Meet Matt Chappell

He came for one winter.

Nearly three decades later, he's still here, helping shape the place that first captured his heart.

Smiling cyclist in helmet and sunglasses on forest trail.

It Started With a Winter Dream

In 1997, Matt Chappell packed up his snowboard and headed to Truckee with one goal: spend a winter working at Sugar Bowl.

He was 19 years old, fresh from Sonoma County, where he had grown up skateboarding, mountain biking and dreaming about the Sierra.

That first season became so much more than a winter job. Living on the mountain, riding every day, exploring Castle Peak on snowshoes, and sharing adventures with coworkers from around the world introduced Matt to a community built around the outdoors.

What began as a season became a lifetime.

I dreamed of surfing the endless white waves of the Sierra, and as soon as I could drive, I found my way to Truckee.

Snow-covered cabin with a person entering through a yellow door.

Some of my most meaningful work has happened at Gray's Cabin, Truckee's oldest building and a family heirloom Katie and I brought back to life as our design studio.

Finding Home

Over the years, Truckee Tahoe became much more than the place where Matt built a career.

It’s where he and his wife Katie restored Gray’s Cabin, one of Truckee’s oldest buildings, into the home of their design studio, Orbital Laboratory. From there, they’ve built relationships with local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout the region.

It’s also where they chose to raise their family, stay rooted in mountain culture, and give back to the community that helped shape their life.

"The Truckee-Tahoe community, the mountains and the people have helped me find the amazing life that I am living."

That sense of gratitude is what continues to inspire everything Matt does.

I am a constant advocate for the environment and our connection to it as a people.

Protecting What Makes This Place Special

Perhaps Matt's most visible impact can be found on the trails.

As founder of Truckee Dirt Union, he has helped bring together volunteers, land managers, and outdoor enthusiasts to support sustainable recreation throughout the Truckee Tahoe region. Since signing its first volunteer stewardship agreement for Jackass Ridge in 2020, TDU has secured a formal agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, supported conservation efforts with Truckee Donner Land Trust, and generated more than 10,000 volunteer hours for local trails.

Those trails now see as many as 28,000 rider laps per season, connecting more people to the outdoors while supporting Truckee Tahoe's shoulder-season economy.

For Matt, caring for the outdoors isn't separate from enjoying it. It's part of the experience.

Through Matt's Eyes

Skier on snowy mountain overlooking a lake under clear blue sky.

Favorite Place to Recharge

Lake Tahoe

Whether viewed from a ridgeline ski tour or experienced from a paddleboard, Lake Tahoe is where Matt resets.

"It's cleansing, purifying. It puts me at ease in the fast-moving world."

Child in ski gear, smiling with arms raised, snowy mountain lodge background.

Favorite Family Tradition

Wildflour & Le Chamois

Friday afternoons often end with cookies from Wildflour and time spent at Le Chamois, where generations of Katie's family helped shape the culture of Olympic Valley.

"These places keep the small business soul of the mountains alive."