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In October 2005, Royal Gorge LLC, a partnership of Foster Enterprises, Woodstock Development, and unnamed third party investors purchased the Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski resort, which, with 9,000 acres of skiing terrain, is considered the largest cross country ski area in North America. The purchased land includes the Van Norden lake and meadow, a large section of the historic California Emigrant Trail, and the historic Rainbow Lodge on Highway 40; the holdings are adjacent to the Sugar Bowl and Soda Springs downhill ski resorts, and surround Ice Lakes, two beautiful pristine natural lakes used for recreation and as a water supply. The Van Norden lake is today a much smaller body of water than indicated on the map: in the 1980s, it was restored to its original status as a wetland when PGE removed a dam which did not meet earthquake standards. In January 2006, Royal Gorge LLC added Ice Lakes Lodge to their portfolio. Kirk Syme and Todd Foster are the two controlling partners. The map does not show Rainbow lodge, which is located West on highway 50. Note that there are two other downhill ski resorts nearby: Boreal, and Donner Ski Ranch (not shown, east on highway 50 at Donner Pass).
The local communities include a- the Serene Lakes development, an area surrounding Ice Lakes with 760 single family homes in a variety of sizes and styles, many custom designed and built, and 290 vacant lots; b- the Cedars and the Palisades, two separate clusters of isolated cabins, built in the 1940s and accessible in the Winter only through snow shoes and cross country skis; the Cedars are located near the American River, and the Palisades around a pristine lake directly in the watershed of Foster-Syme property; and c- the commercial businesses and homes along Highway 40.
The Donner Summit area has a long history. Soda Springs, Sugar Bowl and lake Van Norden were in the 1950s very popular winter and summer resorts, with many hotels and gaz stations to server bay area residents making the long trip on old highway 40.