A Little History
It is believed that the first snowmobile came to the Red River Valley around 1966 when high country resident Johnnie Mutz purchased a Johnson Skee Horse to use both for ranch work and as a toy to play in the snow.
The Skee Horse came in three different sizes, including a wide track model made for greater stability. The machines also had “Snow Track” traction systems and came with the “new” Torque Sensitive Drive. They were equipped with a new soft suspension and a disc brake. It also had lock-out neutral gears and a high-low beam headlight. Classy!
By the early 1970s, tour companies were operating in Red River. Gene Addison who ran Jeep tours in summer added snowmobiles. He found that people lured to town by the Red River Ski Area were eager for the opportunity to witness the scenic beauty available only with these noisy, exciting machines that most folks had never seen.
Pat Lamb was another Texas transplant who conducted snowmo tours out of his All Seasons building on W. Main, operating from 1970 to 1985.
Sled Shed, Bobcat Pass Wilderness Adventures, Red River Offroad, Fast Eddie’s, Red River Tours, Red River Adventures, High Meadow, Red Dawg, Road Runner, Bitter Creek Guest Ranch, Bud & Pete’s. Those are just a few of an estimated 20+ companies that have made snowmobiling a vital part of winter recreation in Red River.
No story regarding past and present history of Red River snowmobiling is complete without mention of the Red River Snow Blazers Club, organized as a non-profit in the early 1980s for the purpose of maintaining trails and promoting snowmobiling. Working with the Town of Red River, they were responsible for trail grooming and maintenance of the grooming equipment. They are no longer active.