Homewood's Master Plan

BY MATTHEW B. BROWN

A rendering of the planned hotel at the base of Homewood Mountain Resort.
Below is a rendering of the planned mid-mountain lodge.

At a recent media familiarization tour I attended on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, I learned some truths that have given me new insight into the offerings on this side of the famous lake:

• Big things are being planned for historic Homewood Mountain Resort, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.
• The current offerings at Homewood should not be discounted, including incredible views of Lake Tahoe from many of the resort's ski runs and great deals on lift tickets compared to other area resorts.
• West Shore Cafe and Inn is a cozy, affordable retreat for someone looking for more of a throwback Lake Tahoe experience.

Homewood Looks to the Future

Aiming for a blend of history—Homewood's roots can be traced to 1961—and modern green-building practices, the quaint mountain resort will undergo a bold transformation in the next few years.

The Homewood Mountain Resort Master Plan includes a new amphitheater, 75-room boutique hotel, and mid-mountain lodge, which will compete with other resorts and villages that have renovated in the last decade around the lake. For more information about the master plan, call 530-582-6085, visit skihomewood.com/masterplan, or e-mail masterplan@skihomewood.com. 

Homewood Today

I was pleased to learn, given the seemingly annual rising costs of lift tickets at Reno-Tahoe resorts, Homewood offers adult tickets from $44 in addition to new conveniences, technology, and family-focused ski and snowboard programs.

The 'Homewood Guarantee' ensures that every chair lift remains open during the current ski season (weather and conditions permitting). Popular lifts such as Old Homewood Express and Quail and Ellis triple chairs offer access to some of the region’s most popular powder bowls, gladed slopes, and groomed trails—each with views of the lake that rival any area resort. 


Homewood Mountain Resort offers stellar views
of Lake Tahoe.

Also, guests have a new way to interact with the mountain via their smartphones. With Homewood’s mobile app, guests can locate themselves on the trail map, find their friends on the mountain, view current weather forecasts and grooming information, and easily and quickly share content via social media. Additionally, guests can order yummy Homeward Bound Paninis to-go from any smartphone. Visit skihomewood.com/paninis.

I was relieved, after a day of snowboarding myself, to be introduced to the new Big Blue View Bar. Sipping a beverage to the beats of a mid-mountain DJ while meeting some of the Homewood staff was a perfect conclusion to a great day of boarding.


The list of new and improved does not stop there. The resort also offers high-definition streaming web cams—part of explore.org’s Pearls of the Planet initiative—season passes that are valid every day including holidays, a Homewood Family Pass for $599, and a Burton Learn to Ride center, among other things.

Stay at West Shore Café and Inn

The media fam also included two nights lodging and two dinners at the homey waterfront West Shore Café and Inn, right across the street from Homewood. I was able to stay one night and partake in one group dinner, and came away with nothing but pleasant memories. The lodge is only two stories, but the first floor contains a popular restaurant and great views of Lake Tahoe. Take it from me, the food is complimentary to the magnificent views.



Skiers and boarders can take advantage of the Peak to Shore Package, which includes lodging at the West Shore Café and Inn as well as access to the lifts at Homewood. The packages start at $299 per night and are available through May 2013. Each night reserved includes two Homewood lift tickets—valid any day including holidays—complimentary breakfast, car valet, and shuttle service to and from nearby destinations.

Prior to this media fam, I hadn't spent a lot of time on the west shore. That's definitely going to change after my recent visit. If you haven't explored the west side of Lake Tahoe recently, or ever, do yourself a favor and plan a trip soon.


Nevada Magazine ushers in its 77th year

January 1936

January/February 2013
Photo: Mark Harris

Nevada Magazine’s January/February 2013 issue is now available on newsstands throughout Nevada. Featured in the edition are 12 authentic, homegrown Nevada events to plan for in 2013, as well as Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki's column about the upcoming National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko.

From Winnemucca's Ranch Hand Rodeo to Carson City's Nevada Day celebration and parade, the feature story celebrates signature events that define a city or town's legacy, such as Beatty Days, Jarbidge Days, Rachel Days, and Tonopah's Jim Butler Days.

The issue’s other feature story spotlights the Nevada Arts Council's Traveling Exhibition Program (TEP), which brings visual arts—including paintings, ceramics, and photography—to 24 Nevada cities and towns. Readers can learn about such installments as Honest Horses: A Portrait of the Mustang in the Great Basin, which will be on exhibit at the Beatty Museum and Historical Society through January 23.

To complement the story, Nevada Magazine is hosting the exhibit Stop the Car, Dad! for a limited run through Friday, March 1. The public can stop the car at The Paul Laxalt Building in Carson City during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to peruse the photographs of Eric Lauritzen, who died in 2007 but left a legacy of Nevada imagery that documents the bizarre, beautiful—and in some cases disturbing—roadside attractions he discovered while exploring the Silver State.

Alana Berglund installs a Nevada Arts Council traveling exhibit at the Art Institute of Las Vegas in October 2012.
Photo: Charlie Johnston

Also featured in the issue is a cover story about the popular Nevada sport of land sailing. The many dry lake beds and abundant year-round wind have made Nevada one of the country's premier land-sailing destinations.

Goldfield's International Car Forest, Reno's historic downtown Amtrak station, Las Vegas' new DISCOVERY Children's Museum, a history story about famous Comstock journalist Dan DeQuille, and Tahoe Lobster Company, which commercial fishes the invasive crayfish from the Nevada waters of Lake Tahoe, are also highlighted in the pages of the current issue.

This publication marks the 77th anniversary of Nevada Magazine, which debuted as Nevada Highways and Parks in January 1936. See all 77 years of cover images here.

Nevada Magazine to host weekly radio show

Nevada Magazine publisher Janet Geary, editor Matthew B. Brown, and other staff co-host a weekly radio show in partnership with America Matters Media.

Nevada Magazine, the official state tourism publication for 77 years, has partnered with Reno-based America Matters Media (formerly known as Nevada Matters) to host a weekly Nevada Magazine radio show.

"In almost four decades I have never been involved in a talk show that can do as much for Nevadans as the Nevada Magazine talk show," says America Matters Media reporter and host Eddie Floyd, "which has been the goal of Nevada Matters Media ever since its beginning on KSRN when Bob Carroll was the station manager. It has always been our motto to 'enthusiastically educate, entertain, and enlighten everyone everywhere,' and Nevada Magazine certainly will do all three."

Nevada Magazine publisher Janet Geary, editor Matthew B. Brown, and other staff co-host the show, which tapes live from the Reno Town Mall on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. It can be heard at that time on Renegade Radio, found on 101.3 FM in Northern Nevada or online at renegaderadio.org. The public is invited to attend the live show.

The Nevada Magazine show can also be heard Sundays at 6 p.m. on Fox News Radio, found on 99.1 FM in Northern Nevada or online at 991fmtalk.com, as well as various times Monday through Saturday on the aforementioned Renegade Radio.

Just as readers of Nevada Magazine have enjoyed an educational mix of history and tourism stories in print and online over the years, that same format will carry over to the radio.

"We will keep listeners informed about what can be found in the pages of Nevada Magazine and on our website, NevadaMagazine.com," Geary says, "but we also want the community to be actively involved. We envision audience members and callers telling us about their fondest Nevada memories, or maybe their favorite Nevada event or destination. We will also invite our partners in Nevada tourism to be guests on the show."

To submit ideas for the show, or to inquire about being a guest, e-mail editor@nevadamagazine.com or call 775-687-0602. You can also connect with Nevada Magazine via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and a number of other social media channels.

For more information about Nevada Matters Media and a complete schedule of shows, visit NevadaMatters.us or call 775-827-8900.

"Information rich and packed with ideas for future trips!"—Ron Mader, founder of Planeta.com (dedicated to ecotourism and responsible travel), after listening to the Nevada Magazine radio show.