North Lake Tahoe, CA/NV – North Lake Tahoe is gearing up for the 2015-16 winter season with new terrain park features, passholder perks, specialty ski lessons and exclusive après ski dining opportunities.
New York residents also receive easier access to the 12 downhill ski resorts in Lake Tahoe this winter, as East Coast skiers and riders will have direct access from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Reno-Tahoe International Airport on a new daily JetBlue flight. This flight offers red-eye flights from coast to coast, allowing for quick weekend getaways and convenient week-long ski vacations in Tahoe.
In addition to a variety of new ski experiences, visitors will have a newly renovated historic lodging option. The Cal Neva, once owned by Frank Sinatra, is set to re-open in early 2016 after closing in 2013. Following a full interior and exterior property renovation, the legendary North Lake Tahoe resort that straddles the California-Nevada border will be reborn as a modern destination with a history unlike any other hotel in the region.
Here’s a round-up of what’s new around the north end of the lake this winter:
ALPINE IMPROVEMENTS
New Tree Run Access at Diamond Peak Ski Resort
Diamond Peak offers newly improved tree skiing for skiers and riders looking for new terrain at the resort known for stunning lake views. During the 2015-16 winter season look for new off-piste terrain off of Crystal Ridge between Diamondback and Spillway.
Northstar California Renovates Gondola
Skiers and snowboarders experience improved mountain access this winter with Northstar’s newly revamped Big Springs Express Gondola. The lift, connecting The Village at Northstar to mid-mountain, now has renovated portals and a mechanical update to enhance guest experience in both style and travel time efficiency.
Squaw Valley Replaces Siberia Express
The Squaw Valley Siberia Express chairlift, a favorite of intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders, has been replaced this season with a high-speed six-passenger chairlift. This upgrade improves reliability and efficiency, and gets skiers and snowboarders up the mountain and out of the lift line more quickly. The Siberia Express chairlift provides access to Siberia Bowl, Mainline and the Mainline Terrain Park, as well as the expansive Gold Coast area.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Expands Beginner Terrain
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has relocated, renamed and already opened its Ponderosa chairlift, in an effort to expand and enhance the beginners’ skiing and snowboarding experience. The new positioning of the “Wizard” lift enhances beginner terrain with access to four new trails. A renovation to the children’s lesson registration area, Rosebuds, reduces wait time and re-imagines the guest experience with a larger indoor staging area and a complete redesign of the registration desk and process.
Family-Friendly Terrain Park Features enhanced at Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows
Mountain updates continue at Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows with the addition of creative new terrain park features designed specifically for families to complement the resorts’ existing learning features. Additions may include family features such as gently banked turns and small rollers and jumps in areas like the Belmont Learning Park at Squaw Valley or the Loop Road at Alpine Meadows.
Sugar Bowl to Open Multi-Level Terrain Park
Sugar Bowl Resort will open a new terrain park this winter designed by industry leaders at Snow Park Technologies, which designs terrain parks for the Winter X Games, Winter Dew Tour and U.S. Burton Open. The new terrain park will be located below the Mt. Lincoln Express Chairlift, and will be accessible from both Mt. Lincoln Express and the Christmas Tree Express Chairlift. The park includes 43 features at build-out, with a focus on flow. The terrain park will be approachable for children and families, but with enough flow to be fun for all levels of skiers and riders.
Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows Provides High-Definition Snow Condition Updates
Tracking current weather has never been easier at Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows. The addition of Roundshot webcams installed on the upper mountains of both resorts provide crystal clear, 360-degree views of current conditions. Skiers and riders can make real-time visitation decisions based on high-definition images of snow conditions. The Roundshot webcams also allow users to download images for personal use and mountain inspiration for the next winter sports trip.
Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows Reinforces Snow Surface Tools
A new PistenBully 400 Park Pro joins Squaw Valley’s fleet of grooming machines to allow the terrain park crew to perfect takeoffs, kickers and landings. This versatile machine ensures continued feature creativity and impeccable contouring.
Alpine Meadows also welcomes new grooming machines to further the commitment of well-groomed runs and environmental stewardship. Two PistenBully 600 winch cats have been added to allow for maximum ground coverage and finesse while providing fuel savings. Skiers and riders can expect improved quantity and quality grooming on Alpine’s signature slopes like Alpine Bowl, Sherwood and Wolverine.
In an effort to provide as consistent snow surfaces as possible for the 2015-16 season, Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows has invested in high-efficiency snowmaking guns. Alpine Meadows has added five new HKD SV10 snowmaking guns, allowing the resort to expand snowmaking on the lower portion of the very popular Summit run. Squaw Valley has also added high-capacity snowmaking fan guns at key lifts that will allow the resort to improve its ramps and the lift-loading process. Lifts slated for new snowmaking to support the loading areas include Big Blue, Siberia and Headwall.
Sugar Bowl Upgrades Snowmaking Arsenal
Sugar Bowl Resort has upgraded its snowmaking capabilities to include Rahlves’ Run on Mount Lincoln, adding to the resort’s top-to-bottom snowmaking capabilities. The resort’s new $500,000 mid-mountain pump house, which went into operation last year, adds significant snowmaking capabilities to the resort, allowing the increased snowmaking coverage.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Invests in New Snowmaking Equipment
In an effort to further Mt. Rose’s effort to providing guests the highest quality early season snow conditions and the best snow conditions all season long, the resort has installed nine new Polecat tower mounted snow machines. Four have been specifically placed at the base of Slide Bowl.
CROSS-COUNTRY ADVENTURES
Tahoe Donner Opens The Alder Creek Adventure Center
This winter, Tahoe Donner will open its new Alder Creek Adventure Center, the new home for the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area as well as the Equestrian Center and Bikeworks during the summer months. The new building was designed with environmental impact in mind and offers grand views of Hawks Peak. A grand opening is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving, when everyone is invited to enjoy live music, appetizers, and a no-host bar. There will be a raffle for Tahoe Donner prizes, plus activities for the entire family.
Village Station: Sugar Bowl’s Cross-Country Portal to Royal Gorge
Sugar Bowl Resort opens a new cross-country rental, lesson and gear room near the Mt. Disney Express chairlift this winter, increasing a seamless connection between the downhill ski runs of Sugar Bowl and the cross-country trails of Royal Gorge, which it acquired in 2012. Season passholders of the Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge combo pass can downhill ski and cross-country ski the same day with a more complete set of services right at the Sugar Bowl village. Along with the new cross-country portal at Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge is also adding a 10-kilometer trail called Thor’s Run to its trail system, which already ranks as the largest in North America.
PASS PERKS
Sugar Bowl Partners with Woodward on New Pass
Sugar Bowl Resort and Woodward Tahoe have partnered on a 2015-16 season pass that offers unrestricted access to both Sugar Bowl Resort and the Woodward Tahoe indoor training facility for the entire winter season, plus unlimited access to the Woodward Tahoe facility for the remainder of summer and fall. With the Sugar Bowl-Woodward Tahoe season pass, skiers and snowboarders can spend the day skiing steeps, powder and Sugar Bowl’s terrain parks, and then spend the afternoon and evening skateboarding, biking or training on Woodward’s trampolines.
Diamond Peak Pass Pledge
Diamond Peak is offering a 100% money back guarantee for pass refunds requested by January 15, 2016 on unused season passes. This pledge is offered for all 2015-16 passholders and does not require a note from an insurance or medical professional. To redeem a refund visit the on-mountain guest services office.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: Worry Free Guarantee
Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows is making it easier than ever for skiers and snowboarders to commit to the purchase of a 2015-16 winter season pass. The resort offers a Worry-Free Guarantee to those who purchase a Gold or Silver Tahoe Super Pass. This offer also includes the ability to roll over up to four unused days during the 2015-16 winter season for credit toward the purchase of a 2016-17 Tahoe Super Pass.
NORTH TAHOE EXPERIENCES
Resort at Squaw Creek Undergoes $7 Million in Renovations
Resort at Squaw Creek has embarked upon a $7 million guest room renovation. The new modern-meets-mountain design aims to give guests a sense of place as it draws inspiration from natural surroundings found in the Olympic Valley and surrounding Sierra Mountain range. As part of the renovation, guest rooms have been refinished with soothing neutral textures and colors such as warm wood tones, rich leather, mixed metal and natural stone. Mindful of the property’s stunning views, the design includes new elements of light drapery and pops of color to complement and maximize Resort at Squaw Creek’s surroundings.
Cal Neva Resort Reopens
After an extensive interior and exterior renovation, the iconic Cal Neva resort is set to open in early 2016. The 10-story, 191-key luxury resort now features luxurious accommodations, three restaurants, the Cal Neva’s signature Circle Bar, resort spa and entertainment options. The resort’s three restaurants will include a fine dining restaurant with an exhibition kitchen, a casual three-meal restaurant adjacent to the pool and a third outpost with a retail component that will transition from a morning bakery/café to a gourmet pizza and wine kitchen in the afternoon.
“It’s a rebirth. We want to take it to a high luxury standard across the board,” said Robert Radovan, co-owner of Criswell-Radovan LLC, a Napa, Calif.-based development company that acquired the Cal Neva in 2013.
Cal Neva will offer a refurbished non-smoking casino with table games and slot machines. The Showroom, the resort’s theater originally imagined and built by Frank Sinatra, will be carefully restored and upgraded, adding to North Lake Tahoe’s lineup of entertainment venues.
FIS Freestyle World Cup
The best skiers and riders from around the world takeover Squaw Valley for the FIS Freestyle World Cup March 11-13, 2016. Home of the 1960 Olympics, Squaw Valley played a key role in the early days of the FIS Alpine World Cup, last hosting a tour stop in 1969. The 2016 competition features Ski and Snowboard Cross racing, pitting four athletes against each other to race head-to-head down a course of jumps, bumps and berms.
Mountain Shopping in The Village at Squaw Valley
The Village at Squaw Valley welcomes Patagonia to its selection of alpine shops available at the base of the mountain this winter. The store will offer a variety of innovative Patagonia outdoor products in a newly remodeled 1,800 square foot retail space featuring locally sourced recycled barn wood and an environmental display in conjunction with Protect Our Winters, an organization fighting climate change. The grand opening celebration of the Patagonia store takes place Nov. 28, as part of the Base Village Passholder Preview Party that includes live music and special offers to kick off the winter season.
Ritz-Carlton Sunday Brunch in Manzanita
New for 2015, the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe offers a seasonally focused brunch menu featuring a chilled seafood display, carving station, salads, cheese and charcuterie, along with traditional breakfast favorites and sweets. Unlimited mimosas top off the indulgent morning meal for an additional $15 per person. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Diners are also invited to experience an interactive six-course tapas tasting at the Ritz-Carlton Manzanita’s Chef’s Tasting Counter, featuring views directly into the exposition kitchen and personal interaction with the chef. The tapas presentation includes communal seating for up to six people to taste from a menu reflecting the restaurant’s innovative offerings. Additional courses are available for purchase. Reservations made 48 hours in advance are required for this special dining experience.