Coming off one of the longest ski seasons in North America, Mammoth Lakes, CA is ready to do it all again. Despite the shortened off-season (opening day is set for Nov. 9), plenty of new eateries and improvements will greet visitors to California’s premier mountain destination this winter.

Mammoth Mountain Improvements

Canyon Lodge Renovations: Phase 2 of the Canyon Lodge renovation will see multiple improvements this winter with the addition of a new bar, restaurant, 2,500 square feet of interior space and more than 200 new seats. The additions include:

Lincoln Bar: Bringing the outside in, Lincoln Bar in Canyon Lodge combines 2,000 square feet of new indoor bar space bar and a fireplace lounge with an outdoor kitchen and bar. Two outdoor terraces will overlook the Canyon base area, serving up California sunshine in addition to a full menu of craft cocktails and an excellent beer and wine selection. The space will also feature a grab-and-go coffee bar to fuel up before getting down.

Bringing the outside in, Lincoln Bar in Canyon Lodge combines 2,000 square feet of new indoor bar space bar and a fireplace lounge with an outdoor kitchen and bar. Two outdoor terraces will overlook the Canyon base area, serving up California sunshine in addition to a full menu of craft cocktails and an excellent beer and wine selection. The space will also feature a grab-and-go coffee bar to fuel up before getting down. Canyon BBQ: Also located in Canyon Lodge and adjacent to the new Lincoln Bar, this new eatery serving elevated BBQ staples like brisket, pulled pork and ribs will take care of your protein needs. Perfect for grab and go, or enjoying at the neighboring Beach Bar

Fowl Language: New this winter at Eagle Lodge, the Fowl Language restaurant will serve up hand-breaded, southern-style chicken sandwiches and tenders, with a focus on fresh preparation and homestyle flavors.

Sierra Grind: Located in the Village, the new coffee shop will offer a full espresso bar as well as freshly baked pastries, sweets, and a selection of handcrafted sandwiches. The coffee shop is adjacent to Village Gondola and will replace the Starbucks formerly located in the same space.

Snowmaking: Mammoth’s snowmaking infrastructure will benefit from a $1.3M upgrade, increasing both the efficiency and capability of the system. Early season conditions at Mammoth are routinely among the best in the country, the upgraded snowmaking system will help ensure that moving forward.

Flights

Ski Free: Daily service on United from Los Angeles (LAX) San Francisco (SFO) and Denver (DEN) continues this winter. For the first time, guests flying from (or through) SFO and DEN will ski free on the day of arrival starting on Jan 6. Just show your boarding pass at any ticket window to redeem.

Dining Around Town

Dos Alas CubaRican Cafe: Located off of Old Mammoth Road with amazing views of the Sherwins, this quaint spot offering tropical/Caribbean and Spanish cuisine informed by the owners’ Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage is a fantastic and heart-felt addition to the local food scene. Open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, stop in and enjoy a seasonally rotating menu highlighted by the Cuban sandwich.

Noodle-ly: Specializing in Vietnamese and Thai noodle soup, Noodle-ly is set to open this fall on Old Mammoth Road adjacent to Vons.

Public House Tap Room: The bar opened in February 2019 and occupies the large corner unit next to Black Velvet coffee shop in the Main Street Promenade (formerly the Mammoth Luxury Outlet Mall). The taproom has a long bar, a lounge area with couches, and an old TV equipped with a Nintendo 64. Owner Lienne Anderten-Smith opened the establishment specifically with the goal of creating a venue to highlight beers from the region. At the Public House, it’s all about the beer with a rotating selection of 50 beers available on tap. With new selections coming in weekly, there’s something for every palate.

El Charro Taqueria: The new taco spot has been a local favorite since opening this summer. Serving authentic Mexican street-style tacos and burritos made with fresh ingredients in a no-frills setting, it’s exactly what you want in a taco joint. Located in the Sierra Center Mall.

Events

Mammoth Photo Fest: October 10-13, 2019. Join professional photographers Christian Pondella and Joshua Cripps, plus a dozen other world-class photographers for Mammoth Lakes’ inaugural photography festival. With an area rich in awe-inspiring nature and beautiful fall colors, you can’t help but want to take photos. Festival excursions will explore landscape, environmental portraiture, action/sports and astro (night sky) photography. Additionally, the festival will include classes, portfolio reviews, panel discussions, and much more. Recreational iPhone users all the way to professional photographers will find something of interest at the Mammoth Photography Festival.

Amenities

Minaret Cinemas: Mammoth Lakes’ movie theater is getting a major upgrade. Now serving a selection of beer and wine, and with seating upgrades including larger recliner-style seats.