Three Generations Welcoming New Owners, Celebrating 70 Years of Memories

After celebrating its 70th year of operations last season, friends and family of Dodge Ridge gathered together on Saturday, October 2, 2021 to welcome the new owners of the Central Sierra resort and to celebrate the past 7 decades of skiing and riding as one of the few remaining family-owned ski resorts in the country. Members of the founding Purdy family, along with the most recent owners, Frank and Sally Helm, were all on hand to welcome Dodge Ridge’s new President and CEO Karl Kapuscinski and his wife Audrey, along with members of Invision Capital, to the tight-knit Dodge Ridge community.

Founded by the late Earl Purdy in 1950, Dodge Ridge has remained a family-owned and operated resort with only two prior owners throughout its distinguished history. The Helm family purchased Dodge Ridge from the Purdy family in 1976 and over the next 45 years, the resort expanded under the leadership of Frank and Sally Helm into the mountain it is today, offering 862 skiable acres, with 1,600 vertical feet, 68 trails and 12 lifts.

On October 2, 2021, three of Earl Purdy’s children, Ralph, George and Leslie, gathered with Frank and Sally Helm on the deck of the Creekside Lodge at Dodge Ridge to look back at the unique history of over seven decades of family ownership. At the same time they welcomed Karl Kapuscinski who, along with Invision Capital, recently completed the purchase of the resort from the Helms, who are looking forward to a well-deserved retirement full of adventures and travel.

“After 45 years of hard work, Frank and I felt it was time to pass the torch on to new owners.” said former CEO Sally Helm. “The new owners truly appreciate the family-oriented culture that has made this resort special for over 70 years and we are excited about their future plans for our beloved mountain.”

While reflecting on the change in ownership, Karl said, “We are extremely proud that Frank and Sally chose us as the new owners of Dodge Ridge and it was a great honor to have a chance to celebrate the long history of the area with them and the members of the founding Purdy family on a beautiful fall afternoon. We really enjoy the family-oriented spirit of the area and look forward to continuing the many traditions that have made Dodge Ridge unique, along with implementing some changes we believe will keep Dodge Ridge special for years to come.”