For the past couple of seasons, we’ve been Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe pass holders, and we couldn’t be happier!
Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe Resort in Nevada is not a part of any behemoth corporation and still keeps the friendly local vibe. The resort was on the market in 2016 as the Buser family planned to sell it. At that time, the crowdfunding campaign to finance the ski resort and keep it local had been started by a group of volunteers called OneReno group. In 2017, the mountain was taken off the market, and since that time it has been owned by the children and grandchildren of Fritz Buser.
What makes the resort a pioneer mountain?
- It was one of the first ski hills in Lake Tahoe (Mount Rose Upski was opened in 1939 with a tow rope 1,300 feet long and operated by Wayne Paulsen).
- It was also one of the first resorts to allow snowboarders, although they were required to pass certification!
- Mount Rose Weather Observatory – one of America’s first high-altitude meteorological observatories, established on June 29, 1905.
- Mount Rose is usually one of the first resorts to open in Lake Tahoe every winter.
What makes Mount Rose stand out among the other resorts around Lake Tahoe?
High elevation
The snow feels drier and wintry on the mountain. The groomed runs, which are usually skied out by the afternoon, hold pretty well thanks to high elevation. Even the firm patches have an excellent grip. The bumps feel less icy, again due to higher elevation and less ski traffic.
Excellent operations
Can you imagine running the resort without any power? Following an enormous snowfall on March 5th, 2023, many places around Lake Tahoe were without power, including Mount Rose. But that didn’t prevent the resort from spinning both of its high-elevation lifts on generators for the whole day.
Amazing local vibe
It’s great to recognize the same people day after day, even without personally knowing them. One of the nice things here at Mount Rose is free clinics for pass holders and weekly ticket promotions like Ladies’s Thursday, Locals’ Sunday, etc. And those promotions date back to the 1960s. Beer festivals, Steep Sixteen, SKIG.I.F, and many other events define the unique local atmosphere of Mount Rose.
Nice views
The views are amazing here—you can see beautiful Lake Tahoe from the top of Lakeview Express and Washoe Lake from the top of Zephyr Express.
Early start
Did you know that the Slide Bowl area is open half an hour early for pass holders? That allows you to be on top of Northwest Bowl earlier than the main lift starts and ski or shred down untracked terrain.
Mount Rose has terrain for every level—from beginner skiers/snowboarders to experts whose favorite area is the Chutes.
And that name says it all! The “easiest” chutes are Miller Time and Beehive, so if you want a taste of steep, you can start with those. If you want steeper, from the top of Beehive you can traverse to Yellow Jacket, which allows you to skip the steepest part of the run but enjoy the great snow of the less steep half. The Chutes are facing north so they are mainly in the shade during winter, and the snow quality is perfect there.
For the springtime, the best place to start is a Slide Bowl, as it faces east and gets more sunshine in the morning. And then move to Northwest Bowl, where the runs still hold pretty well even when the other part of the mountain is baked.
Here are a few nice upgrades for the coming season at Mount Rose:
Lodgepole Cafe remodel
There will be a few upgrades for the lodge which makes it more comfortable and cozy.
Lakeview Deck
If you’re a pass holder, you know what it’s for! Every Friday in the spring the mountain operates until 6 pm. Three lifts (Lakeview, Wizard, and Magic) are spinning until 6 pm. And there is beer, wine, and après at the snow deck by the Lakeview. Wait! It was always a snow deck. This coming season, however, an actual deck will be constructed for the Deck Bar with a stunning view of Lake Tahoe!
Heated Ramp
The ramp near the main lodge will get an upgrade, making walking around much easier, especially after snowfall.
Snowmaking upgrades
A couple of new Pole Cats will be installed to allow more snowmaking at Slide Bowl and Bunker Trail.
Come join the Mount Rose fan club—you won’t regret it!
