympic Village). I really enjoyed finding out so much more about the history of both areas. I knew some of the principal players via some contact, but it was so interesting to learn, for example, about Peter Klaussen’s history with both areas, I knew Peter and Joan but never knew the details that you brought out in your book. Great fun to read.

—Phil Carville, Nevada City, CA (Developer-Olympic Village Inn)

Phil Carville, Developer-Olympic Village InnRead More

It was a great pleasure to read your fine Squaw and Alpine book – a real page turner. I was amazed how complete and balanced you were able to be. You seemed to have avoided getting opinions in the way of history.

There are many stories about the collapse of the Arena, most claiming a conspiracy. I know your account is correct. The Olympic buildings were designed for 60 pounds per square foot, being ‘temporary.” The code at the time was 100#, over 200# per square foot now. The arena design was very clever with the waste heat from the ice making causing the roof to be slick. My guess is that the weight of snow when it collapsed was over 6,000,000 pounds, 3000 tons. Any machine would have been a small percentage of this, but maneuvering around the cables would have been tricky.

—Henrik Bull, Architect

Henrik Bull, ArchitectRead More

The book, Eddy, is a great piece of writing that chronicles an extraordinary story about bigger-than-life, over-the-top movers and shakers in your two valleys. I knew some of the personae, but not all, and most of the events described were new to me.

So it was a great read, full of success and failure, dreams achieved and smashed, elation and tears. And the story is not over, but the period you covered will probably be the most exciting, because it was a virginal landscape, with many strong-willed would-be players with different, opposing visions on what should be drawn on the unmarked palette.

I’ve read a number of mountain resort histories, and yours is the best by far.

—Tom Corcoran, Member 1958 and 1960 U.S. Olympic Ski Team, member of the United States Ski Hall of Fame, former president of the Eastern Ski Areas Association, and chairman of the National Ski Areas Association.

Tom Corcoran, Member 1958 and 1960 U.S. Olympic Ski Team and U.S. Ski Hall of FameRead More

Congratulations on a wonderful reading. I really enjoyed every minute of it. You have a wonderful droll take on the events in Squaw and your sense of humor shines through. Everyone was leaning forward, eager to hear the rest of your story.

—Brett Hall Jones, Executive Director, Squaw Valley Community of Writers

Brett Hall-Executive Director, Squaw Valley Community of WritersRead More