Born August 3, 1918 in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of a textile industrialist, the young debutante grew up in the penthouse of the Sherry Netherlands Hotel in New York City. In 1941 on the ski slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho, Sandy first met her future husband and heard about Palisades Tahoe.

She was attending Smith College when she happened to watch the movie, "Sun Valley Serenade." Enthralled by the film's depiction and its romantic ambiance she bought a train ticket to Idaho and, unescorted, made reservations at the Sun Valley Lodge for a lengthy stay.

She met Wayne, a ski instructor at the resort, and learned to ski. By the end of the winter their romance resulted in marriage. They would raise a family of eight, four of whom would go on to the U.S. Ski Team.

"He told me that we were going to live in Palisades Tahoe," recalled Sandy. "Of course, he hadn't even started buying any property. I had no idea what he was talking about. Nobody had even heard of Palisades Tahoe."

True to his word, in 1943 Wayne purchased 640 acres in Palisades Tahoe from Southern Pacific, and he continued to eye his property as a ski operation. In search of investors the couple met Alex Cushing in 1946 at Alta, Utah. Their
ensuing partnership led to the Palisades Tahoe Development Corporation, and in 1948 they broke ground for a ski resort.

Sandy and Wayne had the foresight to purchase the rest of the land within Palisades Tahoe, over 600 acres, and begin a successful career in real estate. They also began their own ski operation, Papoose, adjacent to the Red Dog Chairlift.

Eight children survive Sandy: Christian, Wayne Jr., Lance, Eric, Sandra, Craig, Glen, and Russell. Sandy and Wayne also have 18 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Friends are welcome to join the Poulsen family and celebrate Sandy's life at 4:30 pm on September 19th at the Resort at Squaw Creek.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations be made in her honor to the Palisades Tahoe Chapel. Donations may be addressed to the Wayne and Sandy Poulsen Memorial Fund, PO Box 7437, Tahoe City, California, 96145.


The photo, by Mark McLaughlin, is from Sandy Poulsen's recent 89th birthday party held on August 5, 2007 at the Poulsen home in Palisades Tahoe. Sandy is flanked by Fraser West (left) and Frank Titus. Fraser and Frank are the only surviving members of the 1939 University of Nevada championship ski team. Wayne Poulsen was their coach.