Homewood Mountain Resort has been open to the public since 1962.
We’re keeping it that way.
What is the threat to Homewood?
In 2022, landowner JMA Ventures partnered with Discovery Land Company to propose an exclusive residence club for the super-rich, similar to Discovery’s ski clubs in Yellowstone and Stagecoach. Discovery has succeeded in privatizing previously public resorts.
Have the developers agreed to keep Homewood public?
Yes. Under pressure from regulators and the community, JMA and Discovery agreed to admit “anyone” to ski on the mountain alongside members.
(c) Mike English. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
What are the impacts?
Homewood sells thousands of passes every year. If Discovery were to discourage public recreation by raising prices, reducing pass availability, letting lifts and lodges deteriorate, or reducing parking, those displaced residents and visitors would drive elsewhere to ski/board. This would worsen already-congested Resort Triangle traffic.
2011 Master Plan architectural visualization (video)
Current development on Fawn St
What are those buildings on Fawn St?
The developers are building “mountain modern” houses on Fawn Street. These buildings contradict the “style of the classic old Tahoe lodges” specified in JMA’s Master Plan, which sets a precedent for the rest of the resort’s architecture.
Editorial cartoon (c) Mike English, published in Moonshine Ink, June 13, 2024. Used with permission.
What’s the latest?
On Jan 22 2025, the TRPA Governing Board approved Homewood’s Master Plan Revision + Community Access Plan. These application documents, as well as the discussion on record, strengthens the public’s access to Homewood.
The TRPA also approved a permit to construct a gondola to replace Madden Chair. Conditions of that permit guarantee public access to that gondola.
KHP will continue monitoring this project to ensure public access is delivered.
What is our ask?
We want the public recreational access promised in the 2011 + 2025 Master Plan.
Perpetual: “Smile, Homewood will always be public.”
Public access: Homewood’s TRPA-approved capacity to be used fully every day.
Pricing: No extreme pricing: pricing not to be used to discourage the public from visiting.
Premises: Public-facing amenities, such as the hotel and skier services, to be available to all.
Public safety: Deliver on promises to North Tahoe Fire to upgrade West Shore firefighting capability.
Penalties: Developers to report ski hill usage to TRPA monthly during the ski season + TRPA penalties for discouraging the public from visiting.
Architecture: to evoke the “Old Tahoe” look of West Shore landmarks such as Vikingsholm and the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion.
