After a season where its ski resort was closed much of the winter, Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area decided to be proactive. The resort is adding snowmaking capability for the 2015-16 season.
Additionally, after six years of planning, Tahoe Donner will also celebrate a new Cross Country Ski Area facility this winter season. The new building, known as the Alder Creek Adventure Center, will serve as the base area for Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area in the winter months and Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center and Tahoe Donner Bikeworks in the spring and summer months.
Located 15 minutes from Lake Tahoe in Truckee, Tahoe Donner operates a wide variety of recreational facilities – some which are for members only and others which are also open to the general public. These amenities can be explored in detail at Tahoedonner.com.
Snowmaking: After careful consideration and review of past winter seasons, the team at Tahoe Donner broke ground for snowmaking construction last month. Snowmaking will allow the following benefits:
The new system at Tahoe Donner includes seven machines, a pump station building, and 12 hydrants and electrical pedestals. A cooling tower, which lowers the water temperature quickly and allows for shorter operating times, will also be installed.
Tahoe Donner aims to be the first U.S. ski area to utilize the silent PoleCat snowmaking machine. It was chosen for its dampened sound levels and reduced energy consumption. The new Silent PoleCats are significantly quieter than traditional snowmaking systems.
This model was selected after a committee of homeowner volunteers and staff members spent more than a year analyzing details and options. In addition, a sound demonstration with an older model PoleCat was held last February to measure sound impacts to neighbors, and it was found that the machines produced an acceptable sound level; the model Tahoe Donner is installing will be quieter still.
The installation of snowmaking is a capital cost that will help insure that the Downhill Ski Area continues to provide a quality experience to its market niche of beginners and families.
An official date for the winter season will be announced in the future.
Alder Creek Adventure Center: The new facility brings several new and exciting upgrades, including improvement to the operation and energy efficiencies while protecting natural resources. Alder Creek is designed to meet the growing needs of the community.
Alter Creek will include the following benefits.
- Energy efficient and environmentally conscious design.
- Adherence to environmental regulations by governing agencies.
- An architectural vision that contributes to this mountain community
- Improved level of service for both winter and summer operations.
- A new multi-purpose room with large windows for grand views of Hawks Peak, providing improved utilization by school teams, youth groups and additional educational programs.
- Enhanced rental facility to create a more comfortable and efficient experience for renters, which includes state-of-the-art racking systems and boot dryers.
A grand opening date will be announced in the near future.
For more information on Tahoe Donner, as well as its recreational facilities and events, please visit www.tahoedonner.com or call 530 587-9400.
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
