Disney Almost Had a Ski Resort—Here's What It Would Have Been Like

"Developed after a friendship between Walt Disney and Austrian skier Hannes Schroll, who purchased the land in 1938 for $6,750; Disney invested $2,500 and, as a result, Schroll renamed Hemlock Peak 'Mt. Disney,' the site of the resort's first chairlift (the Disney Lift), which was also the first chairlift built in California. Early lift pricing was quoted as "$0.25 for a ride up or $2.00 if you wanted to ski down," noted as roughly the equivalent of $44 today. The resort has kept a playful Disney link over the years — as the resort told Travel + Leisure, "We're not telling where, but to this day, we occasionally hide a pair of Mickey Mouse ears in paintings or printed materials for the resort." The original village lodge at the mountain also appears in animated form in the Goofy short "The Art of Skiing" (1941)." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines