For years, visitors to the California side of Lake Tahoe’s South
Shore have had two lodging choices: motels or a single full-service
hotel the Embassy Suites Resort.
Now, after more than 15 years of planning, negotiating, research
and politics, South Lake Tahoe’s redevelopment is finally coming to
fruition: A major lodging, retail, dining and entertainment village
is slated to open at the base of Heavenly Ski Resort next month,
bringing more first-class accommodations to the area and
transforming the South Shore’s California side into a true
destination resort.
In addition, Colorado-based Vail Resorts, which purchased
Heavenly earlier this year for $90 million, has launched a $40
million, five-year, on-mountain improvement plan for the area’s
nearly 5,000 acres of terrain, which spans two states.
The new village features two Marriott Vacation Club
International (vacation ownership) properties the 261-unit
Marriott’s Timber Lodge and the 199-unit Marriott Grand Residence
Club. The units will be available for commissionable bookings when
not in use by owners, according to company spokesperson Ed Kinney.
Based on owners’ projected frequency of use, there should be plenty
of opportunities for travel agents to book the properties. For
example, owners are expected to occupy 30% to 40% of the Grand
Residence Club’s units at any given time, according to Scott
Oldakowski, project director, sales and marketing, for the two
properties.
The one- and two-bedroom villas at the Timber Lodge range in
size from 835 to 1,185 square feet, while the units at the Grand
Residence Club range from 360 square feet for a studio to 2,496
square feet for a penthouse.
Each unit features a deep soaking tub in the master bath, a
fully equipped kitchen, living and dining areas, more than one
television, a DVD player, a washer and dryer and a fireplace. Many
units offer private balconies. Kitchens and baths feature granite
countertops, ceramic tile floors and custom wood cabinetry.
Each property offers a pool, a whirlpool spa, maid service and
ski storage. In addition, the Timber Lodge provides a children’s
pool and activity center, as well as a convenience store and a
delicatessen. At the Grand Residence Club, there are laundry,
valet, concierge and valet parking services.
Each property has its own fitness facility. The Grand Residence
Club facility, which is more complete with a steam room and massage
services, is available to guests at the Timber Lodge.
Grand opening nightly rates range from $79 per unit for a studio
to $200 for a penthouse, Nov. 3 through Dec. 14.
The ground floor of the village offers more than 100,000 square
feet of retail and entertainment space, including a multiplex
theater, an art gallery, an ice-skating rink, shops, cafes and
restaurants.
South Lake Tahoe’s redevelopment actually began more than a
decade ago, with the 1991 opening of the first phase the 400-unit
Embassy Suites Resort, which sits across Stateline Boulevard from
the Nevada side’s casino core. Previously, there were no
full-service lodging options on the South Shore’s California side
just dozens of motels. It wasn’t until December 2000 that a new ski
gondola began operating from what would become the village core,
taking visitors to the top of California’s largest ski mountain in
12 minutes. This was the beginning of the second phase.
A third phase is planned for development on a parcel of land
across Highway 50 (lakeside), which was owned by Harvey’s Casino
until Harrah’s purchased Harvey’s in summer 2001. Harrah’s is now
conducting its own due diligence on the property before giving its
blessing to the original plans, according to a spokesperson for the
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. Those plans include a
91,000-square-foot convention center accommodating groups of up to
2,000, an adjacent 540-room hotel and a 2-acre replica of Lake
Tahoe that will serve as an environmental learning center and
outdoor recreation facility.
Meanwhile, Vail Resorts’ on-mountain improvement program of
Heavenly Ski Resort has begun, with upgrades of the California
Lodge, the Stagecoach Lodge and the East Peak Lodge. Other
improvements will include a new black diamond run on the Nevada
side, additional snowmaking on the Cascade run, a new snack bar at
the Observation Deck, additional restaurants and new and upgraded
lifts and snow-making systems.
Heavenly is Vail Resorts’ fifth ski area and its first outside
of Colorado. The others are Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and
Keystone.
Call Marriott Grand Vacation Club at 800-VIL LAS-9
(845-5279).
Web site: www.mvci rentals.com. Kirkwood Mountain Resort,
located about an hour drive south of Lake Tahoe, is in the midst of
its own redevelopment, which is transforming the area into a
village surrounded by a mountain community.
So far, 170 detached homes and 350 condominiums, a portion of
which will be available for booking by nonowners, are completed.
Another 60 condominiums and 20 detached homes and home sites are
slated for completion within the next year. At build-out in 10
years, there will be 350 units in the village and 1,400 to 1,500
units total.
Much of the development is taking place in the Village Plaza,
the project’s core area, with direct access to 2,300 acres of
terrain (not including backcountry) via five ski lifts. The
addition of 115,000 square feet of commercial space will bring the
total to 195,000 square feet. Plans also call for the rebuilding of
the Timber Creek Day Lodge, which will triple in size to 35,000
square feet.
A Village For Kirkwood
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, located about an hour drive south of
Lake Tahoe, is in the midst of its own redevelopment, which is
transforming the area into a village surrounded by a mountain
community.
So far, 170 detached homes and 350 condominiums, a portion of
which will be available for booking by nonowners, are completed.
Another 60 condominiums and 20 detached homes and home sites are
slated for completion within the next year. At build-out in 10
years, there will be 350 units in the village and 1,400 to 1,500
units total.
Much of the development is taking place in the Village Plaza,
the project’s core area, with direct access to 2,300 acres of
terrain (not including backcountry) via five ski lifts. The
addition of 115,000 square feet of commercial space will bring the
total to 195,000 square feet. Plans also call for the rebuilding of
the Timber Creek Day Lodge, which will triple in size to 35,000
square feet.
Nightly lodging rates range from $139 to $699, depending on the
type of accommodation and season.
In addition, over the next 10 years, a Mountain Master
Development Plan will add four new lifts, upgrade existing lifts to
faster triples and quads and add a new full-service restaurant at
the top of Caples Crest.
Call Kirkwood Vacations at 800-967-7500.
Web site: www.kirkwood.com.
