IT’S SNOWING: SOUTH TAHOE WINTER BRINGS MAJOR RENOVATIONS, MILESTONE CELEBRATIONS, NEW RESTAURANTS
Oct. 15, 2025 (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev.) – This week the first substantial snowfall delivered a foot of snow at South Lake Tahoe ski resorts, ramping up the early season enthusiasm and complemented by the area’s ongoing renovations, milestone anniversaries and new adventures: VisitLakeTahoe.com.
SKI / SNOWPLAY
For 70 years, Heavenly Mountain Resort has been more than a place to ski—it’s been a backdrop for lifelong memories, deep connections to Tahoe, and the iconic views that keep guests coming back. Heavenly opened with one chairlift and the sport’s most spectacular view in December 1955. Fast forward 70 years and countless capital investments that have reinforced its industry leadership, the resort spanning two states and 4,800 acres of skiable terrain, will celebrate this winter with a 70th Anniversary Party, Dec. 20 with DJs playing music from throughout the decades, delicious food and drinks, and more. A full schedule of season-long celebrations includes the Toyota Air and Après, Feb. 27-March 1; Celebrity Banked Slalom, April 3-4; DJ activations and Brews and Views après vibes at Lakeview Lodge. These events will highlight the social and scenic atmosphere that makes Heavenly, well, Heavenly.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, the high-alpine playground for authentic big-mountain adventure, features some of North America’s most diverse and challenging in-bounds terrain. Its unique location atop the Sierra Crest creates the legendary K-Factor, a geographical advantage that brings some of the lightest, driest, and most plentiful snow in the region. While Kirkwood is best known for its challenging terrain, beginner and intermediate areas are just as strong. For those starting out, Timber Creek is an ideal learning zone thanks to its secluded location, kids’ adventure area, slow zones, and dedicated chairlifts.
For the 2025-’26 winter, skiers and snowboarders at Sierra-at-Tahoe, will notice two new trails that improve access to West Bowl, widened groomed terrain in several learning zones and terrain parks, updated chairlift seatbacks and long-term reforestation efforts. The two new trails, Pika (named for a small, cute alpine critter) and Skipper (named for the way it connects two existing trails) bring the beloved resort’s trail count to 50, spanning 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Ahead of its 79th year of operations, crews worked to restore trails, planting over 16,000 new saplings this summer in patterns designed to enhance gladed skiing, provide protection from winds, and support the natural regrowth of a healthy forest. At the same time, stumps from trees removed after the Caldor Fire were ground down, increasing mountain grooming areas in learning zones and terrain parks by an estimated 20 acres.
For non-ski adventures, South Lake Tahoe has them in spades with tubing at six different locations throughout South Shore including the meadow across from the Tahoe Blue Event Center; snowmobiling at Zephyr Cove and Hope Valley; ice skating outdoors at Edgewood on Ice and Heavenly Village, and indoors at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena; Tahoe Sleigh & Carriage Rides offers both horseless electronic carriage rides traditional horse-drawn rides, the latter in favorable weather; and snowshoeing/groomed XC skiing trails at Camp Richardson as well as Kirkwood.
WHAT TO DO
The Tahoe Blue Event Center is hosting the Grand Slam of Curling, featuring Olympians, world champions and fan favorites, Nov. 4-9. A competitive series with the top 16 men’s and 16 women’s curling teams battling it out marks the last major curling event prior to the 2026 Olympics. The tournament will also feature six days of live music, fan activations, and interactive experiences.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters, a professional hockey team in the ECHL, returns to home ice, October 17 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center following an inaugural season where they advanced to the second round of playoffs. The Knight Monsters are affiliated with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. With the inclusion of Tahoe, the state of Nevada is now represented in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.
Retroactive Arcade provides nostalgia with classic games like Pac-Man/Mrs. Pac-Man, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Paperboy, Tetris, Space Invaders, skee-ball, pinball, air bubble hockey, and more a block from Nevada-style gaming at the casinos, on the 2nd floor of the Cecil’s Fountain Plaza Building in the Heavenly Village. Guests can purchase unlimited day passes with the option to return throughout the day or purchase access for 15-minute increments.
Slime Kitchen, located at The Crossing in South Lake Tahoe, is a creative space offering a screen-free, sensory experience where kids (and kids at heart) can craft their own custom slime in a lively, hands-on environment ideal for birthday parties, workshops, or spontaneous walk-in fun. Hot Spot, a new ceramic making studio at the Village Center provides individuals opportunities to create mosaics, pottery, canvas painting, candles and/or a gnome/fairy garden.
PLACES TO STAY
Play Park Hospitality, a boutique hospitality group focused on comfort, connection, and innovation, assumed operations at Station House Inn. The installation of solar panels is part of a broader effort to create a more sustainable and connected community.
enhancing the Tahoe guest experience and contributing to the long-term vitality of the region.
All 218 hotel rooms and suites in Golden Nugget’s Sunset Tower have been completely renovated with upgraded amenities. Construction on the first half of Heavenly Tower has started and will be complete in April. The most recent addition, Bill’s Sportsbook, offers an elevated sports wagering experience. Coming soon: Rush Lounge, a lively cocktail and entertainment venue and Mastro’s Steakhouse, known for world-class dining and service; and a new high-limit gaming area.
Caesars Entertainment has transformed Harveys Lake Tahoe into Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino this summer with $160 million renovation including state-of-the-art accommodations, dining, and gaming upgrades.
The City of South Lake Tahoe has officially resumed issuing Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permits as an option for visitors to the region. After several years of restrictions, VHRs are now expanding under new guidelines designed to balance community interests with the city’s tourism-driven economy. Visitors traveling to South Lake Tahoe can now book a wider variety of accommodations from single-family homes to condos, providing families and groups flexibility during their stay, in addition to rental companies like RnR Vacation Rentals, Lake Tahoe Accommodations, Tahoe Luxury Properties and Buckingham Vacation Rentals.
PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
Cascade Kitchens is the first food hall of its kind in South Lake Tahoe and currently offers Korean, Colombian, Italian and Mexican dishes along with gourmet deli sandwiches, burgers, nachos, hot dogs, ice cream, and beer/wine selections. For those working remotely, Cascade Kitchen offers free coffee and WiFi until noon with breakfast items available for purchase. Additional vendors and special events are anticipated for this winter at its location near the intersection of Highways 50 and 89.
The Edge Restaurant and Lounge at Edgewood Tahoe Resort balances seasonal flavors with modern culinary techniques, multi-course tasting menus, tableside presentations, and artisanal craft cocktails. The Edge will also house a wine collection featuring over 1,000 labels worldwide, including rare estate vintages and boutique California wineries – all sommelier-selected. The South Room in the lakefront Clubhouse is also being remodeled and combined with the North Room will provide 4,140 square-feet of meeting, wedding and event space with spectacular lake and mountain views, just feet from the shore.
Bare Roots Coffee Roasting Company expanded its storefront this summer and is now the exclusive Kava-Kava outlet at South Shore. The sober/sober-curious trend offers an herbal remedy with calming effects sans alcohol.
Rice Thai Eatery, on Ski Run Blvd., offers flavorful bowls of authentic beef noodle soup, to creamy khao soi, comfort food specials and various Thai street food dishes designed to honor the heart of Thai cooking.
Kung Pao Hustle features Chinese dishes but also offers the top 25 items from their previous Thai on Ski Run restaurant. All food is made “to go,” but customers can sit and enjoy inside or outside seating when weather permits.
Contact: Jenn Boyd or Phil Weidinger, Weidinger Public Relations, 775-588-2412 or jennifer@weidingerpr.com.
May the Force be with you this season as South Lake Tahoe Resorts receive a foot of snow, Oct. 14.
Credit Sierra-at-Tahoe.
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About the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
Designated the “America’s Favorite Ski Destination” by USA TODAY readers, Visit Lake Tahoe combines the distinctive appeal of two worlds: unparalleled natural beauty and an array of world-class outdoor recreation, entertainment, nightlife and gaming. As a responsible tourism destination, it offers a balanced approach regarding social and environmental impacts to preserve its appeal for generations. For information about lodging, recreation, events, and mindful travel at Visit Lake Tahoe, call 1-800-288-2463 or log onto www.VisitLakeTahoe.com.