Industry News
June Lake, CA, home to June Mountain, neighbor to Mammoth Mountain, and now part of Alterra’s portfolio, is currently experiencing a bit of a resurgence. The ski area has always been off the radar, even though it offers the best lift-accessible backcountry skiing in the country, ‘four thousand feet of couloirs, bowls, techy alpine faces, and some of the finest north-facing old-growth powder skiing in the land.’
In 2012, then owners Mammoth Resorts abruptly closed the resort, blaming the banks and essentially driving a nail into the coffin of the town’s winter economy. What ski town can survive without a ski resort?! Residents organized petitions, business owners picketed, schoolkids raised money with lemonade stands. Mammoth Resorts listened, reopening the resort the following year. But the damage had been done, businesses had closed, people moved away, and the town never fully recovered.
But things are on the up for the town of June Lake. New businesses are returning, and June Mountain is now one of 35 iconic destinations on the Ikon Pass, which will bring a whole new audience to ‘the Switzerland of California’. Local resident Jamie Schectman, who is also the CEO of the Mountain Rider’s Alliance, and was involved in the 2012 closure of June Mountain, saw the potential in the town of June Lake and purchased the historic Sierra Inn building with plans of opening a new lounge and intimate music venue.
The newly renovated T-Bar Social Club will host its official grand opening on Saturday, October 27 with a Funky Halloween Bash featuring the Sextones. Recognizing there was a niche to be filled in the Eastern Sierra, the new gathering place was created to accommodate national touring acts in an intimate setting. The T-Bar Social Club retains its original laid-back lounge feel while showcasing a professionally designed, state-of-the-art sound and light system.
The initial music lineup includes talented acts such as Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth, Gethen Jenkins, Dead Winter Carpenters, and Jelly Bread. The T-Bar Social Club’s full lineup, as well as the June Lake Loop Web Camera, are available at www.balancedrocksaloon.com
“Thanks to our proximity to Los Angeles, Tahoe/Reno, Las Vegas (and during the summer, the Central Valley and Bay Area), we have a unique opportunity to book quality bands and entertainers routing through the area,” said Jamie Schectman, President of B-ROC, LLC.
In addition to live music, the T-Bar Social Club will be hosting a monthly adventure & inspirational speaker series, movie screenings, and other community-oriented functions. All events will be streamed live at www.concertwindow.com/tbarsocialclub.
“With our strategic location between Mammoth Mountain (20 minutes) and the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park (30 minutes), we look forward to offering visitors and local residents alike more entertainment opportunities to complement their daytime activities,” said Schectman.
The T-Bar Social Club is part of the renovation of the historic Sierra Inn building in June Lake. When completed, the building will house 3 separate businesses including a pizzeria and multi-use event center.
“We purchased the Sierra Inn knowing that it held a special place in a lot of people’s hearts. It’s our goal to maintain much of the charm and history while modernizing the building and bringing some new offerings to beautiful June Lake and the Eastern Sierra,” explained Schectman.
Tickets for events go on sale on October 8 at 10:00 am at www.balancedrocksaloon.com.
About T-Bar Social Club: Located at the entrance to June Lake Village, 2 miles off Highway 395 and home to the annual June Lake Jam Fest, will be open from 4 pm daily, beginning October 27. The T-Bar Social Club is the first of three new businesses planned to operate inside the historic Sierra Inn building. For more information or booking information, contact info@balancedrocksaloon.com.
