Symbol on the Summit
Our Lady of Mt. Shasta, The Merlo Family’s Enduring Tribute…
The resplendent 20-foot bronze Mother Mary statue sitting atop Douglas Butte at Mt. Shasta Ski Park is a symbol of faith, tranquility, beauty and kindness while also paying homage to late Mt. Shasta Ski Park owner/CEO Ray Merlo.
Longtime Northern California residents Ray and Robin Merlo purchased the ski park in 2017 and created a five-year plan to make improvements to the ski resort, which included remodeling the bar attached to its base lodge, building a new chairlift up the Gray Butte mountain, and placing a “Mother Mary” statue at the top of Douglas with the 14,179-foot Mount Shasta as its backdrop.
Sadly, in 2019 Ray was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2020, leaving the rest of his vision to his wife Robin to see through.
Ray’s Place Bar & Lounge was the first ideation of the plan built around the year 2020.
“The old bar was small. The lodge was tight, so we expanded the patio and base area,” says Mt. Shasta Ski Park Marketing Director Grace Hornbeak. Surrounded by windows peering out to the gorgeous snowcapped landscape, the renovated lounge has a nice selection of draft beers, specialty cocktails and Merlo Family Estate Vineyards wine.
Next, Robin turned her focus on building the Gray Butte lift. Located behind the Coyote and Douglas peaks, the four-seater fixed grip quad takes skiers and riders to an additional 450 acres of new terrain and easier access to the ski park’s reservable backcountry cabin. The new lift opened in time for the 2022-23 ski season.
With the new Gray Butte lift in place, Robin started working closely with a foundry out of Sacramento to construct the Mother Mary statue. The process of building it began in early 2023. It was completed in the fall of 2024.
Ray was involved in the Catholic Church, but the statue is meant to symbolize universal themes of unity and kindness (in the Catholic image). It represents a connection to the area, the beauty, encourages kindness and community. Hornbeak explains Mt. Shasta Ski Park doesn’t have super high ticket prices compared to other Northern California resorts, and it’s accessible and accepting. “We welcome everyone. The mountain’s mindset is ‘come as you are’,” Hornbeak adds.
The statue is located off the Douglas Butte chairlift, in the center of the North Saddle run where it has a full view of Mt. Shasta. You can walk up there during the summer if the mountain is open for hiking/biking operations, but it’s more accessible to skiers and riders in the winter, sitting on a 50-foot platform.
“We get quite a lot of inquiries on the statue. It’s hard to say exactly who comes here to specifically see it, but anyone who skis off Douglas inadvertently visits it,” Hornbeak says.
Early last year, shortly after the statue was built, it did receive national attention when a media outlet wrongly reported that the statue was constructed on public land (which is not true ‒ the ski park is privately owned), but it has since been better received.
“It’s not meant to be a religious emblem. There’s a little bit of that, but it’s supposed to represent tranquility and beauty, the touchstone of faith we have up here. The mountain has an undeniable power and presence, so adding to that was the intention. We want to highlight and amplify the energy of this place.
“This was a dedication to Ray and a promise fulfilled,” she adds. •
