The improvements continue in year three of Heavenly’s ten-year master plan that promises a steady stream of new lifts, on-mountain restaurants, lodging and base villages that will greatly improve the overall experience.
A new, state-of-the-art tubing lift headlines the changes, which also address overall food quality and variety, superior snow surfaces, ski and snowboard school programs, guest service and ease of planning/booking a vacation.
Continued Trail Enhancement Projects
Heavenly, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, continues to make advances in selective trail enhancement projects. These projects annually identify key trails for treatment by widening pinch-points and lowering the height of obstacles on trails. This year, The Pinnacles trails were selected and through the installation of temporary, removable snow fences as well as rock removal in key areas will allow earlier opening of these trails this winter. The quality of the skiing will be enhanced now that the trails can be groomed more consistently.
Meteor, Jackpot and Canyon, Sky Chute, and Otto’s Chute (the transition from the top of Tamarack Express Chairlift to Orion’s Run) were also widened. The entrances to Nova, Big Dipper from lower Skyline, and Milky Way Bowl from upper Skyline were all enhanced to provide more convenient access. Obstacles were removed from California Trail, reducing the amount of snow needed to open and maintain this popular trail.
Commitment to Lake Tahoe’s Finest Snow Surfaces
Fulfilling its promise to provide the finest snow surfaces Lake Tahoe has to offer, Heavenly has purchased three new Prinoth Bison X grooming machines to add to the world's largest fleet of most technologically-advanced snow cats. Already home to the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, Heavenly is on a continuous capital program to improve overall snowmaking efficiency. The resort will also add snowmaking to the new tubing area to provide early-season access for sightseers as well as skiers and snowboarders looking for non-ski activities. The combination of grooming expertise and snowmaking capacity ensure that Heavenly’s guests are always skiing or snowboarding on the finest snow surface conditions Lake Tahoe has to offer.
On-Mountain, Non-Ski, Family Fun
Heavenly's new, four-lane tubing hill will be accessed by a state-of-the-art covered magic carpet lift. Stretching 450 feet up East Peak, with a 65-foot vertical drop, the new tubing hill will be a fantastic addition to Heavenly’s Adventure Peak family recreation area. The fully-enclosed, elevated magic carpet lift will be multi-purpose: Beginning snowboarders can use the surface lift to access new teaching terrain while others access the multi-lane tubing hill.
Satisfying Guests’ Appetite for Life
For the 2009-10 season, Heavenly will serve a high-quality, gourmet burger that has been completely reworked from the bottom up and will set the quality standard for a mountain resort burger. The Epic Mountain Burger will have two fresh quarter-pound patties of specially-seasoned Angus beef, and will be surrounded by fresh lettuce, tomato and a specialty bun. Also new is the Lunch for Less value meal that will vary daily and include an entree, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage for just $9.95. In addition, guests can now pre-purchase a mountain dining card on-line and in select locations for cost savings and convenience. The dining card comes with additional value added when pre-purchased.
“Our guests are going to be amazed by the Epic Mountain Burger. It will be better than their favorite burger back home,” said Steve Turner, Heavenly’s director of Food and Beverage. “We’ve pretty much re-built our menus across the board. Guests will be pleased to find a variety of menu options and prices to fit every budget.”
Make the Most of Your Ski Day
The Ski and Ride Schools of Heavenly have announced a new mountain guide program called The Adventure Sessions that bridges the gap between a private and group lesson. For $119, advanced skiers and snowboarders can spend a day sharing a top guide with an intimate group, allowing quick access to the best terrain and conditions on the mountain. Guests will be teamed with like-minded, similarly-skilled ski/ride enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their day, going places that they might not go themselves. Not only will participants receive lunch and preferential lift line access, but they'll pick up tips and technical information along the way.
“Think of The Adventure Sessions like hiring a guide to go fishing in Alaska – you tap into the experience of Lake Tahoe’s best ski coaches who show you the sweet spots only the locals know about,” said Mike Allen, Heavenly’s director of Ski School and Skier Services. “We like to say, 'If ski school had a recess, this would be it.'”
Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle…And Go Big
In 2008-09, Heavenly's terrain parks won an award from Ski Area Management Magazine for the best use of recycled features. This season, the Terrain Park Crew has gone back to the lab to create the most creative, urban-based jibs at Lake Tahoe. Most features will be 100 percent recycled, including highway barriers, water drums and corrugated pipes.
An Online Experience to Match the On-Mountain Experience
Skiheavenly.com will re-launch this fall as a completely new web site with dynamic, immersive functionality that will give guests the feeling of being at the resort while sitting in the comfort of their own homes. Utilizing the latest, best-in-class technology, skiheavenly.com will be the leading, most user-friendly web site in the ski industry. Upgrades include: A resort map using Google mapping technology that will give users in-depth knowledge of all the attractions and amenities in the immediate vicinity; an immersive, 360-degree virtual tour gallery that puts the user right in the middle of a high-quality video experience; and a trip folder that allows the user to plan their trip over time, with the ability to save, retrieve and share particular aspects of certain trips or whole itineraries. Along with its blog, the live, streaming web cam, ski and snowboard instructor profiles, and the industry’s most entertaining video library, skiheavenly.com has everything to make booking a trip fun and easy.
Other future projects approved under Phase One of the Master Plan include: Replacement of another existing fixed-grip chair lift on the mountain’s Nevada side with high-speed, detachable lift technology; a 1,000-seat, LEED-certified, on-mountain restaurant with incredible views of Lake Tahoe called Powderbowl Lodge; 152 acres of new ski trails; and a skier bridge that will allow skiers and riders to ski from the Gondola top station to Tamarack Express. Every project contained in the Master Plan Amendment was designed to minimize environmental impact and maximize water clarity from the watersheds draining Heavenly, earning the endorsement of the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
To learn more abaout the Heavenly Mountain Resort Master Plan, please visit the USDA Forest Service web site.