Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will open Friday, Nov. 16, becoming the third Lake Tahoe ski resort to open for the 2018-19 season.
Mt. Rose has been open for several weeks – weekends only – and Boreal Mountain opened Nov. 9. The goal of every Lake Tahoe ski resort is opening prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, but there has been no snow yet – snowmaking is the only alternative.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has been making snow at every opportunity for the past few weeks. Opening day will include access to the SnoVentures and Squaw Kids areas at Squaw Valley, and the Kangaroo chairlift at Alpine Meadows.
Two magic carpets and the First Venture chairlift will be spinning at the SnoVentures Activity Zone, where skiers and snowboarders can access beginner terrain. The Squaw Kids area will be open for children’s lessons. Lifts will spin from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and limited food and beverage offerings will be available at the SnoVentures Activity Zone.
Beginner ski tickets for SnoVentures will be on sale for $49 and snow tubing will cost $40. Day tickets at Alpine Meadows start at $84 for adults when purchased in advance. Guests are encouraged to check out the Opening Day checklist for all the key information they need to know for their first day on the mountain this season.
The scenic Squaw Valley Aerial Tram will also open for the season Friday, starting at 10 a.m. with the last download at 4:30 p.m. The tram provides sightseeing and food and drink at High Camp Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The first guests of the season at Alpine Meadows will be welcomed with free coffee in a limited supply of complimentary Yeti mugs. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Ikon Pass swag will also be distributed throughout the day at Alpine Meadows. Last Chair Bar will be open at Alpine Meadows Base Lodge, along with Treats Cafe.
“We have continued to invest in snowmaking technology, and we are seeing that pay off this season,” said Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “Our snowmakers are some of the best in the business, and they are working tirelessly to get the resort open for our guests. It’s amazing to see our snowmaking and grooming teams putting a great snow surface together, even without natural snow, and even with largely unfavorable snowmaking conditions.”
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadow has invested $9 million on snowmaking over the past eight years, with over $1 million for the 2018-19 season. More automation of snowmaking systems means snowmakers can take full advantage when the weather lines up; more snow – and the right kind of snow – can be made for longer durations during those peak weather windows. The resort team will continue to make snow at every opportunity, and open more terrain as weather and conditions allow.
Expanded POW Carpool and Paid Parking Lot: There is more reason to carpool to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows this season. Vehicles with three or more people get free access to premium Protect Our Winters “POW Parking,” situated in a prime location directly north of The Village at Squaw Valley.
POW Parking is a partnership with Protect Our Winters to offer free premium parking to reward guests who elect to carpool to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, with a goal to reduce traffic and the resort’s carbon footprint. Due to the popularity of the program, the POW Parking area at Squaw Valley has quadrupled. At Alpine Meadows, POW Parking is located immediately adjacent to the Alpine Meadows Base Lodge. POW Parking will also be.
For more information, visit the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows website or call 800 403.0206.
