Palisades Tahoe Recreation Project Moves Forward

A 90,000-square-foot indoor recreation center planned for Palisades Tahoe, CA has taken a step forward, as Placer County officials have endorsed a revised report for the project. According to The Mercury News, the proposal for the center, which could feature a bowling alley, movie theater and water slides along with condos, hotel rooms and restaurants, will likely be forwarded to the county’s Board of Supervisors for approval this summer.

The former Squaw Valley, owned by Alterra Mountain Co., is seeking to upgrade Palisades into a four season draw, similar to other more upscale resorts like Vail and Park City, especially with the unpredictable ski seasons brought on by climate change. “We’re envisioning our future as the true, preeminent year-round destination Palisades Tahoe was always meant to be,” commented Alterra.

Not surprisingly, there’s significant pushback from residents and environmentalists, worried about increased traffic, pollution and a decline in Lake Tahoe’s clarity. The Olympic Valley project has already been downsized due to that opposition, and the revision appears to be gaining momentum.