The first known terrain park (then called a 'snowboard park') was built at Bear Valley Ski Area (California) in the 1989-90 season.
McMahon's idea was to create an area of the mountain specifically for snowboarders-modeled after the skateparks of the 1970s, featuring jumps, jibs, and a halfpipe-that would bring new customers to the small, family operated ski area in the Central Sierra.