Taos Ski Valley is a village and alpine ski resort in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. Located 2200 feet above the town of Taos, the alpine environment of Taos Ski Valley offers a cool escape from the desert heat in the summer and perfect conditions for powder skiing in the winter. The population was 69 at the 2010 census. Until March 19, 2008, it was one of four ski resorts in AmericaThe village was originally settled by a group of hearty and adventurous miners in the 1800’s, but in 1955 Ernie and Rhoda Blake founded the area as a ski mountain in 1955. The village was incorporated in 1996.The ski area, Taos Ski Valley, Inc., was founded by Rhoda and Ernie Blake, and is still managed by the Blake family. It has a one to one ratio of expert to beginner/intermediate terrain, and has the highest rated ski school in North America.