2004 Ski Hall of Fame

Contrary to today’s trend for jet-set ski resorts, the Bolanders of Sipapu have built a family-oriented oasis on the Rio Pueblo for skiers who still enjoy a pioneer sort of winter recreation. Skiers from neighboring Oklahoma and Texas, and from throughout the region, return year after year to enjoy the comfortable skiing, friendly people, and unspoiled environment Lloyd and Olive Bolander have fostered at Sipapu.

Born in Dulce, New Mexico, and raised in Penasco, Lloyd became familiar with the area. At the University of New Mexico, he competed on the ski team and graduated in business in 1950. Olive, born and raised in west Texas, met Lloyd as a summer worker in the mountains, and has been a New Mexican since their marriage in 1949. Both began skiing at the now defunct Agua Piedra Ski Club (later known as Tres Ritos) up the valley from the present Sipapu Ski Area.

Having operated a general store and summer lodge facility at the ski area site, Lloyd and Olive, working together, opened Sipapu in 1952 with a portable rope tow (brought up the valley from Tres Ritos), and three minimal ski trails, with 350 vertical feet of skiing. The next year, 30 pairs of rental skis inaugurated their rental department, which now boasts 750 sets of complete rental equipment. Today, Sipapu’s ski trails have 1,055 vertical and are 3,000 feet long. Skiers are whisked up the slopes with two chair lifts and two platter lifts.

The Sipapu ski school is renowned for its regional school programs, and friendly and effective instruction. Sipapu has overnight accommodations, a store and restaurant, and has expanded summer activities.

Ably supported by their children Bruce and Susan, Lloyd and Olive Bolander have enriched New Mexico and the lives of all their customers and friends by building and operating Sipapu, a classic regional ski destination. Lloyd and Olive retired in 1984. Lloyd passed away at age 86 in 2014.