At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 — in the midst of a major winter storm, which has dropped 29 inches in the last 24 hours — a group of 16 skiers encountered an avalanche on Castle Peak. The group was made up of four ski guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and 12 clients who were returning after multiple nights at the Frog Lakes backcountry huts. At least six of the skiers survived, including two of the guides, according to sources.
A level-four, high danger avalanche forecast was released by Sierra Avalanche Center at 5 a.m. on Feb. 17, stating, “All avalanche terrain is suspect. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours.” The center’s Steve Reynaud also reported a storm slab avalanche cycle on Feb. 16 on Castle Peak.
The Frog Lake huts are located on Donner Summit, roughly 1 mile east of Castle Peak, and tend to book out months in advance.
Blackbird Mountain Guides released a statement on the situation, noting the “group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip [that began Sunday, Feb. 15] when the incident occurred.”
As of 4 p.m., rescue efforts by 46 emergency first responders continued for the six known survivors, who were instructed to shelter-in-place, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
10 skiers are still unaccounted for following an avalanche near Castle Peak earlier today. Six skiers have survived and remain at the avalanche site, awaiting rescue. The survivors have been directed to shelter in place.
The group of 16, consisting of four ski guides and 12 clients, encountered the avalanche around 11:30 a.m. today.
Rescue ski teams have departed from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to make their way to the known survivors. A Snocat team is also on its way to the incident site.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s office says rescue efforts remain in progress now with 46 emergency first responders.
Weather conditions remain highly dangerous.
The Sierra Avalanche Center previously issued an avalanche warning for today, which has been in effect since 5 a.m. today through Feb. 18 at 5 a.m., stating: “HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain. HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday.”
ORIGINAL STORY – Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 12:15 p.m.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. – The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue are responding to the report of an avalanche in the Castle Peak area.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and involved a group of backcountry skiers, several of which are missing, according to the sheriff’s office update.
Details are currently limited. The Sun will provide further updates when details become available.
If your idea of the perfect companion includes a whole lot of fluff, a heart of gold, and a dog who truly gets the job description, allow us to introduce Baloo.
Baloo is a large, 7-year-old sweetheart who has mastered the art of being the ultimate lovebug. Big and fluffy with an even bigger heart, he’s the kind of dog who believes every person he meets is a friend he just hasn’t hugged yet. Kids? Loves them. Other dogs? Friendly and polite. New humans? Absolutely thrilled.
Baloo is this week’s Pet of the Week. Provided
Baloo has that dreamy calm-but-playful energy. He’s happy to romp around and enjoy some fun when it’s time to play, but he’s just as content to stretch out, roll over, and soak up all the belly rubs and affection you can offer. And trust us, he will happily accept all of it.
Affectionate, gentle, and endlessly sweet, Baloo would thrive in a home that appreciates a large, fluffy companion who doubles as a walking teddy bear. He’s soft, sweet, and fully committed to spreading love wherever he goes.
Looking for a dog who will adore you, your family, and pretty much everyone else? Baloo is ready to take his place as your loyal best friend, and personal cuddle expert.
He’s brimming with life, spirit, and boundless enthusiasm, and ready to find his forever home. If you are interested in meeting Baloo or learning more about him, please get in touch with one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. He is neutered, vaccinated, and up to date on his vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit, www.hstt.org.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. – As snow piles up in front of doors, buries vehicles under thick layers, and requires snowshoes for even a quick walk, Lake Tahoe has been hit by a major winter storm. For most here, that means one vital thing: fresh powder.
Here’s a look at snowfall totals at some of Tahoe’s resorts over the past 24 hours:
EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – Three young men were sent to the hospital on Monday with major injuries after they were hit by a truck while fixing a tire chain.
Around 12:45 p.m., a sedan had stopped in a turnout on US-50 east of Johnson Pass. The driver of the sedan was adjusting the chain on the left front tire when two bystanders offered to help.
The three men, in their early twenties and from the Bay Area, were at the left front of the vehicle when a Sacramento resident driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck approached, traveling west.
The driver of the truck lost control on the snow covered roadway, crossed the oncoming lane and into the turnout, colliding with the men working on the tire.
According to the collision report, one of the men was thrown approximately 40 feet. The truck dragged the other two who had to be freed by Caltrans personnel and people who stopped to help.
All three were transported to Barton Memorial Hospital.
Investigators determined that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the incident.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – El Dorado County is hosting one virtual and two in-person community workshops for its Tahoe El Dorado (TED) Area Plan effort in March 2026. The TED Area Plan is a comprehensive long-term planning document that will update and incorporate the Meyer Area Plan and other communities in the Tahoe Basin area of the County.
A primary goal of the plan is to consolidate land use regulations into a single document, reducing regulatory confusion, simplifying compliance with local and regional requirements, and enhancing the efficiency of plan administration. Additionally, the TED Area Plan seeks to streamline permitting and environmental review for conforming projects, establish land use policies and design standards tailored to the context of the Plan Area, address the unique needs and character of each community, and protect sensitive land and natural resources.
Following community feedback gathered in summer and fall 2024, the County has prepared the Public Review Draft and will be holding the following workshops to present the draft plan and gather additional input.
“These workshops will provide an overview of the Public Review Draft, orient the public to the document, and highlight major points and changes in the plan,” according to Thea Graybill, Planning Manager for El Dorado County. “This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about the draft plan and provide any feedback.”
Wednesday, March 4 – Meeks Bay 6:00–7:30 p.m. Meeks Bay Fire Station 67 8041 Highway 89 Meeks Bay, CA 96145
Wednesday, March 11 – Meyers 6:00–7:30 p.m. California Conservation Corps – Tahoe Center Multipurpose Room 1949 Apache Avenue South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
For those who can’t attend a workshop in person, there will be a virtual workshop held on Thursday, March 12 at 6:00-7:30 p.m. Here is a link to register for the virtual workshop: bit.ly/4quxGoH. Please visit the project website at TEDAreaPlan.com to learn more.
Snow and cold temperatures don’t mean the outdoor events stop in Lake Tahoe. Live music, snowshoe races, polar plunges, pond skims and more are winter traditions that shouldn’t be missed around the basin — dress accordingly!
Snowshoe Cocktail Races
Save the date:Jan. 17, Feb. 21, and March 21, 2026
For an out-of-the-box evening, partake in the annual Snowshoe Cocktail Races at Camp Richardson this winter. South Lake Tahoe Police Logs
The annual snowshoe cocktail races at Camp Richardson Resort in South Lake Tahoe are always good for a laugh. Registration is free for participants, who must don snowshoes and balance a tray of cocktails while navigating the snowy course. There are several categories, including sprint, obstacle and team with prizes ranging from dining certificates to lift tickets.
Don’t skip: The races take place in front of The Grove Beach Bar and Grill where you can pop in for a post-race drink, or, better yet, a warm slice of the rotating seasonal pie with whipped cream and vanilla bean ice cream.
North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST
Save the date:Feb. 25 – March 8, 2026
Test your pup’s strength at the dog keg-pulling contest at North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST. Civic Calendar
For 44 years, North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST has packed more than 50 fun-filled community events into the 10-day extravaganza. Live music, fireworks, dog races, milk jug curling, a snow golf tournament, polar plunges and street fairs are just some of the lively events taking place across the North Shore. Check out the full calendar of diverse events at www.tahoesnowfest.org.
Catch fireworks this winter at North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST, which brings over 50 events over 10 days to the North Shore. An uphill battle with cystic fibrosis
Don’t skip: Ever wondered what it would be like to tee off in the snow? Find out at SNOWFEST’s Alaskan Open Snow Golf Tournament on March 7. Held at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, the tournament is a nine-hole scramble best ball format with teams of up to five players. Snowshoes, skis and Caddyshack-inspired attire are welcome.
Toyota Air and Après
Save the date: Feb. 27 – March 1, 2026
The three-day Toyota Air and Après festival at Heavenly Mountain Resort promises “big beats, big air and big views.” DJ sets at the base of World Cup and Lakeview Lodge on Friday and Sunday bookend the main event on Saturday — the Big Air Show. Watch ski and snowboarding athletes perform big air jumps accompanied by 3D projections, fireworks, special effects and music at the all-ages, free event. Visit www.skiheavenly.com for a detailed line-up of the weekend’s festivities.
Don’t skip: Toyota will be set up at Heavenly Village, Cal Lodge and Tamarack Lodge for the weekend with new vehicles, giveaways and other perks for attendees.
The Cushing Crossing at Palisades Tahoe
Save the date: May 2, 2026
Celebrate the end of ski season with a bang at Palisade Tahoe’s 34th annual Cushing Crossing. The pond skim contest, held near the base of KT-22, judges participants in wacky costumes as they attempt to skim across the now-melted Cushing Pond. Points are awarded for creativity, style and a successful crossing. Registration for the competition is $20, but spectating is free.
Don’t skip:Need more pond skims in your life? Check out Kirkwood’s Slush Cup or Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Pong Skim, both slated for April 11, 2026 (but subject to change based on conditions).
TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Sierra Avalanche Center has hired local avalanche professional Wendolyn Antibus as the organization’s education manager.
Antibus brings significant experience in ski patrolling and avalanche forecasting at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe ski area. While evaluating avalanche forecasting within the ski patrol operations, she developed a study examining patrol forecast accuracy in predicting avalanche problem type and sensitivity. Antibus went on to present this research at the International Snow Science Workshop in Tromsø Norway in 2024 and regional snow and avalanche workshops in the U.S.
“The Sierra Avalanche Center is fortunate to have someone with Wendy’s avalanche science and education experience and passion for sharing that expertise with the greater Lake Tahoe community leading the organization’s education efforts,” said Executive Director David Reichel.
Antibus is a course director delivering professional avalanche courses for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). In this role, she has facilitated required Pro 1 courses and Instructor Training Courses since 2022, providing valuable coaching and mentoring to snow and avalanche professionals. She is also a contributor to the American Avalanche Association’s The Avalanche Review publication. Additionally, Wendy instructs recreational avalanche classes around Tahoe.
“I am excited about this new role and look forward to supporting the Sierra Avalanche Center’s education efforts,” said Wendy Antibus.
The Sierra Avalanche Center provides daily avalanche forecasts all winter long, and also provides free motorized avalanche classes and free avalanche awareness presentations throughout the greater Lake Tahoe region. The nonprofit also offers avalanche education scholarships and avalanche awareness resources to the backcountry community.
The Sierra Avalanche Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that partners with the U.S. Forest Service to fund daily avalanche advisories and avalanche education programs in the Northern Sierra Nevada. Learn more or donate to SAC at www.sierraavalanchecenter.org
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The basin received about 8 inches of snow overnight and with more snow continuing to fall, roads and schools have closed for the day.
Washoe County School District closed all schools today and the University of Nevada, Reno, announced the closure of the Lake Tahoe Campus. Lake Tahoe Community College is closed as well. Lake Tahoe Unified School District schools are on break this week.
Highway 89 is closed at Emerald Bay. Chains are required on the portions from Bliss State Park (El Dorado Co) to Olympic Valley and from Alpine/El Dorado County line to Pickett Junction.
Chains are required on Highway 50 and on Mount Rose Highway.
In Truckee, I-80 Westbound is closed at Nevada State Line due to multiple spinouts. Eastbound is still open with chain requirements.
“Posting the list to the county’s website is part of the ongoing effort to increase transparency in our county government,” Harn said. “The best government transparency involves placing all financial information online in a readily understandable manner. Government transparency allows taxpayers to see how our county is spending tax money and gives El Dorado County residents the ability to hold us accountable.
As always, the county’s mental health medical director was the county’s highest compensated employee with salaries and benefits totaling $513,889. A psychiatrist, the sheriff, undersheriff, district attorney and chief administrative officer are also in the top 10.
“The cost of each employee’s CalPERS benefit is included on the list, but the reported retirement cost should be reviewed with some skepticism,” Harn shared. “CalPERS has intentionally understated the actual cost of its retirement programs statewide. Undoubtedly, higher costs for the county’s retirement program and retirees’ health stipend will need to be paid in the future.”
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – After AJ Hurt’s promising start to the first run of the giant slalom competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 15, the event took a turn for the Carnelian Bay resident before she crossed the finish line.
Hurt was up about a tenth of a second on the leader’s time and through the toughest section when her arm hooked a gate about two-thirds of the way through the course.
Thrown off balance, Hurt could not recover and skied off course, acquiring a DNF (did not finish) for the event.
Following the second run, teammates Mikaela Shiffrin finished 11th, Paula Moltzan finished 15th and other Tahoe athlete Nina O’Brien finished 20th.
It was Italy’s Federica Brignone that claimed gold. Sweden’s Sara Hector and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund tied for silver.
A second-time Olympian, Hurt joined teammate and best friend Keely Cashman in the team event on Tuesday. Hurt skied the slalom portion and is expected to ski in the slalom individual event on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Children gathered excitedly as they headed to the buses just outside of Incline Middle School. They seemed eager to start their weekly Exploratory classes as Principal Dan Lediard greeted his students with a fist bump. For a group of 6th and 7th graders, today’s destination: Pet Network Humane Society.
Incline Middle School students get hands-on experience during their Exploratory classesVictoria Mastrocola/Tahoe Daily Tribune
The Exploratory classes, originally dubbed “teacher passion projects” by Lediard’s predecessor, Carrie McDonald, were first introduced as a means to get students back into school after COVID-19.
“I applaud [McDonald] so much for starting this. First, she changed the bell schedule, which requires approval from the district, but then she tasked teachers with bringing their own passion projects, like their hobbies and interests, into the school and showing the students,” Lediard said.
Lediard took over as principal the following year, and with his science background as a biology major in college and his experience as a 6-12th grade science teacher, he realized that Incline Middle School was meeting most, if not all requirements to be a STEM school. They just didn’t have the designation yet.
“When I got to the [passion project] piece, I thought ‘Wow, this is really cool! This could be the bread and butter of our STEM’. So we changed the name, and called it the Exploratory class.”
Lediard began reshaping the classes by blending education with community while harboring hopes of giving his teachers a much needed break. “They were burnt out after COVID,” added Lediard. “I recognized that feeling on my teachers’ faces. So I thought, ‘Let’s bring the community members in as much as possible.'”
Thus the Exploratory program, funded by Incline Education Fund, now had a multifaceted undertaking as each of the classes were separated into categories such as Arts and Environment, Technology and Entrepreneurship, as well as Athletics or College and Career.
As students entered the Pet Network Humane Society to learn about Veterinary Science under the College and Careers umbrella, it was clear their interests were peaked.
Maddie, a seventh grader who recently transferred to Incline Middle School, said she enjoys learning about animals when she comes to the Pet Network. “I think [Exploratory classes] are really good for being able to learn more about other things,” Maddie said. “It definitely gives people more opportunities than most schools do, and I think they should incorporate it more in other school districts.”
Maddie and her classmates were given a chance to practice performing intake observations for dogs currently residing inside the nonprofit.
With clipboards in hand, they approached each dog room with curiosity and elation.
“We’re looking at body posture – their ears, eyes, face and mouth, to see if the dogs have fear, anxiety or stress,” said 6th grader, Hudson.
As they analyzed each dog’s behavior, they discussed with fellow classmates whether the dog had a wagging tail, pinned-back ears, or wide eyes.
Students doing intake observation at Pet NetworkVictoria Mastrocola/Tahoe Daily Tribune
Christina Mackey is the Admissions Manager at Pet Network, and what the students are learning is just a sliver of what Mackey does on a daily basis.
“I’m the one who works with the other shelters and rescues to plan transfers. I bring cats and dogs in, and help evaluate them, behaviorally and medically,” said Mackey, and with a smile on her face, she added, “I get to name them as well,” noting that she always has baskets at the front desk for name suggestions.
“I really enjoy explaining what I do,” said Mackey. “Educating the youth on the shelter experience, letting them know that careers in animal welfare are an option.”
When asked whether they saw themselves working with animals in the future, every student said yes.
Moving on from the intake observation task, the children were split up into groups. One group stayed with the dogs, and the other went into kitten kennels where they learned how to put together a comfortable and habitable environment for kittens.
The students took turns adorning the kennel with things like a water bowl, blankets, a cat-scratcher and toys.
Students were taught how to dress a kitten kennel using the 5 Freedoms gold standardVictoria Mastrocola/Tahoe Daily Tribune
Exploratory classes offer kids a chance to engage in hands-on activities such as these, and through these experiences, they take home knowledge or newfound interests they wouldn’t otherwise typically receive until later in life.
Avalanche training, robotics, mountain biking, financial literacy, civic engagement – these are just a few of the many hands-on pursuits offered through the program which has received positive reception from community members and organizations alike, including Pet Network.
“I love the middle school age,” said Aria Overli, Volunteer and Foster Manager at Pet Network. “It’s such a fun age. They’re really starting to get a lot more independent and interested in the world and what their future is going to look like. It’s such a great opportunity for them to learn how to care for animals, to learn about these kinds of careers, to become future adopters, future volunteers, future donors, and possibly veterinarians or animal welfare workers. Seeing their excitement is really incredible to watch.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – It’s a busy time on the slopes for the Heavenly Ski Patrol members, but the Ski Patrol still made time to host two Bread & Broth Monday Meals since the beginning of 2026. Their first Adopt A Day of Nourishment (AAD) in 2026 took place on January 5th and their second AAD sponsorship was last week on February 9.
“As ski patrollers, we spend our days working with the sector of the community that frequents the ski slopes,” shared Lucie Gaw, one of the six Ski Patrol members representing the Heavenly Ski Patrol team. “Our job is gratifying, bit it’s easy to forget that there is far more socioeconomic diversity in the community than what we see on the mountain. I think it’s a great experience for us to come volunteer with the Bread & Broth volunteers to bridge that gap and connect with our neighbors.”
Joining Lucie at the Heavenly Ski Patrol’s sponsorship meal on Monday, February 9 were fellow Ski Patrol members Ellie Gard, Matt Graber, Callie Kellackey, Brian McGauley, and Zoe Storaasli.
Arriving at 3 p.m., this enthusiastic and helpful team of sponsor volunteers was a welcome addition to the Bread & Broth volunteers as they packed bags with fresh fruit and vegetables and set up the giveaway tables which were loaded with meat, breads, pastries, dairy products, and various food staple items. These food ‘giveaway’ items are very much appreciated because they help supplement the dinner guest meals for later in the week.
Brian McGauley, Callie Kellackey, Elie Gard, Lucie Gaw, Zoe Storaasli, Matt Graber.Provided
Starting at 4 p.m., some of the Ski Team members transitioned to the serving line to happily greet the dinner guests and dish out the evening’s meal of taco casserole, salad, chips, and dip. After receiving their meal from the serving line, the dinner guests head to the dessert/drink table and then move on to the food giveaway tables. From there the dinner guests settle down enjoy the hot meal and socializing with fellow dinner guests.
With the funds generated by the Adopt A Day of Nourishment fee ($350), monetary donations made to B&B’s General Fund, and Grant awards, B&B prepares full-course, hot meals for up to 130-140 dinner guests and also purchases $2,100 of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and dairy products (milk, eggs, and butter) every week. Since its inception over 37 years ago, Bread & Broth has improved the nutritional quality and quantity of food that is served and distributed every Monday Meal thanks to increased donations by generous donors.
Bread & Broth would like to sincerely thank the Heavenly Ski Patrol for its many years of hosting two to three Monday Meals annually and for sending team members that are so generous with their kindness and personal time. Their dedication not only benefits those enjoying Heavenly Mountain Resort but also extends to those in need. Bread & Broth is grateful for their ongoing partnership and the meaningful difference they continue to make.
To learn more about Bread & Broth or make a donation, please visit www.breadandbroth.org or follow Bread & Broth on Instagram or Facebook.
People have been relying on essential oils to help take care of aches and pains for thousands of years. And with good reason. These oils—whether used solo or in a blend—are the same way our mothers and grandmothers did. Here are a timeless trio of essential oil remedies—straight from my book, The Healing Powers of Essential Oils (Kensington) for what ails you.
Got the Sniffles? Whiff Lavender
During the winter months when the temperature drops and snow showers hit, we huddle inside, and colds are common at Tahoe if for no other reason than we’re closer to people and their germs. Everyone knows this. What’s less known is that there’s an essential oil that can help bolster your immunity acting as a natural remedy to help keep the common cold at bay.
What Scent-sational Rx to Use: Take a lavender-scented bath. Mix 3 drops of essential lavender oil with ¼ cup of jojoba or almond oil. Put the concoction into a tub filled with water.
Why You’ll Feel Essentially Fine: Lavender is a calming bacteria-fighting essential oil. Its anti-inflammatory compounds can help to keep you safeguarded against germs.
Coughing & Hacking? Go See Rosemary
What’s more irritating than that tickle in your throat that makes you cough? Not much, except maybe a hacking cough that brings an unhealthy dollop of pain along for the ride. Don’t worry. There’s an oil that can help.
What Scent-sational Rx to Use: Combine 4 drops of rosemary essential oil into a diffuser or vaporizer. Or simply put the oil onto a handkerchief and take a whiff or two.
Why You’ll Feel Essentially Fine: Rosemary can be an aid to lessen the need to cough with due credit to a compound called 1,8-cinole. It may calm the muscles in the respiratory system, preventing coughing.
Sore Throat? Lemons To Ease The Pain
A sore throat is an unwelcome misery that makes itself known whenever you talk and swallow. It may be a sign you’re coming down with a cold or flu (think lavender) or it could be a byproduct of seasonal allergies or simply talking too much. Whatever the cause, thankfully there is an essential oil remedy.
What Scent-sational Rx to Use: Try putting 1 drop of lemon oil in 8 ounces of hot water. Add 1 teaspoon raw honey for taste. Repeat twice daily.
Why You’ll Feel Essentially Fine: The oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This popular oil also may trigger saliva, which can keep the throat hydrated. The combined impact will help ease the pain.
CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series. The new, revised 2nd ed. of a popular Healing Powers book, 2026 is ready for pre-order, and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd ed. is in progress. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com
Nina O’Brien’s second run of the giant slalom put her in 20th place Provided/US Ski and Snowboard – @emily_tidwell_photo // @usskiteam
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy- Eight-time national champion, Nina O’Brien competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on Sunday, February 15, and came out in 20th place in the giant slalom, just behind her USA teammates Paula Moltzan (15th place) and Mikaela Shiffrin (11th place).
O’Brien finished her first run at 1:05.81 and her second run in 1:09.50, totaling a two-run time of 2:15.31, just 1.81 seconds behind Italy’s gold medal winner, Federica Brignone.
Compared to her last giant slalom race in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where O’Brien suffered a compound fracture of her left leg after a shocking crash, she made out in great shape this year with the fastest second run tied with Asja Zenere of Italy.
Through the Mighty Mite program out of Palisades Tahoe, O’Brien’s beginnings on Sierra Nevada terrain has helped shape her style and skillset as she went on to win a gold medal in the 2023 World Championship, along with securing eight national championship titles across multiple disciplines throughout her career.
Her resilience in representing Team USA once again in the 2026 Winter Olympics is a testament to what she’s capable of. In an interview with Olympics.com, O’Brien said, “I think [what helped me] it’s just the feeling of making one turn that felt like my best turn. And so if I made 59 terrible ones and one good one, that was like this addicting little thread that I could pull on and say, ‘okay it’s still there. I know I still have the speed within me, and we’ll find it again.'”
Editor’s note: Club Tahoe Association’s hiring of Grand Pacific Resorts has been updated below.
Club Tahoe Resort, a nearly 50-year-old timeshare tucked away off Northwood Boulevard in Incline Village, is going through a cannibalization of sorts:
Two boards, neither of which recognizes the other; a legal complaint (submitted by resort owners against “old” board members) working its way through Washoe County’s Second Judicial District Court; a transition in management companies that ended with the previous company, Tricom Management, being ordered by a judge to relinquish control; and legal fees being paid for by those who are litigating in the first place.
As the infighting continues, many owners are worried a larger goal is at hand: the purposeful deterioration and ultimate sale of the resort, shades of which have recently happened to neighboring timeshare resorts.
“It seems to be the same trajectory in all these places,” said Mona Ogden, an owner at Club Tahoe and the mind behind a “Save Club Tahoe” effort. “They just stop doing maintenance and let it fall into such a state of disrepair that owners give up … We’ve tried everything, reports [and other ways of notifying various state and local agencies], and the resounding response is, not my department; you need to go hire a lawyer.
“In a timeshare model, how are you going to hire a lawyer? How are you going to coordinate thousands of people to pitch in money toward a one-week thing they own? They’ll just give up. They’re not going to invest money in it. We are unprecedented and highly unusual in getting as far as we’ve gotten.”
The kindling to that success stems from emotional as well as financial investments, according to those who spoke with Moonshine.
Illustration by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
“I like to say it’s a home away from home,” said owner Dina Fitch, whose parents were original owners at Club Tahoe, purchasing a unit in 1978. “It’s a generational resort. My family’s on technically our third generation … When I had gone up as a teenager I had made friends with some people, and I am still friends with one of the guys. I met him when I was 16. He’s one of my oldest and dearest friends.”
Brian Arnold is another owner whose parents were original purchasers; he began visiting Club Tahoe when he was 8 or 9. “I’ve basically been going up there once a week for 50 years,” he said. “Ultimately, I feel I’m being screwed out of a financial asset that my family has owned. It’s not as much of [an asset] because, at the end of the day, it’s not a lot of money. But it’s just not being able to use it. If we don’t have this, if we don’t have Club Tahoe for my family, we likely won’t be going back up there because of the cost of other nearby units or hotels or anything else.”
Fitch and Arnold are both part of Club Tahoe’s recall board, president and treasurer, respectively. Meanwhile, the original board — the one the Save Club Tahoe group considers replaced — also remains active.
The dual existence of boards, which neither of them acknowledges, is causing a paralysis of Club Tahoe Resort operations. The current management company, Grand Pacific Resorts (GPR), stated in a Feb. 4 notice to all owners that it is committed to remaining neutral amid board confusion. Without a formal 2026 budget, GPR is utilizing the association’s 2025 operating budget numbers in the interim. Amid all the red tape, no clear answer exists as to what the next few months, let alone year and a half, will bring. A possible 50-year termination of the resort is outlined in the original bylaws.
Jason Gamel, president of the American Resort Development Association (or ARDA), called what’s happening with Club Tahoe an “unusual situation.”
“It’s rare to see an actual effort to recall the entire board and elect a new one or have another one in place,” he said. “It’s rare to see that.”
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: A timeshare resort born in 1978, Club Tahoe Resort is undergoing a significant change on the heels of replacing property management companies, legal battles, aging infrastructure, and more. A portion of owners have formed a Save Club Tahoe group and recalled the association’s board to move the needle on progress. “Our goal is to regain control of Club Tahoe,” said recall Board President Dina Fitch. “The resort didn’t get this way overnight. It is not going to be repaired overnight in any way, shape, or form. But as [recall Board Treasurer Brian Arnold] puts it, we need to get the keys first. And then we have to take a very hard look at things. But how that happens, when that happens, there is no do-or-die date.” Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Timeshares still timely?
The concept has been around in the U.S. for 52 years, yet timeshares have not gone the way of the dodo bird.
The standard model allows the purchase and utilization of a recurring interval, usually a specific week each year, at a vacation resort. The average price in 2024 for a timeshare transaction was $23,160, per ARDA, with an average $1,260 in annual maintenance fees.
At Club Tahoe, the last interval sold (week 2 of each year) went for $3,367.80 in 2021. The 2026 annual maintenance fee (based on 2025 numbers) is $830, with the possibility of rising if/when this year’s budget is finalized.
In the U.S., timeshare occupancy returned to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024; ARDA reported that sales volume saw $10.5 billion, with the average occupancy at 80%.
“We’ve had a lot going on in the industry,” said Gamel, who’s served in his position for six years now. ARDA, he told Moonshine, has been “involved in almost every law that’s been written on the books on timeshares. We’ve helped every state in one way, shape, or form along with some other regulatory agencies.”
While timeshares back in the early days were born on the wave of independent developers buying a resort or two and sustaining their own sales and marketing, the ’80s and ’90s are when major brands started joining the fray.
“Hilton, Disney Vacation Club [were] the early ’90s, for instance,” Gamel said. “You had Marriott, who entered the game in the ’90s, and when that happened, all of a sudden, they started acquiring resorts … As time has gone on, and the cost of real estate has gotten really expensive, which really started in the 2000s and maybe even the 2010s. If we look at what was happening then, people weren’t doing as much development of their own properties, but a lot more corporate acquisitions, then consolidate.”
Today’s landscape has only a handful of major “active sales” developers, including Marriott, Westgate Resorts, Disney Vacation Club, and Holiday Inn Club.
George De Laurentis is a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate. He’s lived in South Lake Tahoe since 1977 and has worked in real estate and timeshare sales for over two decades.
“I worked for every company in South Shore that has sold timeshares, from the Ritz Tahoe to the Stardust to the Americana to the Marriott properties, Wyndham properties,” he said. “That’s the nature of the game. When one resort opens, all the agents go to the new resort [until] they get low on inventory.”
Now, De Laurentis works in independent sales for Coldwell, with clients who want to resell their Marriott timeshares. “I rep people who’ve bought [their timeshare] from the developer or inherited it, or they were given to them. Those [last two groups] tend to not have paid anything for it and therefore they’re in a position to get rid of it … [and] price it cheaper than anyone.”
SINCE 1974, timeshare resort growth has mostly plateaued. 2024 was the first year since the Covid-19 pandemic that timeshare occupancy returned to pre-2020 levels — at 80%. Courtesy graphic
The younger generations have gained their own footing in the industry, helping maintain momentum since the initial heyday of timeshare growth (36% from 1974 to 1984; see the ARDA graph above). In 2022, ARDA reported that Gen Z and Millennials accounted for 57% of all timeshare owners, and 53% of new sale purchasers.
De Laurentis gave perspective on today’s timeshare pitches, describing an oft-used approach of the time and energy put into planning vacations. “It’s spring break — how far in advance did you make those reservations?” he asked. “A smart person who goes during prime time, you’ve got to make the reservation 8 to 12 months in advance … Once you can get someone to admit that’s something they do, then a timeshare works.
“Somebody wants to come to Tahoe this Fourth of July and they don’t have a reservation right now; there’s nothing for them. Yes, you can reserve timeshares spur-of-the-moment … if you can jump on a plane and pay high airline tickets and run up to the resort three weeks in advance, you can do that, but I wouldn’t plan a major vacation that way.”
The oldest timeshare resorts tend to be the smallest in size, have the lowest occupancy, and the lowest billed maintenance fees, per the ARDA’s State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry 2025 study.
“The industry is currently undergoing an accelerated phase of winding down older and dysfunctional timeshare resorts, which has caused the overall resort and unit counts to decrease by about 5% since 2020,” the report stated. “This may ultimately serve to improve the overall health of the timeshare ecosystem.”
The legacy of Club Tahoe
Club Tahoe Resort opened its doors in 1978, four years after the U.S. timeshare industry’s inception. The resort consists of 93 units (with 51 interval weeks per unit), tennis courts, a pool area, parking, and a main clubhouse. In the past, owners have enjoyed discounted passes to Diamond Peak and access to Burnt Cedar, a residents-only beach in Incline Village.
Club Tahoe is known as a legacy or independent resort, meaning it’s not owned or represented by a known hospitality brand (like Marriott or Disney, for example). Up until 2014, it was self-managed, with various operations stayed in-house — like rental revenue, association dues, and accounting.
Tera Taylor began her Club Tahoe connection as a staff member before becoming a member over a decade later. In 2008, she started working in the resort’s office as a satellite office manager for a different timeshare exchange company. After about a year, the then-general manager for Club Tahoe offered her the position of on-grounds clubhouse manager.
“I took on that role,” she said. “I worked there and then I moved my way up to general manager. I worked there for about 16 years, up until March of 2024.”
Taylor grew up watching her mom manage a timeshare resort in Kings Beach. Post-Club Tahoe, she still works in the business, though in Sacramento.
In 2014, Club Tahoe Resort Association’s board of directors hired timeshare management company Tricom Management, based in Anaheim, to take over operations. This move shifted some responsibilities for the on-site staff like Taylor — no more accounting department, no more handling rentals, or invoicing, though she says her job as a manager day-to-day stayed the same (checking people in, quality control inventory, and so on).
As a direct and proximate result of Counter-defendants’ intentional interference, the Association has suffered and continues to suffer damages, including operational paralysis, vendor confusion, exposure to contractual liability, reputational harm, and increased administrative and legal costs.”
~ Defendants’ answer to amended complaint
While the shift to a corporate, bottom-dollar-driven mindset was challenging, Taylor said the first years under Tricom went well. Then, Covid-19 happened.
“They laid off a bunch of employees at Tricom [across the country], and I felt like things started really circling the drain and we weren’t getting the attention that we needed at the property,” she explained. “I was working a million hours, and the board wanted things done and they were telling the management company, and they were telling me, and I was working above and beyond. When things didn’t get done, I felt like I was kind of the pawn in the middle that was left holding the bag.”
Owners also noticed the pandemic impacts, specifically a “decline and lack of repairs,” Arnold said. “As simple as the blinds; they have these vertical slats and one or two would break and fall off. People — me and other owners in that same unit — submitted a maintenance request. Then a year later you go back up and it’s still there.”
Various complaints have been collected: rodent infestations, broken appliances, crumbling stairs, flooding, the closure of amenities like the racquetball court and sauna.
This awareness has led to concern over the possibility of a timeshare trend: Independent timeshare resorts faced with rising maintenance costs and aging owner bases often opt for termination and sale.
“What appears to happen is the physical properties are allowed to deteriorate, and they’re not maintained until there’s a point to which owners can’t afford a special assessment,” Ogden said. “If you can’t afford the special assessment, what is there left to do? These properties, they’re all worth a lot of money. And Incline Village is the premier location in Tahoe itself.”
South Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Summit Village timeshare owners faced a version of this situation. In October 2024, owners received letters from the board informing them that a special assessment of $56,236 per interval week was due by each association member. Such an assessment was intended to “cover anticipated carrying costs through Dec. 31, 2024,” per the letter. Alternatively, owners could relinquish their intervals without having to pay the special assessment. Ultimately, the timeshare resort closed.
Taylor and others interviewed assert that while old, Club Tahoe had healthy financial reserves up until Tricom entered the picture and the pandemic hit. “It’s almost like they were just holding us back,” she said.
During the years of the pandemic, Taylor added that delinquent units re-obtained by the Club Tahoe association via Tricom weren’t being resold. In reviewing Tricom’s contract, section 3.9 required the company “to find purchasers for no less than fifty (50) Intervals per year.” Failure to meet the quota meant a penalty charge of $500 per interval from Tricom to the association.
“We asked the [old] board multiple times to confirm whether Tricom reimbursed Club Tahoe for any quota shortfall, and [board member] Marc Pearl cited the lack of reimbursement (along with other reasons) as a basis for [eventually] terminating Tricom,” Arnold explained in an email. “If those payments were owed or received, they should be reflected in the association’s accounting records and financial statements, but I do not see any corresponding income in the 2023 or 2024 audited financials.”
According to county records currently available, Tricom did not sell any interval weeks after Oct. 21, 2021. The sole (partial) exception was two peak weeks (one summer, one winter), which original board member Marc Pearl acquired in summer 2023. According to owners, Pearl said he only paid transfer fees for the intervals. This move, as was explained by Pearl in a later owner call, was meant to be the impetus of a larger movement to transfer unused association weeks back to owners free of charge, to then turn them into dues-paying weeks. But per owners, such a policy has never been implemented.
In late 2024, Club Tahoe’s board terminated the Tricom contract, on the basis of poor performance. The company then turned around and sued the association for improper termination.
Judge Scott Freeman of the Second Judicial Court of the State of Nevada denied Tricom’s motion and dismissed its complaint in August 2025. Shortly after, Grand Pacific Resorts (GPR), which had been hired in February 2025, began actively managing Club Tahoe’s operations.
As recently as January 2026, one Club Tahoe owner was told by GPR staff at the front desk that Tricom’s relinquishment of the association included leaving bills unpaid.
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: On Oct. 25, 2025, Club Tahoe Resort owners gathered to recall the association’s acting board. Pictured is the master petition. In total, 641 owners unanimously called for the recall of the original board. Photo by Dusk Bennett
Team ‘Save Club Tahoe’
Save Club Tahoe is a movement of 600 to 800 of the roughly 4,600 possible owners.
Ogden lit the proverbial match after she experienced a series of frustrations: an application to become a board member that she was told “must’ve been lost,” aggressive actions toward a Club Tahoe staff member, the association’s hiring of unlicensed contractors who caused a sewage leak, and board members unwilling to rectify or address various situations.
There was also talk of the then-board, made up of the original board minus three, using their positions for special favors — such as Pearl’s obtaining peak weeks in July 2023.
After a particularly contentious April 2024 meeting with two board members, Ogden said, “I went home and just started calling and emailing every owner I could think of and launched this group.”
The first true organized attempt to “save” Club Tahoe took place in April 2025, when, Ogden says, there was “enough critical mass to decide that we were going to come again to Club Tahoe for this annual meeting, and we were going to do an in-person recall, because the bylaws stated that if we had a certain amount of participation there, we would prevail.”
To formally recall board members, the bylaws require a “duly convened regular or special meeting” and “the affirmative vote of the voting members casting no less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of each class of votes present at said meeting, and a successor may then and there be elected to fill the vacancy thus created.” This first recall effort failed because it was procedurally invalid and violated the resort’s governing documents and Nevada state law.
At the same time, the Tricom litigation was taking place. The management company would normally assist with general election notification, hosting, and oversight, but that did not happen. The original board is claiming by way of counsel that “any alleged procedural irregularity in that election” would have occurred because of Tricom’s undermining of the association’s ability to hold the election.
This was part of the reason the board chose to change voting from in-person to online. Others, as claimed in a June 2025 email from the board to Club Tahoe owners, were for safety in light of violent threats, and better accessibility for voter engagement.
From the election emerged the following board members, expanded from four to seven: Keith Wilson (incumbent), Gloria DeAlba (incumbent), Donald Wall (incumbent), Robert Vermeltfoort, Marc Pearl (incumbent), Keith Ogden (married to Mona Ogden), and Christine Becker. Vermeltfoort resigned from his position in October 2025.
It is against these board members, and the Club Tahoe Resort Owners Association itself, that Club Tahoe owners Lawrence Garvey and Robert Payton (a member of the October 2025 recall board) filed a complaint. They include claims of breaches of governing documents, of duty of good faith and fair dealing, of fiduciary duties, the improper transfer of reserve funds, and more. As of press deadline, there is no specific timeline for the case.
The most critical claims in the Garvey and Payton complaint center around how the April 2025 election happened, which includes reference to a timeshare association’s voting power. For Club Tahoe, when it comes to electing a board member, as an example, there is one vote per interval week owned. If an owner has two interval weeks, they get two votes.
The rub comes when an interval week is returned back to the association for whatever reason (delinquency, deed-back, etc.). They become association-owned weeks. In some timeshare associations, such weeks can be used at the discretion of the board to establish a quorum or for voting purposes. In this practice, it is possible for boards to obtain substantial voting control.
Garvey and Payton allege that, based on freely accessible Simply Voting records (the electronic system used), “the Former Board used [two] voter IDs to cast 1,790 weighted votes, or 24% of the total 7,506 total votes cast in the 2025 Annual Election, in favor of the Former Board-recommended candidates. These two voter IDs were later acknowledged by the Former Board to represent Association-owned, non-dues paying weeks.”
The referenced acknowledgement is from the June 2025 email, which stated that using association-owned weeks is not an anomaly and has been done before, and “there is no provision of NRS 119A or the governing documents that requires an exclusion of association-owned units … Consistent with industry practice, the association-owned units were used for quorum and voting purposes and did not violate any known state statutes.”
By October 2025, tensions were running even higher, and plans to hold a formal recall had been set in motion. After back-and-forth notifications between the various owners, the board, and the association’s legal counsel, a special meeting was held by the Save Club Tahoe group on Saturday, Oct. 25.
PETITIONS, PLENTY: The Save Club Tahoe group encouraged owners to sign petitions to recall the Club Tahoe board at multiple meet-and-greets over summer 2025. Photo by Mona Ogden
“At the Special Meeting,” the legal complaint states, “a quorum was established, and a unanimous recall of the Former Board by 641 Member votes of the Association was certified. There were no votes in favor of keeping the Former Board of Directors in place.”
Brian Arnold, Dusk Bennett, Daniel Doss-Grinstead, Dina Fitch, Keith Ogden, Robert Payton, and Tera Taylor were elected to the recall board.
Taylor, who left her position as general manager a year and a half prior, became an owner in exchange (she purchased her interval from another owner rather than through Tricom, which still wasn’t selling any). “I became an owner so that I could continue the good fight to help all of my owners and my previous staff,” she said.
A Nov. 3, 2025, letter emailed out to owners from the association’s general counsel, the LKG law firm, cited the special member meeting as unlawful because of semantics: the action taken was done under what the recall group called a “special member meeting,” but proceeded with under the rules of a “special board meeting,” which are not the same.
“Because the requirements of the Bylaws were not met, however, the special member meeting for an Oct. 25 recall election was unlawful, and any and all action taken at said meeting invalid,” the letter stated in part.
The original board members engaged in litigation did not respond to Moonshine Ink’s requests for comment.
Sands of time
What’s happening at a neighboring time share, Tahoe Sands Resort (TSR) in Tahoe Vista, serves as what multiple Club Tahoe owners see as a possibility should their efforts to save Club Tahoe fail. Especially since TSR is also managed by Grand Pacific Resorts.
TSR is actively dissolving after financial challenges, particularly a high percentage (55%) of defaulting owners, which equates to about 1,500 timeshare segment owners not paying maintenance fees each year. By the end of 2024, TSR accumulated negative retained earnings of $537,956.
“While the financial situation has been a challenge, we also have the burden of an aging facility,” noted an early 2025 letter from the board of directors to TSR owners. “The reserve fund simply cannot keep up with the amount of capital work needed to maintain a thriving resort. The fund currently has $200,000 in savings and we forecast needed capital improvements in the amount of $1,220,000 over the next three years.”
Owners were given two options: to pay an annual assessment of approximately $3,000 to $5,000 to help continue the resort’s operation indefinitely, or to dissolve, selling the resort and possibly receiving between $15,000 and $20,000 based on market factors. The clear preference, according to survey results, was for the sale of the property.
Kerri Countess has been an owner at Tahoe Sands since 2017. She’s a full-time resident in Spanish Springs (the northern portion of Sparks), Nevada, and fondly refers to Tahoe Sands as a “blue-collar beach club.”
She says the presentation of options was disingenuous.
“[We can either] triple your dues … fee [to] $4,500 a year and that would not allow us to do any upgrades to the property … Or, we could sell the property, and you could net anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. What do you think people voted for?”
VIEW FROM THE SANDS: Kerri Countess, parent and grandmother to those pictured, has been a member at Tahoe Sands Resort since 2017. As the resort goes through dissolution due to financial struggles, Countess is frustrated by what she sees as disingenuous methods of communication, like board members claiming voter majority to sell the resort by using association-owned weeks for that very vote. Photo by Kerri Countess
Similar to Club Tahoe’s voting methods, TSR’s bylaws state, “The Association Board shall cast votes which arise from suspended Memberships or for Memberships deemed held by the Association.”
Countess pointed out that under such a rule, what the owners want might be moot if the board has enough votes to make a majority.
She told Moonshine she wishes there had been more of an effort to salvage the resort through piecemeal efforts. “At no time was our property ever very active on hotels.com … We have eight buoys on that property. We could’ve [rented out] those eight buoys alone … They didn’t say, ‘We own five parcels, we could potentially investigate selling off one parcel.’ Each one of those parcels has five to seven units on it.”
The Tahoe Sands Resort board did not respond to Moonshine’s request for comment.
As of press deadline, TSR remains for sale; it was listed in April 2025 for $30 million. Owners were able to use their weeks through 2025, but no longer can as of Jan. 1, 2026, though they’re required to pay the annual maintenance fee at half-cost ($485.17 for a studio, $597.33 for a one-bedroom, and $687.05 for a two-bedroom).
“As owners,” proclaimed an April 2025 president’s address to TSR owners, “we are all sellers in this process.”
The San Diego Country Estates in Ramona, California, (also managed by GPR) recently underwent a similarly laid-out vote and is actively undergoing dissolution. After such financial hardships as delinquency (59%) and deferred maintenance, the timeshare association’s board of directors held a survey on owner preferences for how to proceed with the future of the resort. The results, according to an email sent to owners in March 2025, “showed that 84.5% of owner responses, representing 85.5% of the total owned intervals, chose … to dissolve the association and sell all the resort property.”
Just like Tahoe Sands, San Diego Country Estates association incurred new costs to implement the dissolution, “reducing the eventual payout for all participating owners. As a result, owners who wish to fully participate in the final payout will be expected to continue paying their quarterly maintenance fees.”
According to the association website dissolution FAQs (which are almost identical to Tahoe Sands’ dissolution FAQs), owners in good standing could receive between $5,000 and $10,000 per interval once the resort is sold.
Fifty years and counting
As of press deadline, the two boards of Club Tahoe continue to function — though the original board claims operational paralysis and has not moved to finalize the association’s 2026 annual budget, which is required through bylaws to be sent to owners “not less than 60 days before the beginning of the fiscal year,” which started Jan. 1.
“As a direct and proximate result of Counter-defendants’ intentional interference,” posits the defendants’ answer to the complaint, “the Association has suffered and continues to suffer damages, including operational paralysis, vendor confusion, exposure to contractual liability, reputational harm, and increased administrative and legal costs.”
Without clear guidance, owners are paying their annual assessment based on the 2025 amount of $830. Some owners of summertime intervals have been contacted directly by GPR’s financial arm, Advanced Financial, asking for maintenance fee payments. Owners of shares during earlier months, including those who have already visited, were not contacted.
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Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
The recall board has held two meetings over Zoom since its creation, with directors openly acknowledging their lack of access to the association’s finances, full owner roster, and other information. They are planning for the annual meeting on April 25, at which new board directors will be elected.
GPR is operating in its own type of silo with Club Tahoe. Whether the company will facilitate any upcoming elections is unknown. Jeff Brock, regional vice president of resort operations for GPR, told Moonshine in an email that his company is not “in a position to comment or participate in an interview.”
To date, Club Tahoe is not selling interval weeks to new timeshare owners. Rather, short-term renting options are available.
The recall board members and supporters remain wary of GPR’s recent history of dissolving timeshares.
Keith Ogden, a Club Tahoe owner in a particularly interesting spot, as he’s currently functioning as a member on both boards, claims that before he was “shut out” of the original board for aligning with the recall one, he viewed the GPR contract with Club Tahoe (which the recall board has not been able to access).
“They [GPR] are completely in control of finances, and they can starve the resort by mismanaging it,” he said. “And once they starve the resort, it goes bankrupt, then they get 25% of the sales proceeds gross — gross, not net sales — proceeds for being there and running it into the ground.”
Say the “Save Club Tahoe” group does manage to meet its goal of regaining control of the association — there’s still the bylaw-sanctioned possible termination of the resort after 50 years. On Aug. 24, 2028, a meeting will be held with all interval owners and board members. Unless 75% or more of those gathered vote for termination, Club Tahoe Resort’s declaration will continue another 10 years and again 10 years thereafter until termination is agreed upon.
“If we even get that far,” Mona Ogden said. “I honestly don’t think we will. I think they’re actively bankrupting us at the moment, and that will force a sale before we even get to ’28. But in a perfect world, the ’28 vote would’ve been a fair and ethical situation where owners did indeed vote and association-owned weeks were not voted by these people who had hidden them and stockpiled them for years in order to control the place. It all comes down to an ethical board. If you have an ethical board, ’28 shouldn’t be anything to be concerned about because you would feel good about it.”
The original board members, meanwhile, most recently responded to the legal complaint by requesting a preliminary injunction — essentially a pause button on any action for the resort — through the court.
But until there’s an official order that comes down, Save Club Tahoe continues to operate. “We have a lot of intelligent, a lot of competent people,” Fitch said. “People who have different skills, different strengths, and so you draw upon all of that in order to achieve this goal.”
The Lift Workspace, a coworking organization in Truckee, is likely here to stay — for at least another 10 years — after submitting the only lease proposal for its building within the Truckee Tahoe Airport District (TTAD). Now, it must contend with the building’s increase in rent to fair market value per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards. And Lift is not the only tenant of the airport reckoning with raising rent. It comes as yet another hurdle for the district in its yearslong balancing act between mandates on the aviation side and its commitment to its taxpayer base.
According to TTAD Board of Directors President David Diamond, the airport is making corrections to other past leases that fell short of fair market value.
“In the past, the airport has not always made sure that its leases were market value,” Diamond said. “In some cases they were below, and in some cases they were way below market value. This board under the guidance of our general manager, we’re basically trying to clean everything up.”
As a Public Regional General Aviation airport, the TTAD is obligated to comply with the FAA and its regulations. The airport owns 2,350 acres of land, which serve both aeronautical and nonaeronautical purposes, leading to gray areas in compliance. Furthermore, as a California Special Airport District — one of only nine— TTAD receives around $9 million in taxpayer money from Placer and Nevada counties.
“The alignment of these three policy bodies (federal, state, district) to address the use of public funds and airport revenue is unique with different requirements based on a number of involved public policy and legal factors,” the airport’s general manager Robb Etnyre said.
Contrary to FAA desires, the TTAD board believes taxpayer money should serve some community benefit. Additionally, Diamond said the state of California requires the property taxes the airport receives to be invested or spent in a way that supports the public. Consequently, the TTAD and its publicly elected board walk a fine line between conforming to FAA regulations and the public purpose of an airport to serve the community.
“What’s a fair rate for a nonprofit?” Horvath wondered. “Or what’s a fair rate for maybe a for-profit organization, but one who has a lot of impact in the community?”
“Though the FAA wants airports to self-sustain, the current TTAD Board of Directors believes the taxpayer money should be spent on projects that benefit the public,” Diamond explained.
Regardless of the airport’s mission, Board Vice President Greg Horvath acknowledged how much influence and authority the airport district has because of all the land it owns and manages. Even with FAA guidelines, the board has discretion in the way it manages its property, though the FAA has shut down past TTAD initiatives.
“There’s this natural tension here where it’s the fiduciary duty of the board and the airport district to manage our budget, manage our finances as responsibly as we can,” Horvath said. “I ran on a platform of trying to do so in a way that had the most impact for the community at large, not just people who utilized the airport’s direct services. But these are the types of challenges that come out from the airport having this much authority over property and over space.”
In 2024, following an FAA inspection, the TTAD’s hand was forced. A letter of noncompliance was sent regarding the airport’s below-market price hangars and their usage. Additionally, the FAA deemed some rents to be insufficient, like that of the Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District Bike Park. Per FAA requirements, the TTAD must charge fair market value in order to not compete with the private sector and to self-sustain its operations with minimal FAA grants. As such, the TTAD began reassessing the lease terms of its tenants.
THE LIFT coworking space occupies the former Clear Capital building just off Truckee Airport Road. After a Request for Proposal process, the Lift was awarded the lease with the airport district. Photos by Ted Coakley III/Moonshine Ink
“There is at a minimum, a sort of general effort to move rents closer to market value,” Horvath said. “Exactly how that’s going to shake out for nonprofits and other, even for-profit community impact organizations is unclear.”
While many organizations are obliged to the airport district as its tenants, the airport district is in turn under obligation to the FAA and its assurances. Etnyre addressed the FAA’s Revenue Use Policy, which instructs airports to create a self-sustaining structure through the business they conduct.
“We cannot use aviation money to subsidize non-aviation facilities. The grant assurance says you can’t do that,” Etnyre said. “The board’s very cautious, as they should be, about the use of public, tax-collected funds as subsidized business operations in our non-aviation facilities.”
Part of the TTAD’s nonaeronautical budget, however, goes toward benefiting the community, including assistance to nonprofit tenants and the allocation of $2 million for fire mitigation projects. The California Special Districts Association provides guidance to the airport district on any public funds it gifts.
TRUCKEE BIKE PARK is one of several TTAD tenants with leases increasing to fair market value per FAA regulations.
Previously, TDRPD received such community benefit with a license agreement originally priced at $1 a year for the Truckee Bike Park. The fair market value hunt has changed its terms. After the FAA land inspection, the general manager for the recreation district, Sven Leff, said the airport informed them the rent for its bike park would have to change.
In April 2026, the district will begin paying $5,796 per year for the park. It also leases the land for the Ponderosa Golf Course from the airport for a nominal fee, since that acts as an open-space safety zone for the airport.
Leff said the agreement for the golf course included a clause acknowledging that as a nonprofit with community benefit, the parks district was eligible for rental credit payments that covered the full market cost of what was valued at $166,000 per year in 2008.
“What’s a fair rate for a nonprofit?” Horvath wondered. “Or what’s a fair rate for maybe a for-profit organization, but one who has a lot of impact in the community?”
This was just the question the TTAD board has asked when leasing to nonprofits, as well as when the Airport Office Building rented by the Lift was reassessed. Several nonprofits housed in TTAD’s warehouse such as Truckee Roundhouse, Tahoe Food Hub, and Sierra Community House, are the subject of in-kind discounts. According to Etnyre, those nonprofits pay discounted rent, equivalent of about a 50% decrease from fair market value.
“From a business perspective, maybe we’re not being as smart as we could be in terms of revenue opportunities,” Diamond said. “But we are offsetting that loss of revenue in terms of benefit to the region.”
The in-kind discounts are considered community benefit programs that result in foregone revenue. TTAD Director of Finance and Administration Liza Smith estimated the foregone revenue from its warehouse nonprofits for 2026 to equate to around $102,000 as their leases are reassessed for fair market value.
“We’ve got $9M of property tax coming in and I want to make sure that it is used on behalf of the people who are paying it,” Diamond said. “Because that, to me, is general good governance.”
Diamond added, as a pilot himself, he doesn’t think public funds should subsidize his hobby. On the aviation side of things, Etnyre said the TTAD is working on adjusting aeronautical rents and fees to fair market value, as well as introducing landing fees, enforcing hangar rent, and exploring a partnership with JSX, a private jet charter service. JSX was the other primary party interested in the Airport Office Building, but it ultimately didn’t submit a proposal.
Additionally, for-profit organizations like the Lift face higher costs, even though the Lift offers community benefit by serving nonprofits at discounted rates. The assessment commissioned by the airport for the facility valued rent at $2.25 per square foot for a total of $24,300 per year. The Lift is currently paying $1.67 until July 31, 2026, and counter-proposed $1.85 per square foot for its new lease.
THE WAREHOUSE is home to three nonprofits — Truckee Roundhouse, Tahoe Food Hub, and Sierra Community House — as part of a community benefit partnership with the TTAD.
In the TTAD Board of Directors’ Jan. 28 meeting, when it disclosed it would lease to the Lift, its staff report acknowledged any capital improvements for the Lift would require taxpayer money to complete, leaving some uncertainty about the Lift’s future.
“As a California Special District, TTAD’s use of property tax funds must meet the public purpose of the district,” the staff report stated. “Because TRV [Truckee River Ventures is the parent company of the Lift] is a for-profit enterprise, funding tenant-specific improvements could be perceived as subsidizing a private business.”
The airport district continues to have to strike a balance between the communities it serves and the regulations it abides by. Due to its allocation of funds to wildfire mitigation, it has shifted its community benefit funding toward a focus on community-wide benefit. However, Etnyre said it will continue to provide in-kind discounts to nonprofits.
While the TTAD works to manage its rentals, entities such as the Town of Truckee have expressed interest in some airport parcels of land, which the district may be willing to part with. If it disposes of the land, the FAA will be involved in how that money is used.
“I think that brings up good questions for the community at large,” Horvath said. “What kind of role do we want the airport to have? … These organizations […] have huge impacts in our community but are sort of beholden to the airport district as their landlord.”
I was at a party a while back when the conversation turned toward AI. A financially well-off fellow I’d just met told me how he’d given thank you letters to his best clients. He went on to boast that, while he handwrote out and signed his name to each of those thank you letters, he had ChatGPT write the actual words to the letters for him.
That didn’t sit well with me.
One-hundred fifty years ago, on March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first ever telephone call, but it took 75 discerning years for his invention to reach 100 million users. When the automobile came out, it took 33 years to gain 100 million users. The cell phone took 15 years for its first 100 mil, and the internet conquered the feat in seven years.
It took ChatGPT 60 days.
That mark was reached three years ago this month. And now the thing is everywhere, with about a billion users (and growing) relying on it for more and more things with greater and greater devotion. In three years — out of the 300,000-plus years of us homo sapiens walking on two legs around this word — that thing has changed the way we live and think and do.
And I don’t think that’s good.
It is 2026, and there’s no iota of a shred of a doubt that we are in the AI Era. It’s here, and it’s here to stay. But while it took thousands of years for us to go from stone to bronze to iron, it is precisely the quickness of the adoption of AI that should give us pause. Things are happening like a lightning-strike and only getting faster. It is 2026, and we all wake up and brush our teeth in a technological arms race of instant, instanter, and instantest without any idea if what is being shoved down our metaphoric throat is good for us or bad for us or just for the profit of the few.
What was wrong and what needed fixing? What’s the AI end-game? What, in 2026, does it mean to be human?
In so many facets of our human lives that weren’t broken four years ago, we are now being told (even forced) to “leverage the power of AI” in order to do things faster. But if everyone in a race starts speeding up at the same pace, everyone in that race is still going the same relative speed. Nothing is gained.
And when we start going faster just for the sake of going faster, things get lost. Learning gets lost. Texture gets lost. Wisdom gets lost. Where this seems most troublesome for our humanity, to me, at this stage, is with our written words.
Less than three years since the unveiling of large language models (LLMs), our culture now uses the machines to write (or “improve”) everything from our emails to our essays to our web copy to our songs to our books; our lesson plans, grocery lists, workout regimens, text messages, and, yes, thank you letters.
And let us not forget that true writing is rewriting — that it is in our editing, our reworking, our drafting, our human honing where we really get to know what it is we are trying to say and how we are trying to say it.
It is 2026, and I encourage us human beings to return to writing our own writing. Because if we don’t, like any language that is no longer practiced, we will one day lose the ability to do so. And when we human beings lose our ability to write, it is our ability to think, to figure out problems, to find creative solutions, to be human, that will wither and fade.
AI is here and it’s not going to go away. It will grow more astronomically powerful and more absolutely pervasive within our everyday existence. With access to it in our pockets, we human beings have essentially become cyborgs. Yet we are not meant to live as cyborgs, but as human beings.
So let us live like human beings. And a good way to make sure we do that is to get back to writing our own writing.
As I begin my year as mayor of Truckee, I do so with deep gratitude and reflection. This year is especially meaningful as it marks both the start of my term as mayor and my final year on the town council after seven years of service. It feels like a fitting way to close this chapter of public service.
Over the past seven years, we have taken on big challenges, made difficult decisions, and laid critical groundwork to ensure Truckee remains a resilient, welcoming, and thriving town for generations to come. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.
I am especially proud of our commitment to sustainability and climate action. The town council designated annual funding for environmental initiatives, turning values into action. We helped establish the Climate Transformation Alliance to advance regional carbon neutrality and adopted single-use food ware and plastic water bottle ordinances. We developed a Building Decarbonization Roadmap that positions Truckee as a leader in environmental protection. We are transitioning the town fleet to electric vehicles where practical, expanding fare-free and reduced-fare transportation options like TART Connect and vanpool programs, and supporting year-round bicycle and pedestrian mobility through BCycle and trail plowing.
Truckee was designated a Clean California Community this year, one of the first 30 cities statewide. This achievement highlights Truckee’s leadership in reducing litter, enhancing public spaces, and fostering community pride.
We have also invested in people, strengthening staff capacity to address housing, sustainability, engagement, communications, and inclusion, while rightsizing our organization to better meet community needs, including adding critical public safety positions. Public safety and preparedness have remained a top priority with the creation of the Emergency Management Division and expanded wildfire mitigation efforts.
The adoption of the Truckee 2040 General Plan was one of the most consequential efforts of my time on the council. This robust public process incorporated the Town’s first Climate Action Element, people-focused mobility policies, strengthened community character, and included a robust safety element addressing wildfire risk.
Housing remains one of our most urgent priorities. The town has secured 800 deed-restricted units and created, preserved, or converted housing for over 860 locals.Innovative programs like Lease to Locals are now being replicated across the country.
There is more to do, and so we also advanced funding mechanisms to support more housing programs, transportation, and emergency services. I am equally proud of our thriving small business community, the opening of DEWBEYÚMUWE? Park, and the investments we’ve made in trails and roads, including the renewal of critical tax measures that support this work.
We could not do all of this without the volunteers advancing special projects like the River Revitalization Steering Committee, the Chief’s Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, Public Art Commission of Truckee, and many more.
The Tahoe Truckee Homeless Action Coalition has made meaningful progress addressing homelessness, leading with compassion and collaboration as we move toward opening a pilot navigation center.
Looking ahead, key milestones include Housing Element decisions, improvements to the Homegrown Housing Program, groundbreaking for Edmunds Lofts, completion of a town-wide evacuation study, a new heat pump incentive program, public art installations, and rollout of Cloudpermit to improve transparency and efficiency. We also look forward to building our bilingual communications, supporting the Truckee Library, the restoration of Donner Lake, and the continued care of our trails through the renewal of the existing sales tax.
None of this happens without the tireless work of town staff, my fellow councilmembers, committee members, and the passion of this community. Truckee is strongest when we work together.
My hope for Truckee is record snow, ambitious agendas, and thoughtful, spirited conversations that move us forward.
~ Anna Klovstad was elected to the Truckee Town Council in 2018 and 2022. She cofounded the Climate Transformation Alliance as mayor and now leads TTUSD’s Facilities Department. As a certified construction and energy manager with an architecture degree, she champions energy efficiency and sustainability projects in the Tahoe/Truckee region.
Tahoe is facing a workforce housing crisis. A recent community survey led by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) revealed that two-thirds of Tahoe Basin residents struggle to afford housing. These are the workers who keep Tahoe running year-round: staffing our hospitals, maintaining our infrastructure, educating our children, responding to emergencies, and supporting our tourism economy.
When workers are priced out of the Basin, daily commuting becomes unavoidable. That influx of vehicles worsens congestion on already overburdened roads and degrades the quality of life for residents and visitors. More cars also means more pollution and more runoff from roadways flowing into the lake.
On its surface, it can seem like this is a simple housing supply problem. While it’s true there is a lack of access to affordable housing for many people who work in Tahoe and others who live here with limited incomes — like seniors and people with disabilities — the reality is more nuanced. Tahoe doesn’t have enough affordable housing to accommodate our local workers; too many existing units are used by tourists or as second homes that sit empty.
The numbers are dramatic. Of the 49,000 housing units in the Tahoe Basin, roughly half are occupied year-round, while the other half sit empty or are used as vacation rentals. And of all the housing in the Basin, only 707 units are deed-restricted — apartments, townhomes, and condos guaranteed to be rented below market rate to qualifying tenants. Building more housing without deed restrictions is most likely to support additional luxury housing, not the workforce housing we need.
Another reason simply increasing housing supply will not work in Tahoe is the lake itself. More density without stringent water-quality protections results in more runoff flowing into the lake. Loosening development standards to accommodate more construction will create more problems for the lake, a national treasure that deserves protection.
TRPA just kicked off an environmental review to examine policies to increase workforce housing. That process may sound technical, but its implications are anything but abstract. The decisions made now will determine not only where and how people live here, but also how well we protect the lake in the effort to meet our workforce housing needs.
The last time TRPA conducted a full-scale environmental review of development impacts in the Basin in 2012, it set a hard growth cap on the number of housing units that could be built here without compromising lake clarity. Of the 52,000 potential units, only about 3,000 remain unbuilt. That’s why it’s critical for the environmental review process to examine not only which types of units can be built and where, but also how the housing we already have can better serve year-round residents.
By focusing on adaptive reuse and programs like downpayment assistance to help people access existing homes, TRPA can address housing needs without sacrificing the lake. Most importantly, TRPA must narrowly focus its incentives to make it less expensive for developers to build housing that meets the needs of our workforce through deed restrictions and other tailored policies and programs.
TRPA will examine a wide range of issues as part of the environmental impact statement, and the scoping period just kicked off. The agency’s decision-makers need to hear from the community to understand priorities and concerns. To learn more about the issues and to add your voice, go to mountainareapreservation.org/the-housing-tahoe-needs.
~ Alexis Ollar is the executive director of Mountain Area Preservation, an environmental and workforce-housing advocacy organization based in Tahoe/Truckee, working since 1987 to advocate for the environment and community.
Venus entered Pisces on February 10 and will move through the sign for the whole month, working to soften our hearts. Mercury joins the North Node in Pisces on February 12, bringing intuitive, impactful messages. February 14 marks a major threshold as Saturn joins Neptune in fiery self-confident Aries, signaling a cycle reset around will, identity, and how spiritual vision becomes embodied action. This is also Valentine’s Day — try to use the extra sparks for fun and connection rather than reacting defensively.
With Saturn and Neptune now together in Aries, we experience both completion and initiation. Interestingly, this event closely coincides with the Chinese New Year on February 17, when the collective shifts from the Chinese astrological energies of Wood Snake (shedding and release) to Fire Horse (action, boldness, and momentum). That same day, the Aquarius new eclipse moon occurs and will be paired with Venus conjunct the North Node in Pisces. February 23 carries volatile energy as Mars will square Uranus. These few days will be electric and a little edgy, so watch out for impulsivity. And when Mercury goes retrograde in Pisces on February 26, aim to trust your intuition while also being on the lookout for misunderstandings.
The Virgo full moon on March 3 brings discernment and a connection to practical concerns. Venus enters Aries on March 6, sharing the sky with Saturn and Neptune and asking us to check in on what desires are truly worth committing to.
NATURAL MAGIC
For this month’s wild mashup of the Chinese New Year and the new eclipse moon in Aquarius with Venus conjunct the North Node in Pisces, create a simple water manifestation ritual. Fill a bowl of spring water with rose quartz, a seashell, or moonstone (or all three!). Before bed, name one desire you are ready to receive (if you can do this outside, under the dark, starry sky, that is wonderful, but if it’s too cold then do it in your cozy home). Next, dip your fingers in the water and touch your heart and temples while naming your desire. Then place the water near your bed and go to sleep, letting your dreams and the water magic work overnight. In the morning, once again dab the water on your heart and temples. Journal your thoughts and emotions on what you received in your dreams.
In honor of the Virgo full moon eclipse on March 3, engage in a practical purification ritual by cleaning your altar, desk, or closet. As you organize and clear out what’s no longer needed, also speak aloud which habits or obligations are no longer sustainable for you. This full moon rewards discernment, and its magic looks like clarity, action, and devotion to what truly works
Shoulder-Season Playbook: Big Impact, Better Value in South Lake Tahoe
Timing is everything for your next event.
When you’re mapping out a leadership retreat, incentive getaway, or multi-day meeting, timing can make all the difference. In South Lake Tahoe, shoulder season is where savvy planners find the sweet spot. Fewer calendar constraints. Less hustle. More options. And a destination that still delivers that unmistakable lake-and-mountain wow factor.
Why Shoulder Season Works
Shoulder season is the quiet achiever of Tahoe event planning. It’s when the destination feels open, adaptable, and ready to work with you.
With fewer competing bookings, hotels and venues have greater availability and flexibility. That means meeting rooms configured to fit your flow, smoother load-ins, and easier coordination across multi-day programs. It also means your stakeholders see a stronger return on investment without sacrificing experience.
And make no mistake, the experience still delivers. You’re meeting where North America’s largest alpine lake meets the Sierra Nevada peaks. Crisp air fuels clear thinking. Big views inspire big ideas. Your attendees still get the awe, and then some.
Sweet-Spot Weeks to Know
And make no mistake, the experience still delivers. You’re meeting where North America’s largest alpine lake meets the Sierra Nevada peaks. Crisp air fuels clear thinking. Big views inspire big ideas. Your attendees still get the awe, and then some.While Tahoe’s shoulder seasons shift slightly year to year, two planning windows consistently deliver the best mix of value, flexibility, and seasonal appeal for meetings and group activities in South Lake Tahoe.
Late April through early June marks spring’s transition on the South Shore. The lake begins to shine, the mountains hold onto their final traces of snow, and the destination feels refreshed. Golf courses reopen, lower-elevation trails become accessible, and lake cruises, kayaking, and paddleboarding begin to ramp up. Longer daylight hours and clear air support productive meeting days paired with outdoor receptions, scenic breaks, or casual team-building.
During spring, indoor venues remain plentiful and adaptable, while outdoor activities can be layered in as conditions allow. It’s a smart choice for incentive programs and strategy sessions that benefit from a sense of renewal without committing fully to summer logistics.
Late September through earlyNovember delivers one of Tahoe’s most focused and visually rewarding seasons. Fall color arrives in nearby valleys, temperatures settle into a comfortable range, and the lake takes on a calm, reflective tone. Hiking remains accessible, lake cruises continue into early fall, and cooler evenings naturally lend themselves to fireside networking, private dinners, and relaxed social gatherings.
Fall shoulder season also brings consistency. Weather tends to be stable, days are still bright, and leaf peeping is in its prime.
A quick planning note: Tahoe is a mountain destination, and shoulder seasons come with character. Spring may include lingering snow at higher elevations, and fall evenings cool quickly. The upside is choice. South Lake Tahoe’s walkable meetings district, flexible indoor venues, and experienced local partners make it easy to build programs that stay smooth, comfortable, and compelling regardless of what the weather decides to do.
The Value Equation
his is where shoulder season delivers its strongest planning advantage.
Planners often see more favorable room rates and added concessions during these windows. That can translate into additional breakout space, enhanced AV support, or flexible food and beverage minimums. Venues have more room to accommodate special requests and last-minute adjustments, making programs easier to fine-tune.
Many groups choose to reinvest those savings into experiences that elevate the agenda. A hosted welcome reception with lake views. A guided outdoor activity between sessions. A surprise guest speaker or team excursion. Value extends beyond the hotel stay. Group dining and off-site experiences often avoid peak-season premiums and rigid requirements, allowing budgets to stretch further across the full program. Add in Visit Tahoe’s helpful event value tips, and you’ll discover just how affordable your lakeside retreat can be.
Let’s Plan (Without the Headaches)
Shoulder season planning in South Lake Tahoe is refreshingly straightforward.
Start by browsing a wide range of venues, from large-scale, flexible spaces like the Tahoe Blue Event Center to boutique and lakefront options designed for more intimate groups. The destination offers a mix of casino resorts, luxury lodges, and eco-conscious properties, making it easy to match the stay to your program’s tone.
Detailed room and venue specs help planners align space with session needs from the start. Access through Reno-Tahoe International Airport keeps travel simple, with convenient shuttle options and a scenic drive that sets the tone before attendees even arrive.
A Smarter Way to Meet
Shoulder season in South Lake Tahoe isn’t about scaling back. It’s about meeting smarter. With timing on your side and the lake as your backdrop, these windows create a clearer path to meetings and incentives that deliver on every level. So let’s start planning your event. Browse South Shore venues, explore room and meeting specs, and send us your RFP. We’ll help you turn smart timing into an even better experience.
Whether you’re unwinding after an outdoor adventure or simply seeking a moment of calm, South Lake Tahoe’s day spas offer restorative experiences inspired by mountain landscapes and crystal-clear lake views. From luxe bodywork to unique cultural rituals, there’s a way to pamper your body and mind in every season.
Perched within the serene grounds of Edgewood Tahoe Resort, this Forbes Travel Guide 4-Star Spa invites guests to relax in a refined mountain setting with treatments designed to soothe both body and spirit. Signature options include restorative gemstone and specialty massages, body rituals, and facials that marry luxury with the natural tranquility of Lake Tahoe. The spa lounge area features a hot tub that is for clients of the spa only. Learn more.
Waterfront and restorative, The Spa at The Landing blends the calming influence of the lake with a menu of body therapies, facials, and restorative treatments featuring organic products and natural botanicals. With its focus on alignment and overall renewal, this spa provides a peaceful complement to lakeside adventures and relaxation. Learn more.
Serenity Spa at the Marriott Grand Residence Lake Tahoe
Located inside the Marriott Grand Residence Club, Serenity Spa offers a warm and tranquil setting for guests to indulge in full-service massages, facials, and wellness treatments. It’s an easy way to unwind after a day on the trails or slopes, with customizable spa packages and a welcoming retreat atmosphere. Learn more.
Reflections Spa provides a serene escape within one of South Lake Tahoe’s most iconic properties. With rejuvenating treatments designed to melt away stress and melt into mountain views, this spa experience pairs well with a day of gaming, dining, or live entertainment. Learn more.
Rooted in the Japanese tradition of healing and renewal, Onsen Spa at Bally’s combines thermal features like hot baths with a selection of massage and bodywork offerings. It’s a soothing complement to the energy of nightly entertainment and gaming on the South Shore. (Note: Onsen details are informed by local listings and spa hotel guides.)Learn more.
More Ways to Restore in Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe’s wellness scene extends beyond traditional day spas, inviting you to explore experiences that engage body, mind, and nature:
Tahoe Forest Baths offers a rare Japanese cedar enzyme bath experience, one of only two of its kind in the U.S., promoting detoxification, stress relief, and relaxation through warm, natural cedar and active enzymes.
Bliss Experiences provides curated classes and workshops — from forest bathing to mindful movement — that connect visitors with nature and deeper personal renewal.
OMNI Tahoe Wellness Center in the heart of South Lake Tahoe focuses on holistic well-being with a variety of fitness and wellness offerings beyond traditional spa services. Guests can enjoy infrared-heated yoga in the Solar Studio, non-heated classes like aerial hammock and TRX in the Lunar Studio, and other movement-based experiences designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and recovery. It’s a great complement to outdoor adventure and post-play relaxation in Tahoe’s mountain environment.
From deep-tissue massage to cedar enzyme baths and bespoke healing workshops, South Lake Tahoe’s spa and wellness offerings are as varied as the landscape itself. Whether you’re seeking recovery after sledding, skiing, or biking — or simply craving a tranquil retreat — there’s a restorative experience here to suit every traveler.
Perfectly positioned at more than 6,200 feet above sea level, Lake Tahoe is an ideal place for Olympians to live, train, and explore.
Here is a list of Olympic athletes who call Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area home, as well places to visit and take in Lake Tahoe’s Olympic legacy. Looking for somewhere to watch the Olympics while you’re in town? Check out Sports Bars here.
Jamie Anderson is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and South Lake Tahoe local. Anderson competed in her third Olympic Games in Beijing, after winning gold in the slopestyle competition in 2014 and 2018. Jamie Anderson may be known for long, cerebral runs, but she has plenty of big air tricks in her bag as well.
Anderson swept the slopestyle and big air events at the 2021 X Games in Aspen and won the slopestyle events at the Mammoth World Cup 2022. Considered a favorite by many, this South Lake Tahoe local is certainly deserving of a few cheers.
Maddison Michelle “Maddie” Bowman is an American freestyle skier who quickly made her mark on the sport with a breakout performance at the Winter X Games in 2012. She captured a silver medal in the superpipe. From there, Bowman established herself as one of the most dominant halfpipe skiers of her era, claiming X Games gold medals in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and again in 2018.
Her career reached its pinnacle at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where she delivered a standout performance to earn the gold medal in ski halfpipe. Bowman returned to Olympic competition in 2018, finishing 11th against a highly competitive field. Known for her consistency, technical skill, and competitive drive, Bowman remains one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes.
Hannah Teter is an American snowboarder and Olympic champion known for her smooth style and consistency on the halfpipe. She rose to international prominence at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, where she captured the gold medal with a standout performance. Four years later, Teter proved her staying power by returning to the Olympic podium with a silver medal at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
Beyond the Olympics, Teter built an impressive competitive résumé, including a bronze medal at the 2005 FIS World Championships in Whistler, British Columbia, and six World Cup victories throughout her career. Recognized for both her talent and longevity in the sport, Teter remains one of the most accomplished and respected figures in women’s snowboarding.
David Wise is an American freestyle skier and one of the most decorated athletes in men’s halfpipe history. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Wise captured back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2018, cementing his reputation as a dominant force on the world stage. His breakthrough moment came at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he made history by becoming the first Olympic champion in the debut of the men’s freeski halfpipe event.
Wise’s success extends well beyond the Olympics. He is a five-time X Games gold medalist, earning top honors in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2023. Notably, he entered the Sochi Games with strong momentum after securing his third consecutive X Games gold in Aspen earlier that year.
A 2022 Olympian and eight-year member of the U.S. Ski Team, Cashman returns to the Winter Games driven by a desire to continue challenging expectations in alpine skiing. A technically focused racer specializing in Giant Slalom and Super Giant Slalom, she has built her career on determination, consistency, and a belief that elite performance is possible without following a traditional development path.
O’Brien began skiing at Palisades Tahoe through the Mighty Mite program before starting her racing career with Team Palisades Tahoe. She later attended Burke Mountain Academy, where her performance led to selection for the National Training Group and, in 2016, a spot on the U.S. Ski Team.
Since joining the team, O’Brien has built an accomplished career, including winning the NorAm overall title in 2019, earning eight national championship titles, and competing at the 2022 Winter Games. She was also a member of the U.S. Team Event that won gold at the 2023 World Championships. Growing up in a family of ski racers helped shape her lifelong connection to the sport.
With what has to be the coolest last name of any Winter Olympics athlete, Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy’s Luke Winters officially punched his ticket to Beijing after securing a career-best 10th place in Slalom racing. In 2019 Luke won his first national championship title at the alpine combined at Sugarloaf, Maine. He followed that performance up with a second national title in slalom at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.
A member of the United States cross-country team, North Lake Tahoe’s JC Schoonmaker is entering his first-ever Olympics with a full head of steam after securing a pair of top-10 finishes and a national title at Soldier Hallow, Utah.
A California native and Alaska resident, Hannah Halvorsen is headed to her first Winter Games two years after suffering a traumatic brain injury from a crash. Halvorsen is hoping her comeback story ends with a gold medal win. Halvorsen recently posted a career-best seventh place at a World Cup event in Dresden, Germany.
Hailing from Truckee and growing up in a family of skiers, the multi-talented athlete, Maureen Lebel has competed in all ski disciplines and finished third overall at the North American Cup.
Hurt has two World Cup podiums and made her Olympic debut in 2022. She recently spent the offseason training at home in Palisades Tahoe and is coming off a breakthrough season, with a strong focus on mental preparation — an area she describes as non-linear but essential to high-level performance.
Tahoe’s Olympic Legacy
1960 Winter Olympics Games
The Squaw Valley Winter Olympics | Photo: Craighton Miller
The Squaw Valley Winter Olympics in 1960 are remembered by many as the last of the small Olympics. Originally standing a “snowball’s chance”, the Olympic event near Tahoe’s north shore could have arguably never happened if not for a tie-breaking vote by World War II hero, Jo Marillac.
The legacy of the 1960 Olympics continues into the present. When officials were unsure if a skier had missed a gate in the men’s slalom, they asked CBS-TV if they could review a videotape of the race, giving CBS the idea of inventing “instant replay”.
Champions Plaza
Spirit of Competition Sculpture | Photo: Lake Tahoe News
Next time you’re driving through South Lake Tahoe, be sure to visit the Champions Plaza, located on the corner of U.S. 50 and Lakeview Avenue across from Lakeview Commons and take a selfie with the 11-foot bronze sculpture inspired by local Olympic athletes.
Start Your Own Winter Olympics
You might not be good enough to qualify to represent your country during the Olympics, but your family can start their own Olympic Games in South Lake Tahoe each winter. With thousands of acres of skiable terrain at local ski resorts and a massive backcountry with never-ending progression, and even ice skating rinks, you don’t have to look far to find a worthwhile and memorable experience along Lake Tahoe’s south shore.
Whisk your Valentine away somewhere magical! Plan the perfect dinner with our Valentine’s Day Restaurant Guide in Lake Tahoe. The Jewel of the Sierra offers breathtaking views and a refreshing change of pace. With a whole host of activities to suit any couple’s passions – whether you’d like to cruise the lake, carve some powder, or refresh at a resort – South Shore Lake Tahoe has it all. Below, we’ve included a list of the most romantic restaurants, so you can pair your daytime adventures with a dinner to remember. While reservations aren’t always necessary here, for Valentine’s Day in Lake Tahoe, we strongly recommend reserving your table in advance.
Romantic Restaurants on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
Friday Station Lakeview restaurant inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
For couples who want to get fancy, may we suggest:
The Chart House | Perched atop a hill near Kingsbury Grade, overlooking exquisite Lake Tahoe, Chart House is a legendary seafood restaurant known for its excellent cuisine. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-6276
Evans American Gourmet Cafe | Their menu features a blend of cuisine styles from around the world. Make your reservation now: (530) 542-1990
Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen| Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe | You can count on any Gordon Ramsay restaurant to deliver! From the lobster risotto to Gordon’s famous Beef Wellington to his favorite dessert (Sticky Toffee Pudding), savor the flavors of this world-famous chef’s menu. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-2411
For couples seeking elevated cuisine in a casual atmosphere, we recommend:
Kalani’s | Kalani’s restaurant, first opened in 2004 and featured in Bon Appetit, creates unique dishes by blending the fresh ingredients of Hawaiian regional cooking with Asian and European techniques and influences. Make your reservation now: (530) 544-6100.
The Loft at the Heavenly Village | Taste At The Loft wants to make your Valentine’s Day date feel special. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an intimate, upscale dinner at Taste at The Loft. Enjoy artfully prepared cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. Perfect for couples looking for a refined and romantic experience in the heart of Heavenly Village. Make your reservation now: (530) 523-8024.
Riva Grill | Riva Grill features beautiful, wooden boat-inspired decor, lake views and an amazing cocktail selection. Give your date what they really want this year, a Wet Woody® on the water + dinner you can’t say no to. That’s unforgettable. Celebrate love with our dinner specials, cozy lakefront views, and the perfect setting for a romantic evening. Make your reservation now: (530) 542-2600.
For couples who are seeking something only to be found in Tahoe…
Gastromaniac – Homemade Pasta & Pizza | At Gastromaniac, you can get a classic pie to go, or you can also pick up some handmade pasta to cook back at your rental cabin or suite. Make your reservation now: (530) 600-2110.
The Grove on the Lake at Camp Richardson Resort | Celebrate love lakeside with a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at The Grove. Enjoy a cozy alpine atmosphere and stunning lakeviews. Perfect for couples looking to toast the night with great food, wine, and mountain charm. Make your reservation now: (530) 314-4650.
MacDuff’s Pub | A local’s favorite, MacDuff’s Pub is a great choice if you’re seeking a casual, cozy, and unique atmosphere and a menu with no bad choices. Be forewarned; the truffle mac’n’cheese is habit-forming! Make your reservation now: (530) 542-8777.
Naked Fish Sushi | If sushi is your go-to for dates, check out Naked Fish. Featuring specialty rolls like the Tahoe Crunch and Surf’n’Turf, and a chef’s sashimi plate that is hard to beat, Naked Fish stands out. They pick up their fish from 200 miles away to ensure that it is of the highest quality. Make a reservation now: (530) 541-3474.
For couples who love a good steak, check out:
Ciera Steak + Chophouse| Bally’s Lake Tahoe. Stateline’s only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant serves perfectly prepared cuts of meat, including pistachio-encrusted rack of lamb and the incredible 30-ounce Wagyu “Tomahawk” rib steak, complemented by a selection of 300 premium wines and champagnes. Enjoy delicious food and impeccable service. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-3515.
Friday’s Station Steak & Seafood Grill | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Lake views at every table, and a 1,000-bottle display wine cellar make this restaurant special. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-6611.
SaltgrassSteakhouse | Golden Nugget Hotel Casino. Discover the superior flavors of Saltgrass while enjoying menu favorites like our massive Silver Star Porterhouse, our homestyle Country Fried Steak, and our slow-braised BBQ Pork Ribs. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-1010.
Sage Room & Steak House | Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe. An elegant steak house, The Sage Room is popular with locals and guests alike. Make your reservation now: (775) 588-2411.
JWB Prime Steak and Seafood | Margaritaville Lake Tahoe Resort. JWB Prime Steak and Seafood delights both resort guests and locals with a laid-back luxe dining experience. Offering a contemporary menu of prime steaks, fresh seafood, and a raw bar, all paired with world-class wines and hand-crafted cocktails. Make your reservation now: (530) 544-5400.
Many hotels are offering Valentine’s Day deals as well. Whatever your plans are for Valentine’s Day in Lake Tahoe, we hope you and your sweetheart make some fond memories to last a lifetime!
Special Events
This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with wine all over again. Love at the Lakefeatures more than 20 premium wineries, curated bites from our award-winning restaurants, and live music – creating an unforgettable Valentine’s celebration at the Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe.
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise aboard the M.S. Dixie II Paddle wheeler. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special, romantic dinner with Lake Tahoe Cruises aboard the MS Dixie II. A unique and special way to celebrate. Live music, dinner, and a night you won’t forget.
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Idle Hour. Saturday, February 14, 2026, 6:30 pm. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a curated food and wine pairing dinner, thoughtfully crafted to complement each course and elevate every moment. Set against the glow of candlelight and lakefront ambiance, this is a night meant to be savored—one course, one sip, one memory at a time.
Check out Valentine’s Day at Lake Tahoe on Instagram
Lake Tahoe is an outdoor lover’s playground year-round, but there’s something especially magical about winter, when the landscape is blanketed in snow and perfect for getting outside together. You don’t have to be a skier to enjoy it, either. Sledding and snow tubing are some of the easiest (and most fun) ways for families and groups to embrace the season. Throughout the Tahoe area, you’ll find plenty of free sledding and tubing hills that are great for casual snow days, last-minute adventures, and travelers hoping to keep things budget-friendly. These spots tend to appeal to families with older kids, laid-back explorers, and anyone who doesn’t mind putting in a little extra effort for that classic, DIY winter experience. Prefer something a bit more polished? Tahoe’s paid tubing parks feature groomed runs, tow lifts, and on-site amenities that make the day smoother and less physically demanding. An ideal option for families with younger children, first-timers, or visitors who simply want to show up and slide. No matter your style, sledding and tubing offer a welcoming, laughter-filled way to experience Tahoe in winter.
Winter Fun For Everyone
Sledding and snow tubing are the kind of winter traditions that make everyone smile, whether you’re traveling with little ones, big kids, or a mix of both. As you pick your hill, think about comfort levels—gentle slopes are perfect for toddlers and first-timers, while older kids will love spots with a little more speed; groups with varying ages often appreciate tubing parks that offer options for everyone. Need rentals or an easy, ready-to-go experience? Head to a managed location. Hoping for a quieter outing? Smaller public hills and off-peak times can make all the difference.
Tubing and Sledding Locations
Tahoe’s snow tubing parks are ready to roll for the season, offering fun for all ages and skill levels. From groomed lanes to laughter-filled runs, tubing is one of the easiest ways to dive into winter play.
Situated on top of Echo Summit on forty acres, Adventure Mountain is perfect for all sorts of snow play, including snow tubing. With up to fifteen machine-groomed sledding runs and a base elevation of 7,350 feet above sea level, this family-owned & operated resort guarantees affordable fun for the entire family. Learn more.
Blizzard Mountain at Sierra at Tahoe Resort:
Blizzard Mountain at Sierra at Tahoe Resort
Sierra-at-Tahoe has always been a fun, family resort, and it comes as no surprise that they have an entire dedicated area called Blizzard Mountain. They have two rope-tow tubing lanes, so you can get even more runs in. Whether the kids are into snow tubing in Lake Tahoe or just some simple winter fun, Blizzard Mountain has it all. Snowball kits, outdoor fire pits, and picnic tables are provided. Blizzard Mountain will be Open (weather permitting) Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays + Sundays.Learn more.
Hansen’s Tubing Hill:
Hansen’s Tubing Hill
For those looking for a bit of seclusion but not too far from the hustle & bustle of Stateline, Hansen’s Resort & Tubing Hill is right up your alley. After dropping off the skiers/snowboarders at Heavenly, take the little ones to Hansen’s for their own fun & excitement. There’s even an easy to view area where parents can watch their kids sliding down. The tubing runs are groomed daily, with high “walls” and a well-planned small hill below to stop you. Learn more.
Tubing at Heavenly Mountain Resort:
Tubing at Heavenly Mountain Resort
Combine the fun of a gondola ride with a bit of tubing at the top of the world. Heavenly Mountain Resort’s tubing hill is located at the top of a scenic ride from the center of Heavenly Village. Their park has four lanes that are 500 feet long and have a 65-foot vertical drop. In addition, their tubing hill has a magic carpet that’ll help whisk you up to the top for another run. Please visit www.skiheavenly.com/explore-the-resort/activities/winter-activities.aspx for updated operational information. Learn more.
Tahoe Snowmobile Track & Tubing Hill:
Tahoe Snowmobile Tubing Hill
Looking to create the ultimate winter-time experience for the entire family? Well, for those that want to try their hand at snowmobiling along with hillside tubing, Tahoe Snowmobile is perfect for you. Located next to the Tahoe Blue Event Center, you can experience it all without having to drive anywhere. Learn more.
Tube Tahoe:
Tube Tahoe
The newest edition to the list of amazing snow tubing locations is Tube Tahoe in Meyers. Located at the Tahoe Paradise Golf Course off US Highway 50, it’s focused on providing a safe, family-friendly environment. Their goal is to become “Tahoe’s Family Tube Hill”… in other words, everyone returns home with positive memorable experiences. Tube Tahoe is aiming to have the longest “resort-quality,” machine-groomed tubing lane in the area. Learn more.
Safety, Etiquette, and Leave-No-Trace
A few simple habits can make your sledding day safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Stick to the far edge when hiking back up, move out of the run out zone as soon as you finish a ride, and keep a close eye on little ones, or better yet, have an adult stationed at the bottom to guide them; most importantly, never sled toward roads or parking lots. Before you head out, do a quick sweep for trash and pack out everything you brought so these hills stay beautiful, following Leave No Trace and doing your part to Keep Tahoe Blue helps ensure the next family gets the same postcard-worthy experience.
Free Sledding Spots
Want a classic Tahoe snow day without the added cost? South Lake Tahoe is home to several dependable sledding spots where there are no lift tickets or tubing fees, just bring a sled (or rent one in town) and enjoy the sweeping mountain views. These laid-back hills are ideal for travelers who prefer a simple, go-at-your-own-pace kind of adventure. If choosing to visit unofficial areas, be sure to park only in safe, legal parking spots with all four tires on the inside of the white fog line, pay attention to and heed “No Parking” signs and avoid blocking gates.
We also recommend purchasing a sturdy, reusable sled instead of plastic which can easily break apart in cold temperatures. Please be sure to pack out all trash and everything brought in and used including broken sleds and plastic pieces.
Taylor Creek Sno-Park: With its beautiful alpine scenery and wide-open play areas, Taylor Creek makes it easy to turn sledding into a full winter outing. A Sno-Park permit is required for parking, but the payoff is good access and plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the snow. It’s a solid pick for mixed-age groups that want space to roam.
Echo Lakes Sno-Park: If you have a Sno-Park Pass, you can utilize this plowed parking lot to access hills by Echo Summit to sled at.
As you can tell, there are a whole plethora of places to try your hand at sledding and snow tubing while in South Lake Tahoe. From magic carpets whisking you to the top of quaint slopes for your little ones to play on, to open hills surrounded by snow-covered pine trees. You’ll find it here in Lake Tahoe.
If you’ve been following OpenSnow’s Bryan Allegretto for his Lake Tahoe forecasts, you know he’s passionate about accurately predicting what the surrounding mountains will get. He’s the voice of reason when other news outlets and weather services hype up FEET of snow, only for the reality to fall far short. But even for “BA”—as he’s known—the storms in the first week of February 2025 were way off, and by a huge margin. In fact, it was his worst prediction in his nineteen-plus-year career. I had the chance to chat with him to get the inside scoop on what went wrong.
BA’s Soul Crushed
Bryan Allegretto enjoying one of Tahoe’s famous storm cycles when the forecast was spot on.
BA takes his forecasting seriously—so seriously that he’s been keeping a scorecard to track just how spot-on (or not) he’s been. Over the past nine seasons, his predictions for every storm across the Tahoe Basin have been off by just 1.5 inches on average. But during the first week of February, things went way off course. He was off by anywhere from 5.5 to 12.9 inches, with some mountains missing the mark by as much as 2 feet! Normally, when he’s that far off, it’s because the storms delivered more (think: colder, fluffier powder). This time? As far as he can remember, it was the first instance they delivered way less.
Atmospheric Rivers are Tough
One of the many warm storms during the wet n’ wild Jan 2017 season
Lake Tahoe’s weather is infamous for its feast-or-famine cycles, and a big reason is that up to 50% of California’s precipitation comes in the form of an atmospheric river. These intense bands of moisture originate from the tropics and slam into the Sierra. If Lake Tahoe is lucky enough to be on the cold side of it, we get huge snowfall. But if not, it means rain—LOTS of rain. And that’s exactly what happened during the first week of February.
Alarm Bells Ding
As the storms began to arrive in the 5-day window, BA was already mentioning how concerned he was about the forecast. First, the band of moisture was narrow at only 50 miles wide which is tiny in the scope of the globe. If the storm moved even a few miles north or south, the amount of liquid we get would be drastically cut. Then there was the problem of temperatures. It set up a battle royale of two giants – cold air to the north and the warm subtropical air flowing into the northern Sierra. Depending on who wins and when, this “could make a BIG difference in snowfall totals.”
Worst Case Scenario Happened
And that’s exactly what happened. Instead of the storm staying focused on Tahoe, it quickly moved north. While the National Weather Service predicted 30 inches of liquid and BA estimated 22 inches as a conservative forecast for the week, the greater Lake Tahoe area only received a meager 6-12+ inches. The moisture tap shut off before the cold air could move in, and the snow ratios—usually around 10:1—were closer to 7:1. The result? A rude awakening after the storm passed.
“Biggest Temperature Gradients as Far as I Can Remember”
A lot of this came down to how cold it was to the north—a real tease for weather forecasters. It was snowing all the way to the beach in Oregon and even in Susanville. With that much cold air up north, it seemed like it would force its way south, but it didn’t. Instead, the warm air took over. Not just in Tahoe, but across the entire West, where everyone got hit with rain. Jackson Hole was in the 50s, and even Utah saw rain!
Models Aren’t Gospel but a Tool
The GFS model… Snow porn at its finest. For the 1st storm in the larger cycle it predicted nearly 12 inches of liquid! The ENTIRE week only got 6!
The best tool for weather forecasters today is still the weather models. But as BA pointed out, “These are global models. Each micro-climate has its own set of errors. You need to understand these nuances and apply them to your forecast.” Take the GFS, for example. The U.S. model, affectionately known as “snow porn,” always assumes snow ratios are way too high, predicting crazy amounts of snow—and it’s nearly always wrong. Then there’s the Canadian model, which tends to underforecast how much snow places like Mt. Rose will get. The real voice of reason? The European model. Statistically, it’s proven to be the most accurate, and now with A.I. to help fix its errors, it’s getting even better.
OpenSnow Will Learn and Get Better
In the end, BA summed it up best: “It’s hard to forecast storms in the mountains.” But that’s exactly what drew Bryan to this field in the first place—the challenge of forecasting and getting it right. Sometimes, like the week of February 1st, 2025, you get it wrong. But that’s an outlier, and the team at OpenSnow is using it as a learning tool. Instead of taking a back seat, they’re constantly working to improve their product. They’ve even hired a full-time A.I. developer to create their own OpenSnow A.I., which is processing 40+ years of data to correct model errors and improve predictions.
And it’s not all about enjoying the summer for pickleball. The folks at OpenSnow use the “off season” as a chance to reflect and improve. That’s when they discovered the Canadian model’s issue with the Mt. Rose snow forecast. They’re always striving to get better.
We get how tough forecasting can be, and we hope this behind-the-scenes look helps explain the challenges involved. Big kudos to him—and to all of the OpenSnow team—for the hard work they put in!
