Tahoe's Homewood Ski Resort Closed Indefinitely as Lee Majors Refuses Public Access

[shaft]

This news deserves its own thread. Last Friday, after years of promises to local officials it would remain open to the public, Homewood Ski Resort informed its mailing list, and its staff, that it will not open the 24/25 season.

The recent history is as follows:

• Homewood, a 62 year old ski resort in the Lake Tahoe Basin, has been owned by developer JMA since 2006
• In 2010/2011, a development Master Plan went through an extensive public approval process. The public support for the plan, and approval by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, was contingent on a requirement that the ski resort remain open as a public good. In exchange for that contingency, the plan approval allowed for a new gondola, lodge, a slew of high-end condos, and some concessions to local planning regulations like higher height allowances.
• In 2022, equity investors Mohari Group and Discovery Land Co. became partners on the project. Discovery operates the Yellowstone Club, and a host of exclusive, members-only clubs for the ultra-wealthy.
• For the last two years the developer has been trying to make changes to their plans and have various permits approved.
• The public became weary of the plans, concerned that public access was being whittled out of the plans
• The local planning agency has asked the developer to clarify public access given Discovery's typical 6 or 7-figure members-only models.
• The developer continues to refuse to define public access, instead using cryptic messaging...similar to other efforts in Scotland, Routt County, CO, and elsewhere
• The current permits are at a standstill, but the developer continues to promise public access
• On Friday, Homewood announced they are not opening this year.

Residents, especially those living near Homewood on the West Shore are generally devastated. Many Tahoe area winter sports enthusiasts who work during the week, like teachers and local government employees, will not ski this year - given the movement towards a reservation model at the other resorts within an hour drive of Tahoma.

Here's the message from the public relations department of either JMA, Mohari, or Discovery Land Co.
https://www.skihomewood.com/homewoodoperations2425

Here's the message from Keep Homewood Public, a public access advocacy organization
https://www.keephomewoodpublic.com

[~mikey b]

my parents at Homewood late 70’s in their jeans and Western Mountaineering down jackets

it would be a shame to see Homewood go away - lots of memories there

[Harry]

I have experience dealing with Discovery Land Company from my time in Big Sky. Total shitbags. If they are involved, the general public will be fucked.

[TahoeJ]

Fuck these private equity douchebags who are ruining skiing.

[californiagrown]

To play devils advocate, wasnt Homewood relying on outside money to operate this year and in years past? As in, they were going to close in the early 2010s until this developer stepped in with a plan to make the ski area financially feasible and started subsidizing operations to keep homewood operating for the past decade+?

And now that the development and permitting process has dragged on and been delayed, the private money backing the developer has pulled out so they can put that money to use elsewhere. Sometimes i get the feeling that people think developers control the money, when in reality the investors can pull their money out from the developers at any time (contract terms typically dependending on having permits in hand by a certain date).


To me, it seems a little like this developer swooped in to save the ski resort from financial ruin and closing. And then the community pushed back on the developers plans and delayed everything so that the money pulled out, and Homewood is left back where it was prior to the developer.


I could be totally full of shit here, especially if Homewood wasnt going to close prior to the developer coming in to take things over and keep the resort operating... but i feel like i remember that being the case?

[m2711c]

not surprised… dudes pretty much been an asshole since his “accident”.




won’t shut the fuck up about his damned “bionic cock”.




fact.

[The AD]

Maybe bigfoot can come back and kick his ass.

[Buster Highmen]

To play devils advocate, wasnt Homewood relying on outside money to operate this year and in years past? As in, they were going to close in the early 2010s until this developer stepped in with a plan to make the ski area financially feasible and started subsidizing operations to keep homewood operating for the past decade+?

And now that the development and permitting process has dragged on and been delayed, the private money backing the developer has pulled out so they can put that money to use elsewhere. Sometimes i get the feeling that people think developers control the money, when in reality the investors can pull their money out from the developers at any time (contract terms typically dependending on having permits in hand by a certain date).


To me, it seems a little like this developer swooped in to save the ski resort from financial ruin and closing. And then the community pushed back on the developers plans and delayed everything so that the money pulled out, and Homewood is left back where it was prior to the developer.


I could be totally full of shit here, especially if Homewood wasnt going to close prior to the developer coming in to take things over and keep the resort operating... but i feel like i remember that being the case?

My understanding is that the developers changed the initial plans and diminished the required public access. This occurred when the Mohari Group and Discovery Land Co joined in.

Those changes hung up the permit process and as a result, some investors have withdrawn.

So, it's a little more nuanced.

[nickwm21]

Is Homewood on private land or a lease?


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[Buster Highmen]

Is Homewood on private land or a lease?


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Both:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?pro...1&exp=location
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/ne...d-at-homewood/


Homewood operates on private land with two USFS permits for certain adjacent terrain...

https://www.trpa.gov/wp-content/uplo...2023.02.21.pdf

[rideit]

USFS should really step in and flex some muscle.
“No reasonably priced public access=pulled permits to operate.
Done.

Hardball.

[californiagrown]

USFS should really step in and flex some muscle.
“No reasonably priced public access=pulled permits to operate.
Done.

Hardball.

But if they do that, there is the very real possibility that the money behind the developers will walk because they were intent on creating a Yellowstone Club- Tahoe.

Ive been in the room a couple times when big developers have played or overplayed their leverage with a public jurisdiction, and seen 9 figure deals falter or fall apart at the 11th hour. Its a loss for everyone, and there is usually more to it behind the scenes than what the press releases state.


I guess in this case, if the devlopers walk, or if the developers get their way, then the public loses access to homewood. So why not keep fighting to maintain garauntees of public access? Hopefully its all bluster and homewood just misses the 24/25 season.

[nickwm21]

Both:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?pro...1&exp=location
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/ne...d-at-homewood/


Homewood operates on private land with two USFS permits for certain adjacent terrain...

https://www.trpa.gov/wp-content/uplo...2023.02.21.pdf

Thanks - so the way I read this - the resort and all the infrastructure is on private land except for quail lake and Ellis peak zones, which are not direct lift access.

USFS should really step in and flex some muscle.
“No reasonably priced public access=pulled permits to operate.
Done.

Hardball.

With what ball? See above…



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[rideit]

Ah. I did not read the fine print.

[Buster Highmen]

Thanks - so the way I read this - the resort and all the infrastructure is on private land except for quail lake and Ellis peak zones, which are not direct lift access.

From the first link:

Permit will authorize operation and maintenance of the ski runs known as Main Cirque, 55 Chutes, Wally's Folly, The Shoulder, Third Creek, and Nooncester Traverse.

I thought some of the Quail lake zone is lift accessed; it's certainly part of the permit area.
Ellis is also represented as a snowcat area.

So, the USFS does have some leverage.

https://www.skihomewood.com/wp-conte...ForWebsite.pdf .

[shaft]

But if they do that, there is the very real possibility that the money behind the developers will walk because they were intent on creating a Yellowstone Club- Tahoe.

Ive been in the room a couple times when big developers have played or overplayed their leverage with a public jurisdiction, and seen 9 figure deals falter or fall apart at the 11th hour. Its a loss for everyone, and there is usually more to it behind the scenes than what the press releases state.


I guess in this case, if the devlopers walk, or if the developers get their way, then the public loses access to homewood. So why not keep fighting to maintain garauntees of public access? Hopefully its all bluster and homewood just misses the 24/25 season.

Solid read. If the developers get their way, the place is essentially closed to everyone.

Maybe the local PUD should be managing this thing, like Tahoe City's golf course or Diamond Peak over in the Incline Village.

[MarsB]

Kevin Mitchell, their old GM is now at Powder Mountain, which Netflix founder Reed Hastings is gradually turning into his own private resort.

[SuperFun]

Fuck them. It's a stupid plan. Who's going to pay for a multimillion dollar home at a resort at 6,000' elevation with snow that gets worse every year? This isn't cold Montana with a world class mountain next door you can ski over to. Typical developer greed, instead of coming up with a reasonable plan that locals with can live with they propose something totally inappropriate to make it more profitable then get community backlash.

[2FUNKY]

This really sucks and is a reminder the direction resort skiing seems to be traveling down. So many country club insanely deep powder days etched in my head at that place back in the late 80’s early 90’s.


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[Buzzworthy]

Kevin Mitchell, their old GM is now at Powder Mountain, which Netflix founder Reed Hastings is gradually turning into his own private resort.

Interesting news.

[fomofo]

California lost a cherished ski area for the winter. What comes next?

If paywalled try browser reader view soon as enabled during page load

If you don't make it there this is linked in the article above...

History of Homewood

[G]

Maybe the local PUD should be managing this thing, like Tahoe City's golf course or Diamond Peak over in the Incline Village.

I have wondered about this. Could that work?

[supermodel159]

Lets all admit, Homewood would make a perfect Discoveryland property, who doesn't love comfort stations.

[TahoeJ]

Fuck them. It's a stupid plan. Who's going to pay for a multimillion dollar home at a resort at 6,000' elevation with snow that gets worse every year? This isn't cold Montana with a world class mountain next door you can ski over to. Typical developer greed, instead of coming up with a reasonable plan that locals with can live with they propose something totally inappropriate to make it more profitable then get community backlash.

Not disagreeing but a slight counter point is that Lake Tahoe is right there and the west shore is pretty cool. So even if the skiing declines it’s not a bad spot to have a home.

[powdork]

Thanks - so the way I read this - the resort and all the infrastructure is on private land except for quail lake and Ellis peak zones, which are not direct lift access.




With what ball? See above…



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They badly want to keep the lease. Some of the area you can ski right into. Most requires a short walk on a maintained cat track. It all requires a short hike out. Few ski it, but it’s considered the crown jewel of the resort.

Besides, private or public doesn’t really matter. If you don’t think types of businesses can be regulated on private land then why does placer county have no dispensaries?


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