Truckee in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Highway Maintenance Station

Hwy 40 Scenic Bypass

Photographed by William Thievon, July 15, 2025

1. Highway Maintenance Station Marker

Inscription.

Highway Maintenance Station. Hwy 40 Scenic Bypass. , History: The current large building at the head of Donner Pass on Old 40 was built for the Division of Highways in 1931 to serve as a dormitory for highway workers. That was the first winter the road was plowed and on-call workers needed accommodations. The idea to plow the road had been pursued by the Auburn Ski Club. When they finally took an auto parade of legislators to the snow the need was seen and the State began plowing the road. The building went up for auction in 1965 when Cal Trans moved to 1-80 at Kingvale and became the Donner Spitz Inn with dormitories, bar, and a restaurant. There have been various other uses over the year and it now belongs to Sugar Bowl. Pictured here: views of the building (1930’s) and its octagonal garage (collapsed by snow in 1983), the very first snow removal equipment (except trains) on Donner Summit, and signs at the top of Donner Summit (1930’s). The building with the overhang was the gas station., A Good Story:“Skiing on the 4th of July...the... average snow depth around Donner Pass that 1937-38 winter was 29 feet above the ground. I took a girl from San Francisco skiing - for her first time on skis , on part of the rope tow slope , by moonlight on the Fourth of July, 1938.” Johnny Ellis (built the first rope tow on Donner Summit on the mountain behind the Sugar Bowl Academy building) , Things to do right here: The Pacific Crest Trail takes off for the south a couple of hundred yards down the paved road at the sharp turn. Hike up the trail to the first left-hand turn and follow the trail to the saddle between Donner Peak and Mt. Judah. Then scramble over the granite that takes you to the top of Donner Peak. What a view: a thousand feet straight down to Donner Lake. It’s a bit more than a mile , uphill but then it’s all down hill on the way back. If you are hiking before August you will probably come across some snowfields on the north side of Mt. Judah , great for sliding on, making snow cones with, or using to cool off. Pick up the Judah Loop brochure at the brochure rack and take the most popular hike on Donner Summit. ,

History: The current large building at the head of Donner Pass on Old 40 was built for the Division of Highways in 1931 to serve as a dormitory for highway workers. That was the first winter the road was plowed and on-call workers needed accommodations. The idea to plow the road had been pursued by the Auburn Ski Club. When they finally took an auto parade of legislators to the snow the need was seen and the State began plowing the road. The building went up for auction in 1965 when Cal Trans moved to 1-80 at Kingvale and became the Donner Spitz Inn with dormitories, bar, and a restaurant. There have been various other uses over the year and it now belongs to Sugar Bowl. Pictured here: views of the building (1930’s) and its octagonal garage (collapsed by snow in 1983), the very first snow removal equipment (except trains) on Donner Summit, and signs at the top of Donner Summit (1930’s). The building with the overhang was the gas station.

A Good Story:“Skiing on the 4th of July...the... average snow depth around Donner Pass that 1937-38 winter was 29 feet above the ground. I took a girl from San Francisco skiing - for her first time on skis — on part of the rope tow slope — by moonlight on the Fourth of July, 1938.” Johnny Ellis (built the first rope tow on Donner Summit on the mountain behind the Sugar Bowl

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Academy building)

Things to do right here: The Pacific Crest Trail takes off for the south a couple of hundred yards down the paved road at the sharp turn. Hike up the trail to the first left-hand turn and follow the trail to the saddle between Donner Peak and Mt. Judah. Then scramble over the granite that takes you to the top of Donner Peak. What a view: a thousand feet straight down to Donner Lake. It’s a bit more than a mile — uphill but then it’s all down hill on the way back. If you are hiking before August you will probably come across some snowfields on the north side of Mt. Judah — great for sliding on, making snow cones with, or using to cool off. Pick up the Judah Loop brochure at the brochure rack and take the most popular hike on Donner Summit.

Erected 2024 by Donner Summit Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Donner Summit Historical Society series list.

Location. 39° 18.983′ N, 120° 19.567′ W. Marker is in Truckee, California, in Nevada County. It can be reached from Donner Pass Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19195 Donner Pass Road, Truckee CA 96161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Old Gas Station for Highway Maintenance Vehicles image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Thievon, July 15, 2025

2. Old Gas Station for Highway Maintenance Vehicles

walking distance of this marker: Donner Summit - The Chinese Laborers (here, next to this marker); Donner Summit - The Shed (here, next to this marker); Great Summit Tunnel of the Sierra Nevada (a few steps from this marker); Sugar Bowl Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); Donner Pass Airway Station & Beacon (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Summit Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tunnel 6 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Donner Ski Ranch (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Truckee.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.