Cottage springs is located on Highway 4 about 12 miles east of the town of Arnold at an elevation of approximately 6,000 above sea level. The "Mountain" portion of the old resort was purchased by the current owners 2010. Their intention was to leave the large 67 acre parcel intact and not subdivide it. Cottage Springs operated as a small family run Ski resort from the mid 60s until closing after the 2006 season. Recognizing how the Cottage Springs Resort was a major part of the overall fabric of the Ebbetts Pass community, it was important to re-opened it as a snow play recreation site. Without Cottage Springs Resort, there are no locations in Calaveras County designated for organized family snow play. No designated winter parking and no restroom facilities for visitors seeking winter recreation in Eastern Calaveras County. Winter months underscore the problems of visitors parking beside the roadway along Highway 4, just so their children can play in the snow. This unsafe parking in “Non- designated areas” is not only dangerous to the participants, but it puts an additional strain on area law enforcement. Areas where visitors are parking for snow play are dangerous and unsafe to park. They are also not designed for snow play. Participants are constantly at risk of hitting obstacles such as rocks, vegetation or trees while attempting to slide down a hill.
Development plans for the Cottage Springs Resort had included upgrading the site with a new sewer system, creating onsite paved parking for patrons, installing new surface lift equipment, creating picnic areas adjacent to the slopes, a building to house rental and maintenance equipment and a building to be used as a day lodge to house restrooms, indoor customer seating and cafeteria style food services. Long term plans had included some type of summer recreation activities such as a treetop rope challenge park, just North of the meadow area. The proposed development is not affiliated with the old lodge and parking lot located across the highway from the Ski hill. The new Cottage Springs Resort has completed the majority of the approval and permitting process with the appropriate governmental agencies.
