Donner Ski Ranch Bar

Honestly I didn't have high hopes for this place, but after spending about 10 min there it's definitely a diamond in the rough.
A friend took me snowboarding for the first time @ Donner Ski during the middle of the week & after an hour of falling on my butt I decided fat girl needed a break! I went up to the 'cafeteria' area to find out it wasn't open, but the bar was and they took the food orders and prepared the food. I sat down & was instantly greeted by the bartender (I'm so horrible for not remembering her name but this was back in January) even though she was in the middle of a conversation with a regular she stopped to say hi and asked if I needed anything. At that time I just wanted a bottle of water, but she was attentive & kind.

After my break and another lesson my friend & I decided to go back to the bar for lunch & a beverage. Again the bartender was so nice & the 2 regulars, one of which apparently works there part time, struck up a conversation with us & everyone made us feel like we were regulars too. We ordered drinks, her a beer, me a dirty vodka martini - extra dirty & some chilli cheese fries. The bartender wanted to make sure she got my martini the way I liked it and gave me extra olive juice on the side if it wasn't the way I liked it (mucho points in my book!). The fries were heavenly, and not just because we were starving but they were really good! We didn't order anything else because I didn't want to weigh myself down with too much food, I dunno maybe I thought sustenance would make me a worse snowboarder (though looking back nothing would have made me better or worse for that matter). I saw others order burgers & such & it all smelled good & looked good.

When it comes down to it I would be willing to eat &/or drink here even if I wasn't playing in the snow. I look forward to the next time I get to experience this friendly establishment.

I came here last winter on a ski day with my sister's friends from the Bay Area. Not all of them skied well, and I think they really wanted to hang at the bar more then ski! This bar is nice and friendly, at least to us they were! Yes, great bloody Mary's. Not super crowded.

it's a bar at the ski lodge, what more do you need to know? oh yeah, they make a mean bloody mary!