Industry News
2020 South Lake Tahoe and Tallac High Graduations at Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort
The graduating classes of 2020 will have vastly different experiences than most high school seniors have had in years past, due not only to the pandemic but also the health concerns and delays resulting from the outbreak. Fortunately, one local ski area in the Tahoe region is getting creative in order to boost revenue and attendance despite being forced to close their winter operations in March. While almost all local resorts were forced to close far earlier than the snowpack dictated this season, Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort is helping South Lake Tahoe and Tallac High Schools congratulate their seniors by inviting them to their resort to celebrate in a socially-distanced, yet ideal setting.
- Related: New Hampshire School is Using Local Ski Area’s Chairlifts for Socially Distanced Graduation Ceremony
Tallac High School will hold their ceremony starting at 3:00 p.m. and South Tahoe High will begin at 5:00 p.m. on June 19, 2020. The announcement was made on June 9, 2020, by South Tahoe High School Principal Carline Sinkler during the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees meeting. Principal Sinkler later praised the community for offering these graduates a unique opportunity: “This is an astounding community collaboration to ensure our extraordinary graduates have an extraordinary graduation.”
Social Distancing, Directions and the Chairlift
The ski area and high schools have taken into account the need for social distancing at this event so attending families for each ceremony will be staggered with predetermined time slots. Prior to the beginning of each ceremony on Friday, June 19, 2020, graduates and their families from each high school are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, which can either be done before or after the drive up US50 via Echo Summit. Make a LEFT turn onto Sierra-at-Tahoe Road and drive up the hill. Cars will then be directed by resort staff as to where and when the graduate will exit the vehicle. Graduates will then walk down the resort plaza as their family drives to the top of the Easy Rider Lift.
The Next Best Thing
Families of graduates will be watching from their car and can then pick up their 2020 graduate with that diploma in-hand. Chairlift rides for weddings have obviously been done but one can only hope for a graduation ceremony invite on a chairlift, especially while we anxiously await cooler temps and dreams of bottomless powder.
While the photo of the chairlift under the stars is spectacular, it looks more like KT22 than any lift at Sierra.