GET READY FOR SNOW DAYS
Tahoe ski resorts set for another epic season with new options
So much new! Now that pandemic panic has faded, California ski resorts came off an epic year — one that stretched ski season to midsummer — with hopes for another on the way. The flakes are already flying, a big El Nino event is predicted to bring mega-precipitation during the coming season and resorts are gearing up for projected opening dates before Thanksgiving.
Opening dates depend on Mother Nature, of course, along with evermore-sophisticated snow-making operations. But go ahead: Wax and tune your boards and get ready to ride!
Meanwhile, there's non-ski news all around the lake, from the much anticipated rebranding of the former Embassy Suites/Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe to the Margaritaville lifestyle brand — a nod, of course, to the late Jimmy Buffett. The new Tahoe Blue Event Center down the road in Stateline, Nevada, is making a splash in the meetings and events world, hosting everything from lectures and conferences to concerts and even the Harlem Globetrotters. Ever tried curling? Learn to curl — or just observe — at the two-lane, year-round Epic Curling Club, also in Stateline.
“It was an amazingly long season. People will be talking about it for decades to come,” notes Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California, a nonprofit trade organization that counts 35 snow resorts as members. He's referring to the 8 million-plus skier visits during the 275-day, 2022-2023 season. Plus a massive 723 inches of snow that buried houses at Tahoe, created 20-foot drifts on the sides of the roads and closed highways and resort operations on more than one occasion.
Incredible as it was, “a normal snow year would be great for everybody,” Reitzell says.
This year's “what's new” is not so much about new lifts and runs as it is about facility renovations and enhanced visitor experiences. Pay attention also to new paid parking procedures and transportation options geared to mitigate traffic congestion.
As for lift tickets: Don't even think about daily passes — at more than $150 a day at some resorts, they rival a day at Disneyland. Instead, look at 3-to-4-day tickets and midweek season passes, which will get you on the slopes for less than $100 a day. Buy online in advance for the best deals. Check resort websites for details and sign up for notifications, as promo deals come and go all season long.
Now, here's a quick “what's new” rundown for Tahoe resorts.