On November 24, 1949, the first chairlift ascended the mountain, then the longest double chairlift in the world, along with two rope tows. Over the following decades, our mountain gained global recognition by hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics and expanded its terrain to include eight peaks by merging two mountain resorts, now spanning over 6,000 skiable acres connected by the Base-to-Base Gondola. Countless Olympians and World Cup athletes have called Palisades Tahoe their home mountain, and over a hundred ski movies have cemented Palisades Tahoe as a true testing ground for greatness. As we forge ahead into the 75th year of our mountain, we want to thank you for contributing to our storied legacy, and welcome you to the new experiences here at Palisades Tahoe.
The Tower of Nations and Olympic Torch Entrance
Guests arriving to the North Lake Tahoe region will notice that the monumental Tower of Nations and Olympic torch at the entry to Olympic Valley have been completely renovated and restored closely to their original Olympic glory. Palisades Tahoe worked with Placer County to access the site and complete the work that included a repainting of the entire structure, new country shields representing most of the Nations that participated in the 1960 Winter Games, the addition of “Home of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games” and creating a sustainable and fire-wise solution to burning fossil fuels for the enduring torch.
Warren Miller’s 75th
Palisades Tahoe has partnered with Warren Miller Entertainment at the place where it all began – 75 years ago. Warren Miller began his renowned film career at Palisades Tahoe so it is only fitting that we partnered on a film segment recognizing this joint golden anniversary and featuring Palisades Tahoe athletes Daron Rahlves, Connery Lundin and others. Catch the complete film schedule at warrenmiller.com and join us on November 1st to view the film and celebrate 75 years of capturing awe-inspiring athletes in action in amazing locations and the place where it all began.
New on Mountain
We have added three new Pisten Bully snowcats to our fleet, further enhancing our grooming capabilities. Thanks to Alterra’s strategic partnership with Pisten Bully, we now have the most advanced fleet of snowcats in the U.S. These high-tech machines are equipped with SNOWsat LiDAR, a groundbreaking technology that’s revolutionizing snow depth measurement. Unlike traditional methods that measure snow depth beneath the vehicle and front blade, SNOWsat LiDAR provides real-time data across the terrain, allowing operators to identify and address areas with minimal snow early on.
In addition to this significant investment, all of our snowcats will now run on Neste renewable diesel. This high-performance, sustainable fuel is produced from 100% renewable raw materials, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional fossil diesel. By adopting Neste renewable diesel, we’re not only enhancing the efficiency of our operations but also making a meaningful commitment to reducing our environmental impact.
Snowmaking
Over the past year, we have invested $1.4 million in upgrading our snowmaking operations. This investment includes a new booster pump that improves water transfer to snowmaking equipment across the resort, ensuring more efficient snow production. We have also added additional fan guns at the base of Gold Coast, helping us open terrain more rapidly. Additionally, we have constructed loading ramps beneath Scott Chair, Red Dog, and Resort Chair, reducing the amount of snow needed in these areas and allowing for quicker, more efficient openings.
Food & Beverage
Little Bear Café
New this season and located across from the Tram is Little Bear Café! Opening this September, Little Bear Café will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will offer a diverse selection of in-house baked goods crafted by Palisades Tahoe’s own Pastry Chef Cortney Hadley as well as coffee, salads and sandwiches! We have formed partnerships with local vendors including coffee roasters, farmers, wine makers, beer brewers and artists to bring a taste of community to our customers. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people can enjoy delicious food, support local businesses, and appreciate the artistry behind every bite.
Stoked Oak BBQ at Alpine
Located on the gondola side of the sun deck, Stoked Oak will feature traditional smoked BBQ platters and toasted sandwiches. Supported by a giant 16’ reverse flow smoker, Alpine’s smoked brisket, chicken and house bacon will be available 7-days a week (either inside the Café or outside by the Gondola). Look for specials throughout the season and be sure to grab a side of Alpine’s cowboy beans and house made chips.
Gold Coast 39° North
39° offers chef-crafted Asian cuisine with a Tahoe flair. We serve house-made Korean BBQ, Ramen Broths, Poke Bowls, Craft Cocktails, and Select Premium Beer. You can enjoy your meal in our dining room or relax on our deck, furnished with designer furniture made from recycled materials, and take in the view while sipping an Asian-inspired cocktail or local craft beer. 39° redefines the mountain dining experience.
Demo & Rentals
Palisades Tahoe has invested over half a million dollars this year to renovate the rental and demo shop at the Alpine Lodge. This investment will modernize the rental and demo journey from start to finish. We’ve incorporated new furniture, new equipment racking and dryers, new lighting, carpet and paint to make the space feel brighter and more welcoming. We are confident the efficient space planning and commitment to quality will ensure a hassle-free guest experience.
Furthermore, Palisades Tahoe has invested over $300K dollars on a new state-of-the-art Wintersteiger Jupiter, a fully automated service machine for ski and snowboard tuning. The innovative features and technology enhancements will take your ski and snowboard experiences to the next level. This machine is the most precise and advanced in their line up and leads to a whole new world of equipment servicing!
Team Palisades Tahoe
As part of our continuous efforts to provide world class training courses for race and freeride athletes, this summer Team Palisades Tahoe is adding the ability to make snow and water the training surface from top to bottom on Julia’s Gold, one of the primary training and race venues. This system will allow them to train early season and condition the snow with water to prepare a hard surface for the most productive training surface and world class racing venue.
Transportation
Mountaineer, the service that offers free, on-demand winter micro transit in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, will again expand its operating schedule for the 2024-25 season. An additional van will join the Alpine Meadows fleet on weekends and holidays to increase capacity and reduce wait times during peak demand periods. In addition, the operating schedule within Alpine Meadows will be extended by five hours per day to offer five days a week (Thursday-Monday) service from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., matching the hours offered daily in Olympic Valley. Mountaineer will also operate longer this season, with three more operational days scheduled than last winter.
The free Park & Ride shuttle will be returning this season every Saturday and Sunday through March 31st, 2025. Plus, if you take the shuttle, you get a $10 voucher for any Palisades Tahoe-owned food & beverage outlet. TART Park & Ride shuttles will run frequently between both Tahoe City and Truckee to The Village at Palisades Tahoe starting between 6:30 and 7:45 each morning. Plus, the return shuttles run until 5:45pm, so you can stick around for après.
Parking
For the second consecutive year, Palisades Tahoe will implement its parking reservation program during high-demand periods. This initiative has significantly enhanced the on-mountain experience by reducing traffic congestion and providing assurance there will be a parking space for our guests without them having to arrive hours before first chair. The benefits of the program include a reduction in grid-lock traffic, improved traffic flow, a better guest and employee experience, less impact on our community, and a reduction in our carbon footprint.
Reservations will continue to be required Saturdays, Sundays, and select holiday periods. The majority of our parking inventory reservations are free, but if you would like to reserve your spot well in advance, you can make a paid reservation for $30. You can book both free and paid reservations at parkpalisadestahoe.com. Parking Monday through Friday will remain free and first-come first-served on non-holiday periods.
Learn more here.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Joins the Ikon Pass Family
A second mountain in Lake Tahoe is now available for skiing and riding on the Ikon Pass! For the 24/25 season, Ikon Pass holders will have access to seven days at Sierra-at-Tahoe with no blackout dates, and Ikon Base Pass holders will have access to five days, with select blackout dates. Sierra-at-Tahoe will also be available on the Ikon Session Pass.
Events
A fantastic spot to check for any new and upcoming events at Palisades Tahoe is the Events Calendar on our website. We keep event details and ticket links there so you never have to miss out on the action!