- LIFESTYLE -
In 1926, the valley just outside of
Tahoe City where Granlibakken is
situated was acquired by the Tahoe
Tavern for use as their winter sports
grounds. Granlibakken’s location
and sheltered ski hill were a winning
combination, and Granlibakken’s
renown in the snow sports world was
cemented.
In 1929, the ski hill won the bid to
host the Olympic ski jumping trials
for the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics,
putting Tahoe on the map as a
winter sports destination. In the
years before WWII, the Olympic ski
hill became a staple in the Tahoe
community, as a proving ground
for many of Tahoe City’s youth and
visitors alike.
In 1947. Kjell “Rusty” Rustad and his
wife Marion leased the land from
the Tahoe Tavern, naming the hill
“Granlibakken,” reminiscent of a ski
hill that Rusty enjoyed in Norway.
Granlibakken means “hill sheltered
by fir trees” in Norwegian. Rusty
extended the existing rope tow,
and added a smaller rope tow for
beginners. The Granlibakken ski hill
began to gain a reputation as one of
the most accessible and best places
to ski in Tahoe City, with ski jumps
for adults and juniors alike and
transportation to and from Tahoe
City via a Weasel snowcat. Rusty
built a log warming hut and some
lodging rooms at the base of the ski
hill, making Granlibakken’s first
foray into the world of hospitality.
In 1958, the UC Berkeley
International House purchased
the land across the road from the
Granlibakken ski hill, and built a
lodge, swimming pool, and dining
area for Berkeley alumni use. In
1978, the property was purchased by
its current owners, the Parson family.
Since the Parsons acquired
Granlibakken, they have preserved
its old-Tahoe charm, while making