Reno, NV – Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe spent this summer relocating and renaming its Ponderosa chairlift and adding four new beginner trails to the mountain, with an eye toward earlier openings in the beginning of the ski and snowboard season.

The new positioning of the newly named “Wizard” lift will expand and enhance the resort’s beginner skiing and snowboarding experience in time for the 2015-16 winter season.  In total, the resort is spending approximately $1.2 million in on-mountain improvements this summer that also include expansion of its snowmaking system and renovation of the Kids Lesson registration area (Rosebuds) in an effort to reduce wait time. Plans include an overall enlargement of the indoor staging area and a complete redesign of the registration desk and process.

“Our goal is to continue to enhance the guest experience – both for first time skiers and snowboarders, and those who have been visiting Mt. Rose for years,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. “The relocation of the Ponderosa lift will expand our popular learning area, while simultaneously improving and changing the way skiers of all ability levels navigate the mountain.”

With a base elevation of 8,260 feet, the resort is known for often receiving top-to-bottom snow when relatively warm winter storms pass through the region. To further its early season commitment, nine new Polecat tower mounted snowmaking machines are being installed in locations around the mountain, with four specifically positioned at the base of Slide Bowl. The resort’s ability to efficiently make snow over even more of the mountain will allow terrain to be opened quickly, and prepare the resort for what it hopes will be its earliest scheduled opening on record. Mt. Rose’s projected opening date for the 2015-16 winter season is October 29, weather and conditions permitting.

In addition to these improvements, the resort will also invest in the latest snow grooming equipment, rental skis and snowboards, renovation of the Timbers Bar, and has plans to relocate and improve the Main Lodge basket/ski check in.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has announced it will also increase its minimum wage for all positions that were previously below, to a new minimum of $11.00 per hour. The increase represents a 33 percent increase over the state mandated $8.25 per hour minimum wage in Nevada.

“We are confident this wage increase will help us to both remain competitive as an employer, and attract and retain top talent across a variety of positions both on snow and in other departments that regularly engage with our guests,” Pierce continued.

The wage increase will affect employees in nearly all departments at the resort, including staff in base operations, ski school, food and beverage, terrain parks, lift operations, rental and retail operations, ski patrol and tickets. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will begin hiring for a variety of seasonal positions for the 2015-16 winter season on October 1.