Hi, I'm Jake. I handle the operational side of Mirage Mountain Resort, which is a polite way of saying I'm the person who fields calls from contractors, permitting offices, environmental consultants, and occasionally confused hikers who want to know why there's a surveying team on Palomar Mountain.
People keep asking us, "How's construction going?" And the honest answer is: it's going. It's going in the way that all large construction projects go, which is to say it's simultaneously ahead of schedule in some areas and behind in others, and every week brings a new surprise that nobody predicted. Last week it was a rock formation. The week before that, a family of very territorial woodpeckers.
The Current State of Things
Here's where we actually are: site preparation is well underway. That means clearing select areas for runs (while preserving as much natural forest as possible -- we're not monsters), grading the base area, and beginning the infrastructure work for water, power, and access roads. If you've driven up the Grade recently, you might have noticed some activity. That's us.
The lift installation process is a whole thing. We're starting with four lifts for Phase 1, and each one requires its own engineering plan, foundation work, and approximately seventeen thousand permits. I'm exaggerating, but not by as much as you'd think.
Every week brings a new surprise that nobody predicted. Last week it was a rock formation. The week before that, a family of very territorial woodpeckers.
Permitting: A Love Story
Let me tell you something about building a ski resort in San Diego County: the permitting process is an adventure. Not a fun adventure, like skiing. More like a choose-your-own-adventure book where most of the choices lead to another meeting.
We're working with county, state, and federal agencies. We have environmental impact assessments. We have water rights discussions. We have consultations with local communities and stakeholders. Every single one of these is important and necessary, and I would not trade any of them for the world, and also I have aged approximately ten years in the last eighteen months.
But here's the thing: it's working. Slowly, methodically, sometimes painfully -- but it's working. The agencies we're working with have been rigorous and thorough, which is exactly what you want when someone proposes building a ski resort on a mountain that hosts a world-class observatory. We want people to ask hard questions. It means we're doing this right.
The Environmental Commitment
This deserves its own section because it matters. Palomar Mountain is a special place. It's home to the Palomar Observatory. It's surrounded by state park land. It has diverse ecosystems and wildlife. We're not building Mirage Mountain Resort in spite of that; we're building it in conversation with that.
What that means practically:
- Selective clearing: We're not clear-cutting anything. Runs are being designed around existing terrain and tree patterns.
- Water management: Our snowmaking system is being designed for maximum efficiency, using recirculated water and modern low-energy snow guns.
- Dark sky compliance: All resort lighting will comply with Palomar Mountain's dark sky ordinances. The observatory was here first, and we respect that.
- Wildlife corridors: We're maintaining natural pathways for animal movement across the resort area.
What's Coming Next
Over the next several months, you'll start to see visible progress. The base lodge foundation is going in. The first lift towers will start going up. The snowmaking infrastructure -- pipes, pumps, hydrants -- will be installed across the mountain. It's going to start looking like a ski resort.
And I won't lie: every time I drive up the Grade and see something new taking shape, I get a little emotional. Not in a crying way. In a "we're actually doing this" way. Which, okay, sometimes also involves a little crying.
The Timeline
We're targeting Winter 2026/27 for opening day. That's the plan. That's always been the plan. And barring any geological surprises (please, no more geological surprises), we're going to hit it.
If you want to be there when the first chair goes up, we're still selling Founding Member passes. Limited to 1,000 people. You'll be able to tell your kids you were there from the beginning. Or, more realistically, you'll be able to tell your friends at the bar, which is equally important.
Thanks for following along. We'll keep posting updates here on the blog and across our socials. And if you happen to be on Palomar Mountain and see a guy in a hard hat talking to a woodpecker, that's me. Say hi.
See the full development plan for Mirage Mountain Resort.