Mammoth Lakes — A section of U.S. 395 in Mono County has been renamed for a local resident who helped transform the Eastern Sierra into a tourist destination favorited by people around the world. On Wednesday morning, Caltrans erected two signs denoting U.S. 395 between Convict Lake Road and State Route 203 as the Dave McCoy Memorial Highway.
McCoy was the founder of Mammoth Mountain, one of California’s top winter vacation spots, renowned for world-class skiing, idyllic alpine scenery and numerous outdoor recreational activities. Starting off with just a single rope tow in 1942, McCoy worked tirelessly to build the mountain into a world-famous destination that serves as the backbone of Mono County’s economy. After selling the property in 2005, McCoy remained in his Eastern Sierra hometown of Bishop, where he died in 2020 at the age of 104.
In May 2023, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 2023-16 in support of renaming this portion of U.S. 395 after McCoy. Following that resolution, California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 102, which passed by unanimous vote on June 20, 2024.
Image: Caltrans maintenance workers install the Dave McCoy Memorial Highway sign on northbound U.S. 395.
“I am so proud we are able to honor Dave McCoy’s legacy,” said Inyo County 2nd District Board Supervisor, Jeff Griffiths. “I want to thank everyone who helped make memorial highway a reality, including Mark Nuberger of the CA State Association of Counties, and Senator Alvarado-Gil, who sponsored the legislation and pushed it through the halls of the State Senate.”
For more information on Dave McCoy and his visionary transformation of Mammoth Mountain, visit the Mammoth Museum at McCoy Station, 10001 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes.