The Ritz-Carlton to Open in Time for Ski Season

By Tori Long
August 5, 2009

I just finished touring The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe and can honestly say that this will be one of the finest hotels in the world. The hotel is perched mid-mountain at Northstar Ski Resort and will have scenic views of the Carson Range, as well as entertaining views of the ski mountain.

The hotel has just announced that it will officially open on December 9, 2009, in time for the ski season at Northstar.  This will be the first new resort development in the Tahoe area in decades and promises to bring to the area  a new level of services and amenities.  Some of the resort's special features will include:

• Ski-in/ski-out access to Northstar's 89 ski runs including ski valet services, well as easy access to mountain biking and hiking in the summer months.

An intermountain gondola will connect the resort with The Village at Northstar's shops, restaurants and ice rink.

A 17,000 sq. ft. Spa and Fitness Center which will feature treatments and therapies themed around water and the woods. Both yoga and spin studios will have floor-to-celing windows maximizing the mountain views.

A signature restaurant, Manzanita, created by renowned San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins (a James Beard award winning chef). The menu will be a combination of Des Jardins' signature French inspired California cuisine, with a mountain resort influence. The restaurant will source organic, sustainable and locally grown meat and produce whenever possible.

23 full ownership The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton will also be completed in December so that owners may enjoy their new mountain homes over the holidays. To date, 12 Residences have been sold.

This is indeed an exciting time for North Lake Tahoe as we all look forward to the opening of this exciting new hotel!