Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley

During WWII, a group of skiers made up of Thomas Lowell, a noted journalist and adventurer, a local forest ranger and many Davis Monthan serviceman which included Thomas’ son, later a Governor of Alaska, and Art Devlin, a future Olympic ski jumper and Television commentator, formed the Sahuaro Ski Club. The well known cartoonist, Paul Webb, created a patch and membership certificates for the club showing a skier wrapped around a sahuaro cactus. Thomas sent honorary memberships to dozens of friends, famous personalities around the world, making membership a tongue in cheek must. A ski gala was held that first year at the Arizona Inn with many of Thomas’ friends in attendance. A Forest Service lease was obtained, an old model “A” with it’s tires removed propelled a rope tow and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley had it’s beginning.