| The town of Mammoth Lakes is a unique region of California filled with more than 7,000 full-time residents. Located in the Inyo National Forest, within the confines of Mono County, Mammoth Lakes was incorporated in 1984, nearly 30 years after Mammoth Mountain Ski Area founder Dave McCoy put up the first tow rope.The town is a mere four square miles in size, but the forest surrounding it goes on forever. Locals have coined the phrases, “village in the trees” or “town within a park” to describe their habitat.
The close connection with the forest is also why Mammoth has such a close connection with its wildlife. Characterized by its mountains, lakes, streams and forests, those who come to Mammoth should expect to share their town with the animals and plantlife that inhabited it first. The town is situated in the southwestern region of Mono County and many of its trails, campgrounds and roads abut or cross the crest of the Sierra. Mammoth is a tourist-based economy and receives approximately 2.8 million visitors per year. Winter and summer are the most popular seasons with about 1.3 million visitors and 1.5 million, respectively. This means that during these peak seasons, the town can grow in population to anywhere between 30,000 and 40,000 people. |