In the early 1970’s owner Joe Royer, already heavily involved at on-mountain patrol at Snowbird Resort, was always admiring this obscure mountain range just off I-80 near Elko while traveling back and forth to his hometown in San Francisco. After a few more years of bouncing around the world, surfing swells and connecting the dots with people that appreciated the mountains as much as he did, he found himself exploring the Rubies, determined to show others the elegance he saw in a remote mountain range in northeastern Nevada.
And so it started in 1977, crazy at times, plain insane at others- all the while remaining true to the core goal of bringing others into the backcountry to experience the exhilaration of exchanging smiles with friends and family across ridgelines and through sprays of powder snow.
Throughout the years, the Ruby Mountain family has earned a reputation as one of North America’s best kept secrets- and it’s not just for the skiing. From guest experience, dining and accommodations to guide expertise and education- our focus is on you to ensure we go above and beyond your expectations.
The Ruby Mountain Range is a range 90 miles long and 10 to 12 miles wide, located east of Elko, Nevada. Featuring 10 peaks above 11,000 feet including 11,387-foot Ruby Dome, and more than two dozen alpine lakes, they offer endless outdoor opportunity, especially backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
The “Rubies” got their name during the gold rush days in the 1800’s. The U.S. Army came to Nevada to help early pioneers find routes to California. Soldiers began panning for gold in the range’s streambeds. They found garnets, which they mistook for rubies. But it’s no misnomer–with their alpine scenery, abundant wildlife and water, the Rubies are considered the crown jewel of the Great Basin Region.
