B$Z: What’s New at Tahoe Donner
September 30, 2015
Tahoe Donner is pleased to introduce the installation of snowmaking at Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area this winter season for 2015/2016. 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.
Alder Creek Adventure Center
The Alder Creek Adventure Center
brings several new and exciting upgrades, including improvement to the
operation and energy efficiencies while protecting natural resources. The new
facility is designed to meet the growing needs of the community and 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 more efficient experience for renters, which includes state-of-the-art racking systems and boot dryers
- - Upgraded season pass/member locker room and changing areas with optional season ski locker rentals
- - Larger public wax room and expanded ski tuning services
- - Improved parking lot capacity, designed to protect adjacent wetlands
- - Expanded dining area, bar and new kitchen with improved food varieties to include nutritious options and beverage service
- - Large windows and doors overlooking the nearby meadow with stunning views of Hawks Peak
- - Grand terrace with fire pits and outdoor seating to create a memorable start and finish to a day of Nordic activities
A grand opening date will be announced in the near future.
Snowmaking at Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area
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:
- - 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 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.
- - 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.
- - Most of the 15 ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area consider snowmaking as insurance against business interruptions. Tahoe Donner is proud to join this group.
- - With an objective to continue being known as “the best place to begin,” Tahoe Donner’s beginner terrain was selected as the location for this improvement project. An official date for the winter season will be announced in the future.