Tuesday, June 09, 2009
1938: Ski area's original base area is established in Hart Prairie. A rope tow, powered by a car engine, pulls skiers uphill.
1952: The base lodge is destroyed in a fire. 1954: Road leading to ski area is extended to the site of the Agassiz Lodge. Agassiz Lodge is built in 1956. Two more lifts are added in 1958 and 1962, but little else is developed.
1970: Summit Properties purchases the area with plans for a base village, however, a land-use plan issued in 1971 restricts development to the existing permit area.
1977: Northland Recreation purchases the ski area and files a master plan to develop the area.
1979: The U.S. Forest Service approves a commercial ski area with new lifts, trails and facilities. Dick and Jean Wilson, the Navajo Medicinemen's Association, and the Hopi Tribe subsequently sue Interior Secretary John Block.
1982: The Hart Prairie chair lift is built. In November, Fairfield Communities purchases area and begins a plan in 1983 that includes the construction of Hart Prairie Lodge, the Sunset chair lift and transfer of the rope tow back to Hart Prairie.
1983: The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear arguments from Wilson, the medicine men, and the Hopi Tribe. That action affirms the lower courts' decisions and clears the way for more development of the commercial ski area.
1984: Congress creates the Kachina Peaks Wilderness outside the ski area boundaries.
1988: The U.S. Supreme Court hears a case of multiple California tribes objecting to road construction and logging in U.S. Forest Service areas they want left undisturbed. In a 5-3 ruling, the justices say the federal government is not violating the tribes' religious beliefs because it does not coerce the tribal members themselves to do something contrary to their beliefs.
1992: Arizona Snowbowl Limited Partnership buys the ski area, expands Hart Prairie Lodge and adds a guest service office, a rental shop and a children's ski school. Trail improvements are also made.
1993: Congress passes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It says: Government shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion, unless it furthers a compelling government interest, and the action proposed is the least harmful method of proceeding.
1997: The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a section of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as it applies to states' rights after an archbishop in Texas attempts to tell local zoning officials it would be infringing on his religion to forbid him to expand his church building. It remains for federal use.
2000: The San Francisco Peaks is designated a Traditional Cultural Property, which allows it to be eligible for consideration as an official National Historic Register site.
2001: Snowbowl files an application for development, snowmaking with the U.S. Forest Service.
2002: Flagstaff City Council agrees to sell 1.5 million gallons of reclaimed wastewater per day during the winter months to Arizona Snowbowl, signing a contract with the business.
2004: The Coconino National Forest releases an environmental study of the proposed changes for public comment. It receives almost 10,000 comments.
2005: Coconino National Forest approves snowmaking with reclaimed wastewater at Arizona Snowbowl. Tribes and environmental groups file suit against the U.S. Forest Service.
2006: A U.S. district judge upholds the Forest Service's decision to allow snowmaking. Plaintiffs subsequently appeal the decision to the 9th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorneys for the tribes argue the proposed upgrade desecrates sacred land.
March 2007: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules Arizona Snowbowl operators cannot use reclaimed wastewater to make snow.
Oct. 2007: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides to rehear the case en banc, or with 11 judges.
Aug. 2008: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says Arizona Snowbowl can make snow with reclaimed water, and go ahead with other improvements, despite tribal objections.
Jan. 2009: Tribes ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the 9th Circuit's approval of Snowbowl's development. Tribes argue the further expansion of the ski area is in substantial conflict with religious beliefs.
June 2009: U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear the case. This means the 11-judge decision of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stands, allowing snowmaking to commence.
-- Sources: Arizona Daily Sun archives, Final Environmental Impact Statement for Arizona Snowbowl Facilities Improvement, the Justice Department, and the Associated Press.
