Homewood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe Remains Open After Scrapping Members-Only Model
After more than 60 years operating as a members-only resort, Homewood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe has decided to open its doors to the public. The privately owned 1,260-acre resort, located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, will continue to sell daily and seasonal passes and is launching a new lifetime membership program.
The decision to open up the resort came after years of declining visitors, with a 40% drop in skier visits from the 2012-13 season to the 2020-21 season. Pass sales also declined, prompting the need for improvements to the aging ski lift, restaurant lodge, and other amenities.
A partnership between developer Discovery Land Co. and San Francisco real estate investment firm JMA Ventures, which has owned Homewood for about 17 years, aims to maintain the resort’s heritage as a small, uncrowded, and family-friendly enclave. Plans for new homes and a 75-bed hotel for visitors with passes are still in place, but the developers have shifted their focus to ensuring Homewood remains a gathering center for the west shore and a place where locals can grab lunch.
Last year, the resort faced backlash from local residents and loyal visitors after sharing promotional photos online revealing plans to transform Homewood into Tahoe’s “most luxurious resort and exclusive family lifestyle community to date.” The outcry prompted a shift in plans, with the developers announcing that the resort will remain open to all, including the local community.
Homewood has already sold 2,400 season passes for the coming winter, with opening day scheduled for December 15. Development plans include significant improvements to the property, including a new gondola to replace the aging ski lift and parking lots, to ensure it remains a fun and consistent gathering place for visitors and locals alike.