Due to weather implications, another Tahoe ski resort has pushed back its opening day plans.
Sugar Bowl ski resort announced this week that it would not be able to meet its opening-day plans for Friday (Nov. 28).
Sugar Bowl, located off Interstate 80 at the Norden exit on Donner Summit, has no scheduled date for opening. Naturally, the resort is hoping to start running its lifts as soon as possible.
“If you’ve been watching the weather as closely as we have, you know it’s been a slow start,” a statement from Sugar Bowl said. “We had our sights set on opening Nov. 28, but with intermittent snow teasers and just a couple of snowmaking nights, that window is closing fast. We’re postponing our opening day until the weather pattern shifts.”
SEE PROJECTED TAHOE SKI RESORT OPENINGS BELOW
Sugar Bowl is rich in history, known for its high snow totals and being the closest large Tahoe ski resort to Sacramento. The resort is one of the oldest in California, having opened in 1939. It is home to the state’s first chairlift.
PALISADES TAHOE OPENER DELAYED: Originally, Palisades Tahoe had targeted Wednesday (Nov. 26) as its season opener. However, a lack of snow and unseasonably warm temperatures in the Tahoe region have put the season on hold for the iconic resort and many other area resorts.
“With early-season snowfall remaining limited and only brief windows for snowmaking, we have not yet been able to build the safe, durable base required to open,” Heavenly spokesperson Patrick Lacey said in a Sunday afternoon email.
As of Tuesday morning, only one Tahoe-area ski resort was open. On Friday (Nov. 21), Mt. Rose in nearby Nevada, became the first Tahoe-area ski resort to begin running its lifts. It was the fourth straight season that Mt. Rose was the first Tahoe-area ski resort to open.
Mt. Rose will be joined by Heavenly on Monday. Heavenly’s 70th ski season begins Nov. 24.
So, it appears there could be only two Tahoe ski resorts offering skiing over the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays. A year ago, there were seven Tahoe ski resorts that were running lifts by the holiday.
Palisades Tahoe stated that its mountain operations, grooming, and snowmaking teams will continue working around the clock to get the resort ready for skiing and snowboarding.
“As soon as temperatures drop and storms arrive, we’ll get lifts turning. We’ll be out there with you the moment Mother Nature allows,” Lacey said.
HEAVENLY OPENING: The wait ends Monday for the start of Heavenly’s 70th season to take place. Heavenly originally had scheduled its opener for Nov. 21.
The lifts will be running at 9 a.m., providing access to skiing and riding from the California side of the mountain via the Gunbarrel Express and the Tram. A DJ will be spinning tunes at Stein’s to set the vibe for Opening Day from first chair to après.
Thanks to 20 inches of natural snowfall this week, plus cold temperatures that are conducive for snowmaking, Heavenly made the decision Saturday (Nov. 22) to start its season.
“For 70 years, Heavenly has been a staple of the community and the Lake Tahoe ski experience, bringing people together with incredible skiing, some of the best views on skis anywhere in the world, and high-energy events,” said Shaydar Edelmann, Vice President and General Manager at Heavenly.
Neither Heavenly or Northstar California were able meet their originally planned Nov. 21 opening. A third Vail Resort in Tahoe – Kirkwood – has planned a Dec. 5 opening that is still likely to happen.
BOREAL, SIERRA DELAY OPENINGS: Typically one of Tahoe’s first resorts to open, Boreal Mountain announced Thursday that its planned opening (Nov. 21) has been pushed back due to a lack of snow.
Boreal is located off Interstate 80 at Donner Summit and is the only Tahoe ski resort to offer night skiing and riding.
Located off Highway 50, 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe said its Nov. 28 plans for opening will be delayed due to a lack of snow coverage.
“We know skiers and riders have been waiting for opening day as much as we have,” a statement from Sierra said. “While this week’s storm brought highly anticipated snowfall and our teams have been working hard to set up the resort, we’re still short of the base we need to open for skiing and snowboarding on Nov. 28.”
PROJECTED TAHOE SKI RESORT OPENINGS
- Mt. Rose: open Nov. 21
- Heavenly: Nov. 24
- Palisades Tahoe: TBA
- Northstar California: TBA
- Boreal: TBA
- Sugar Bowl: TBA
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: TBA
- Granlibakken: Nov. 27
- Soda Springs: Nov. 28
- Diamond Peak: Dec. 4
- Kirkwood: Dec. 5
- Homewood: Dec. 12
- Tahoe Donner: Dec. 19
