 Olympic Valley, historically known as Squaw Valley*, is located about 10 minutes south of Tahoe City along state Route 89 in the Sierra Nevada. The 4,700-acre valley features mountain peaks rising above 9,000 feet.
The valley’s earliest inhabitants were the Washoe, who lived in the area and around Lake Tahoe during the summer months. Located along the historic Emigrant Road, the area experienced a brief silver mining boom in the 1860s before settlers turned to seasonal ranching, dairy farming and shingle milling.
The valley gained international recognition in February 1960 as the host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games. Placer County leaders had pursued the Winter Olympics for decades, and development accelerated after the Squaw Valley Development Corp. opened a ski resort for the 1949-50 winter season.
In preparation for the games, much of the valley’s infrastructure was built from the ground up. The state appropriated nearly $8 million for construction, supplemented by federal funding. Facilities constructed for the Olympics included the Blyth Memorial Ice Arena, a speed skating oval, athlete and official housing, administrative offices and public information centers.
The opening ceremony was held Feb. 18, 1960, with Vice President Richard Nixon declaring the games open and Walt Disney overseeing the pageantry. A total of 665 athletes from 30 nations competed in 27 events. The games concluded Feb. 28, 1960, and the site has continued operating as a winter ski resort.
Photo: 1960 Olympics Winter Games in Olympic Valley; Placer County Museums’ collection.
* It is now widely accepted that squaw is a derogatory term and in 2021 the resort officially became “Palisades Tahoe,” and the Squaw Valley Public Service District changed its name to the Olympic Valley Public Service District.
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market
Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market
Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market
Colfax: Coffee & Conversation, Community Craft Club
North Lake Tahoe: Smore’s O’clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series, KT Bass Bar Music Series, Throwback Thursdays
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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