Homewood Ski Resort going Private
by Aventura on April 7, 2023
Homewood Mountain, West Shore Lake Tahoe, California
Homewood Mountain Resort, located in Homewood, California, has set into motion plans to switch to a semi-private business model, according to owner JMA Ventures. This decision comes after a decade of declining skier visits, with a 40% decrease, and a 64% drop in pass-holders, as reported by Moonshine Ink. The transition to a semi-private model will be carried out gradually over the next five to seven years, in parallel with a development plan that includes constructing on-site housing in the ski area.
When the semi-private model is fully implemented, day ticket sales will be terminated, and season pass sales will only be available to new Homewood homeowners, resort guests, and full-time residents of select West Shore homeowners associations that have not yet been identified. JMA has confirmed that there will be no changes to the pass program or day tickets for the upcoming season, and the transition will occur gradually. JMA has also emphasized that the resort is not interested in competing with nearby giants Palisades Tahoe or Northstar, as the heavy weekend traffic makes it difficult for commuter skiers to reach Homewood.
The new business model is connected to the resort's five- to seven-year development plan, which includes constructing 185 homes, a base lodge, and a small boutique hotel for guests of Homewood residence owners. The first phase of the plan, which involves building seven homes at the North Base, will begin this summer. JMA also plans to invest $15 million in replacing two lifts, with a new gondola replacing the Madden Chair next year and a new detachable quad replacing the Ellis ChaiPr a few years later. Furthermore, there are plans to establish summer operations by adding hiking and mountain biking trails. After the infrastructure has been improved upon, Chapman anticipates that pass prices will increase.
Although community support for the resort redevelopment plan was strong during the onset, some residents now feel deceived as the resort transitions from public to private access. JMA has stated that the resort did not conceal this transition, and that the decision was made to ensure the ski area remains financially sustainable while introducing a hybrid model.
And now more questions are starting to swirl – are private ski mountains the future? Unlike traditional ski resorts that allow public access, private ski mountains typically require membership or ownership of real estate within the resort. Members or property owners often receive benefits such as priority access to ski lifts, private ski lessons, and access to exclusive amenities such as restaurants, lounges, and spas. But, they obviously come with a significant financial cost.
For example, the Yellowstone Club is a private ski resort in Montana that is only accessible to its members and their guests. Membership fees reportedly range from $300,000 to $400,000, with an additional $41,500 annual fee. The resort boasts 2,200 acres of skiable terrain, 15 chairlifts, and a Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course.
