Snow making started last week at Heavenly Ski Resort.  With five inches of new snow, snow making efforts, and fresh snow in the forecast, Heavenly hopes to open their runs as early as November 21.  This is great news for those of you planning a Tahoe Thanksgiving retreat.  Call to us to book bonus time  (530) 541-8022.

We strive to make your Tahoe getaway as carefree as possible.  You can purchase discount ski tickets at the front desk for those of you who plan to ski during your stay.  If skiing isn’t your thing, try a scenic  Gondola ride.  If you have never taken a scenic ride on the Heavenly Gondola, you are missing out on some of the most breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe.  Don’t forget to bring your camera!

I thought you might like to see a video of the snow being made at Heavenly:  Video: Snowmaking Begins!

I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Kathleen

Fall has finally arrived here in South Lake Tahoe and is arguably the best time for a visit. The crowds of summer are gone, the aspen present a beautiful array of color, days are still relatively warm, and nights are cool enough for an evening by the fire. Bonus time is available for anyone interested in staying with us during this special time of year. Give us a call, we’d love to hear from you.

Although the endless days of summer have passed, there is still plenty of excitement to be had. Golf courses offer special rates, helicopter tours offer discount ride fares, cruises offer dinner and brunch tours, and an abundance of shows are playing in the area. Los Lonely Boys, The Improv at Harveys, Air Supply, and The Nutcracker to name a few.  As always, please let us know if we can assist you with reservations for any of your activities.  And, don’t forget about the awesome activities we offer on site.

Hope to see you soon!

Kathleen

Well, after a very hectic month of packing, moving and unpacking, the Administrative Offices are settling into our new office space.  The Tahoe Colony Inn, where we we’ve been located for 26 years, has been sold and in the process of being demolished to make way for a new development (details unknown). Now we’re just a bit away from the Americana on Ski Run Blvd. at Tamarack. 

Regular posts will resume in a couple of weeks as we get more organized and caught up with our daily workloads.  Thank you for your patience!

Happy summer to you - hey, where’d that box go?

Kathleen

Six-time Grammy nominee saxophonist, Dave Koz, opens the Lake Tahoe Music Festival with a concert this Thursday, July 17th, at Homewood.  The 26th Year of the Music Festival is being held between a trio of North Shore ski resorts - Homewood, Tahoe Donner & Alpine Meadows and the West End Beach where Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform on August 7th.  The Festival is bringing in a wide variety of top performers this year and hearing them under the stars will be a real treat.

The Reno Philharmonic will be performing on three Saturday evenings and all of their performances will have the option of lawn seating.  They first appear July 19th at Homewood with jazz trumpeter, Christian Scott and the Christian Scott Quintet.  Their second appearance, August 2nd at Tahoe Donner, is a 60th Birthday Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Weber.  Then they wrap up the Music Festival back at Homewood with the “White Nights Finale” featuring renowned pianist, Jeffrey Biegel, and a rousing production of the 1812 Overture.

Lawn seating is also available for the Dave Mason concert which features Jim Messina and Band on July 31st at Alpine Meadows.  And, for a special mellow evening, consider smooth saxophonist, Euge Groove, appearing on Saturday, July 26, with acoustic guitar players Strunz and Farah.

Best selling jazz artist and Grammy-award winning jazz trumpeter, Chris Botti, appears Thursday, July 24th, at the ampitheater at Tahoe Donner Trout Creek Recreation Center.  (He’s one of my personal favorites.)

Even as I write this, I’m wondering if my husband would complain if I asked to go to all of the performances.  I think I’ll have to choose carefully and am leaning toward the Andrew Lloyd Weber tribute as second pick after Chris Botti. 

We’re so fortunate that productions of this caliber come to the Lake and if you have time to make it up to see a performance, I’m sure you’ll be pleased.  Call in advance for Bonus Time at 530.541.8022.  You can get more information and purchase tickets of the Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival online at www.tahoemusic.org.
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Off and on for the last several weeks, the Tahoe Basin has become a catch-all for the smoke coming east from the fires throughout California.  The smoke has been a constant reminder of the difficulties going on in places far from our immediate sight.  Having been through our own fire last year, our awareness is heightened and our thoughts are with all the folks going through difficult times as fires approach cities and neighborhoods.  Our prayers and good wishes are with all the Fire and Public Service personnel who are doing their best to control the blazes.  We wish much good fortune to all of you who are dealing, in one way or another, with this California crisis.

Seeing celebrities in our neighborhood is never as easy as during the annual Lake Tahoe Celebrity Golf Championship! The American Century Championship, held at Edgewood Golf Course, will host 78 pro-athletes and entertainers this year including crowd favorites Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.  The celebrities participating in this year’s event are a diverse group including actors Dennis Quaid and soap heart-throb Jack Wagner, comedians Dennis Miller and John O’Hurley (Seinfeld’s J.Peterman and recent Dancing with the Stars winner), former Vice-President Dan Quayle, Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, and NASCAR superstar Dale Jarrett. 

We have members who travel to Tahoe every year just to watch the event and star-gaze around town.  Stories  are plentiful of people who run into these larger-than-life folks doing ordinary Tahoe things like playing at the casinos, going out to dinner and strolling on the beach.   When you figure we’re a small town full with celebrity tourists, the odds are better-than-normal that you’ll see someone interesting (although we think we’re all worth coming up to visit!). 

NBC’s going to televise the championship which will air on Saturday and Sunday (July 12-13), but the event really starts on Tuesday, July 8th. Smaller mid-week crowds give more opportunity to be up-close in the gallery.  If you can’t join us to see the event in person (tickets are available daily at the gate), then catch out all the action from the comfort of your living room. 

We anticipate having mid-week Bonus Time available.  If you’re interested in coming up for this event don’t wait to call.  Bonus Time is made available as people check-out early and is always first-come, first-served.  Give us a call now if you’re interested… 530.541.8022.

Fore!

Kathleen

Summer’s in the air, and so are world class aviators!  Saturday, June 28th, marks the 50th anniversary of the annual Lake in the Sky Air Show at Lake Tahoe Airport.  The day starts off with a pancake breakfast at the airport offered by the Kiwanis club and increases in up to show America’s best stunt aerobatic aviators in all their twist and turns.  

An Air Force Heritage fly-by will fill the air and precision free fall skydiving teams will tumble out of it.  There’s exciting on the ground displays, too, including the “Shock and Awe” of the Navy’s F-18 Hornet Strike/Attack Fighter and the Marine Corp’s AV-8 Harrier “Jump Jet”. 

Helicopter and airpline rides are available at the airport for those of you who want a bird’s eye view of Lake Tahoe and the South Shore. 

Give us a call for Bonus Time, and come enjoy the show.

Kathleen

We’re busily working away to get ready for the busiest season of the year.  Dainer Bailey, our new Maintenance Manager, is working with Paul Lyster (still with us until August), to get all of our remodels done and ready for occupancy the end of this month.  The pool’s being repainted, flower borders going in, and the place is jumping with action all to prepare for our summer guests.

Jennifer Cewinski, our Resort Manager, and the lady at the helm of all the summer preparations, is recently back from a trip to Costa Rica and eager to make your trip to Tahoe a delight!  Jennifer’s working closely with Don Sullivan, our Activities Supervisor, and the whole Activities Staff to get everything in place for your summer-favorite events.  Our Barbecue, Karaoke, and Bingo standards are joined with other food and game events meant to keep you entertained and feeling family.  Jennifer’s got lots of local deals to tell you about that can save you money and increase your Tahoe experience.  Make sure you talk with her, or anyone at the Front Desk or in Activities to help you make the most of your time in Tahoe.

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Don’t think you have to own High Season to join in on the summer fun! We’ve got plenty of mid-week bonus time available, and we’re expecting another year of weekend availability since many of our guests go home before the end of their seven day stay.  You won’t know the availabilty unless you call, so check with us when you get the itch to come to Tahoe.  You can reach Jennifer, or any of our Front Desk folks, at 530.541.8022.

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The Fourth Annual Opening Days Lake Tahoe celebration is June 21-22.  On Saturday, Highway 50 at the Casino Corridor will be closed to traffic for the Blue Avenue Block Party, which is great fun.  There’s live music, street performers, Hot Rod and Harley exhibits, arts & craft fair and much more.  Sunday’s events include the annual Sternwheeler Race, and this year will be marking the 25th anniversary of the Tahoe Queen.  For more information, go to the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority website at www.bluelaketahoe.com. 

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Hope to see you Soon!

Kathleen

As Americans come together to honor our fallen soldiers, we join in remembering their personal sacrifices.  We send best wishes to all of you who are mourning the loss of a military friend or family member. 

We’re in high gear preparing for the members arriving this week for the Annual General Election and Member Meeting.  This year’s event is being held at Embassy Suites, next to Harrah’s, and begins with lunch at noon.  We’d love to have you join us and if you need more details just call us at the resort… 530.541.8022.

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Paul Lyster and the whole Maintenance Department are in the midst of our spring planting.  Just weeks ago we were in winter clean-up and now - flowers!  Everything is already looking in bloom (check out our Slide Show on the left ), and, when all our flowers fill in the Americana will look like a postcard. 

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The Valhalla Renaissance Faire is back!  The two weekends after Memorial Day, Camp Richardson is turned into 7 acres of yesterday… Lords and Ladies, Knights and Maidens, jousting, live performances -it’s a fantasy-filled way to spend the day.  If you’ve never been to the Faire, it’s worth the trip up the mountain to see.  For more information go to the fair website at www.valhallafaire.com. 

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Some good news and sad news.  Keni Lyster, our Reservations Diva, is leaving us to move to Ohio with her family.  Keni and Paul Lyster, our Maintenance Manager, are purchasing 79 acres in rural southern Ohio where they’ll be happily raising their 18-month old, PJ.  This purchase makes Keni a neighbor to her father, who has many acres right next door to Keni and Paul.  The Lyster’s are VERY excited about their new beginnings in Ohio.  Keni’s leaving next week and Paul will be joining Keni in late August after he ties up some loose ends at the Americana (Paul’s choice folks… that’s the kind of man he is).  Both Keni and Paul have worked with real dedication to the Americana and they will truly be missed, both professionally and personally.  We’re thankful to both of them for their contribution to the Americana and we wish them all the best with their own family!  Some photos of the Farewell Party are shown in the slide show. 

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Until the next post…

Kathleen (Asst. General Manager and Newbie Blogger)

Well, for the first time this year I wore short sleeves to work instead of a turtleneck or heavy sweater… the weather’s lovely. It’s right around 70 degrees out, the sun is shining and it’s a bright blue cloudless Tahoe day. I’ve been shoveling the snow off of the pile in the middle of my lawn and onto my flower beds so that my tulip’s don’t emerge while the snow blocks the view from the street. Now that I can do this kind of yard work, I know it’s spring.

The town isn’t very crowded, so if you don’t like navigating through heavy traffic, it’s a perfect time for you to visit. We’ve got plenty of Bonus Time available for your spring getaway and it’s a great time to drive around the lake (you can really pay attention to the scenery instead of all the other cars).  I’ll get some spring photos up for you within a couple of weeks. 

If you haven’t made your reservations for summer - don’t wait any longer. Most weeks are already booked solid and the earlier you call for your summer reservation, the better. Many of this summer’s reservations have been booked since 2007. You may be tired of hearing it, but the earlier you book, the more choice of availability you’ll have. Please give us a call, soon, if you still need a reservation. Hope to see you soon!Kathleen