The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is delighted to announce that at its Tuesday, July 14 meeting in Truckee, the Board of Supervisors declared Heidelmann Lodge to be the County’s newest historical landmark. The landmark was designated as Nevada County Historical Landmark NEV 26-01. It is located at 19880 Donner Pass Rd. in Soda Springs.
The applicant is The Nature Friends, Inc. which owns the Lodge. The Nature Friends was founded in 1912 by skilled European craftsman who emigrated to San Francisco to help rebuild the city after the 1906 earthquake. In the 1920s, desiring to have an alpine lodge, they received authorization from Richard Bigelow, Superintendent of the Tahoe National Forest who wished to open the area to recreation, to erect what was then the first or one of the first private ski lodges in the Donner summit area.
Built in 1931, the Sierra Haus as it was called, burned down in 1943. In 1948, The Nature Friends built the Heidelmann Lodge on that site. Designed by prominent architect Harold Wagner, it is an exceptionally fine example of an alpine ski lodge. The Lodge has played a significant pioneering role in the development of modern skiing, and as an early center for mountaineering on the summit.
This landmark will be featured in the Commission’s interactive map and in the next edition of its book Exploring Nevada County, a guide to all the County’s historical landmarks. The book is available in electronic format for any smartphone or tablet from Apple or Amazon.
The purpose of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is to promote the general welfare of Nevada County and its citizens through official recognition, recording, marking, preserving and promoting the historical resources of Nevada County. For more information, please call 530-264-0115.