Our Story

mission

48 years of pure mountain adventure

Ruby Mountain Heli started as a vision in 1977. Now, 48 years later we are still working on the dream. Whether you ski or ride, our 200,000 skiable acres of pristine wilderness provides limitless terrain for any age or skill level. From wide-open bowls, aspen forests, White Bark and Limber Pine filled runs, to high alpine above tree-line terrain, we’re certain that you’ll find the terrain of your dreams. Ruby is all about the details; from the moment you arrive at Ruby 360 Lodge, our goal is to have our guests feel like they are at their home away from home, enjoy a trip of a lifetime and create memories our guests will always remember.

about us

Throughout the years, the Ruby Mountain Heli family has earned a reputation as one of North America’s best kept secrets, and not just for the skiing. From guest experience, dining and accommodations to guide expertise and education, our focus is on you to ensure we go above and beyond your expectations.

In the early 1970’s owner Joe Royer, who at that time was working at Snowbird, Utah as a ski patroller, was always admiring this obscure mountain range just off I-80 near Elko while traveling back and forth to his hometown in San Francisco. In the winter of 1977, he found himself exploring the Rubies, determined to show others the elegance he saw in a remote mountain range in northeastern Nevada. A true visionary, Joe pioneered the Rubies as the first person to step foot in much of the terrain we ski each season. Joe will tell you it has been a hell of a ride and he has been incredibly lucky along the way. In the early 1980’s Francy Royer, an East Coast girl from upstate New York, had moved west and was working as a pastry chef at Deer Valley. She took a trip with friends to a new heli operation (RMH) in the remote Ruby Mountains. Joe was Francy’s guide for their trip. Sparks flew, the dream grew and they were married in 1985.

For 48 years now, Joe, his wife Francy, son Michael and their crew at Ruby have been taking groups into the heart of the Ruby Mountains. Everyone at Ruby is all-in on the Ruby dream and everyone who comes here is part of the family. That’s what makes Ruby Mountain unforgettable- the fact that no matter who you are or what your skill level- you will manage to not only connect with the mountains and the snow and the sunshine, but also the people you share it with. That is the Ruby Magic, a spot on the map in the middle of nowhere that  for over 48 years has become one of the most prized locations on so many ski and board bucket lists, a family and crew working together to make everyone who joins in the magic feel like they are part of the dream.