SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A popular Lake Tahoe ski resort is pressing pause on operations ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 ski season.
According to the Homewood Mountain Resort, it comes after its financial partner has withdrawn support for the upcoming ski season.
“As a result, we are now in the regrettable position of being unable to operate or sell season passes for the 2024-25 season. We understand the deep disappointment this announcement will cause,” wrote the resort.
The resort's news release suggests the reason for the financial partner withdrawing support is related to a slow approval process for revisions to the 2011 approved Master Plan.
The resort says it's subsidized the ski experience while operating at a deficit during the Master Plan’s planning and permitting phases, and that unlike other ski resorts Homewood is a privately owned business not supported by public tax or community assessment. That’s where the financial partner comes in.
Homewood says it applied for revisions to the 2011 Master Plan for site plan modifications to move the gondola terminal.
“To date, we are still awaiting approval of the amendments, including the Madden Chair replacement (gondola) permit submitted over a year ago, to move forward on ski infrastructure and other investments,” wrote the resort.
So, without clarity on where things are headed, the financial partner has withdrawn support, according to the resort.
They’re now turning their attention to the approval process at this year’s planning meetings in the hope to get the gondola installed next year.
“We are also working to support every employee so they have alternative employment or can stay with us while we work through the approval processes,” wrote the resort.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which is behind the approval process, told ABC10 its waiting for Homewood to provide information about the new changes the resort added to a master plan already approved in 2011.
The agency said it'll bring the updates to their governing board for approval.
"What we're doing right now is we're really working through critical issues that have come up through the amendment process of their proposed changes, specifically their public access plan," Tahoe Regional Planning Agency spokesperson Jeff Cowen said. "But we're also waiting for information from them on their agreement with the fire protection district, and employee housing plan. So there are still a lot of elements out there."
