Outrage over closure of public Tahoe ski resort locals fear will be turned into private billionaire haven
A long-standing public ski resort nestled in Lake Tahoe's 'winter paradise' is closed as a bitter fight over public access between billionaires and locals has reached a stalemate.
Opened in 1961, Homewood Mountain Resort has been a winter escape for the public to access, boasting more than 1,200 acres of mountains and over 60 snow-covered runs for skiers.
However, its future has been up in the air after the slope's original owner sold the property to a multibillion dollar real estate development firm.
In 2006, JMA Ventures bought the aging mountain resort with the promise of 'enhancement and redevelopment.'
Since then, the multibillion dollar conglomerate has made strides toward making the long-standing resort better suited to Lake Tahoe's growing 'elitist culture,' raising concern among loyal locals.
Opposition escalated when Art Chapman, the founder and chairman of JMA Ventures, announced a 'new model' for Homewood, one that would eliminate the 'day-skier,' sending locals into outrage.
'We’re all-in on Homewood as a community enhancement project,' Kathy Astromoff, a local homeowner, told SFGate.
'But limiting the benefits to members instead of the public feels like a bait-and-switch. Shouldn’t a community enhancement project actually enhance the community?'
Opened in 1961, Homewood Mountain Resort has long been a winter escape for the public to access, boasting over 1,200-acres of mountain and over 60 snow-covered runs for skiers of all abilities
'We’re all-in on Homewood as a community enhancement project,' Kathy Astromoff (pictured), a local homeowner said, referring to the language used in the resort developer’s 2011 public proposal
A long-standing public ski resort nestled in Lake Tahoe's 'winter paradise' is closed for the season as a bitter fight over public access between billionaires and families at the beloved resort has reached a stalemate. Pictured: Homewood Mountain Resort in Homewood, California
‘The day-skier model doesn’t work for Homewood just like it isn’t working for a lot of small ski areas across the country, and so we’ve had to come up with a new model to sustain Homewood,' Chapman told the Sierra Sun in 2022.
However, opposition escalated when Art Chapman, the founder and chairman of JMA Ventures, announced a 'new model' for Homewood, one that would eliminate the 'day-skier,' sending locals into outrage
'I can’t really register it because it’s a concept that defies Lake Tahoe’s existence, the natural beauty of it all, to turn it into a private idea,' Ted Peterson, whose family has owned a cabin in Homewood for 70 years, told the Tahoe Daily Tribune, adding that Lake Tahoe should be accessible for all.
However, Chapman added that the resort would occasionally sponsor 'community days,' during which day tickets would be available to the public.
In 2023, Keep Homewood Public, a non-profit coalition, was created by a band of passionate locals to push back against JMA Ventures and their partner - resort developer Discovery Land Company.
DLC is known for the Yellowstone Club in Montana, where 'initial membership dues are $400,000, plus over $40,000 a year, and you will need to buy or build a luxe mountain home at $3 million or more, once you’ve been invited to join the club,' according to Luxury Vacation Guide.
Homewood is listed as one of their 'Worlds' on their website but there are no details on pricing.
'Instead of “maintaining the heritage of a ski resort that can be enjoyed equally by local residents and visitors,” as landowner JMA promised in their 2011 Master Plan, JMA announced an exclusive residence club for the super-rich, similar to operating partner Discovery Land Company’s clubs in Yellowstone, Scotland, and Southampton,' Keep Homewood Public claimed on its website.
The coalition also alleged that Discovery Land Company 'used the same approach to roll back public access at their Cordevalle resort in Santa Clara County.'
DLC is known for the Yellowstone Club in Montana (pictured), where 'initial membership dues are $400,000, plus over $40,000 a year, and you will need to buy or build a luxe mountain home at $3 million or more, once you’ve been invited to join the club,' according to Luxury Vacation Guide
In 2011, JMA Ventures rolled out its 'Master Plan' that promised a hotel, high-end condos, expanded parking and various community features such as an amphitheater, bike share program and expanded trail access. Pictured: A rendering of the Master Plan's Mid-Mountain Day Lodge
Customs the community once cherished are in jeopardy following the sake of the property to a multibillion dollar real estate development firm. Pictured: Homewood locals protest the alleged privatization of their beloved mountain resort
Yet, in a letter to the TRPA in February 2023, Chapman defended his position once again, stating the current model for Homewood isn’t sustainable.
'Project opponents have used the term "private" to suggest that Homewood should continue to offer subsidized skiing as a public amenity, ignoring the fact that Homewood is a private business, and that any changes from such status quo represent changes to the Master Plan,' he wrote.
'Our future membership passholders – whether homeowners or not – are equally members of the public and community.'
But for locals who can currently ski at Homewood anytime they want, that’s not good enough.
'Developers JMA Ventures, Mohari Hospitality, and Discovery Land Company are severely restricting public access to Homewood Mountain Resort to paid members, at not-yet-revealed cost,' the Keep Homewood Public website says.
In addition to the limited access to the ski slopes, there's also how the resort will change the face of Lake Tahoe's west shore.
'The size and scale is incompatible with the west shore. It will change the character of the west shore irreversibly,' Don Fotus, who owns a cabin in nearby Tahoma, said after the resort's 2006 sale.
'I don't like the idea of changing the character of the area, but when the alternative is having this place shut down, I'd rather keep skiing here,' Mark Sherman, 46, of Mountain View, said.
JMA Ventures has made strides towards making the long-standing resort better suited to Lake Tahoe's growing 'elitist culture,' raising concern amongst loyal locals. Pictured: A rendering of the Master Plan's South Base
‘The project’s goal is to transform Homewood into an environmentally friendly four-season resort by adding hotel accommodations and amenities to attract destination visitors,’ a 2011 press release by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency said. Pictured: A rendering of the Master Plan's North Base
In their 2011 'Master Plan', JMA Ventures promised a hotel, high-end condos, expanded parking and various community features such as an amphitheater, bike share program and expanded trail access.
However, locals are concerned that Homewood's goal is to become fully private.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has been advising them to submit a plan if that is their intention. But even if a plan is submitted, it doesn’t mean it will be approved.
‘This is such a rare situation in the basin that we really don’t know what the outcome of that process would be,’ TRPA Public Information Officer Jeff Cowen said.
'Our project is conforming to the approved master plan and there are no plans to privatize the mountain,' Homewood, whose slogan is ‘“Smile” Homewood will always be home to the public,’ said.
In the meantime, Homewood has since moved forward with construction on lots three and five of its development, with approval of Placer County.
JMA Ventures has promised that when Homewood reopens, public access will be guaranteed, and lift tickets and season passes may be purchased by 'anyone on a first-come, first-served basis.'
'Ski tickets and season passes will be sold in a way that is familiar to the ski industry, where tickets during busier times of the year, such as the holidays, are more expensive than on slower midweek days,' Andy Buckley, the ski resort’s vice president of operations, said.
'I can’t really register it because it’s a concept that defies Lake Tahoe’s existence, the natural beauty of it all, to turn it into a private idea,' Ted Peterson, whose family has owned a cabin in Homewood for 70 years said, adding that Lake Tahoe should be accessible for all. Pictured: Locals ski at the picturesque mountain resort in Homewood, California
Locals are disbelieving of the $2.5 billion real estate conglomerate claiming Chapman is using a 'bait-and-switch' approach they claim he has used in projects in the past. Pictured: A rendering of the Master Plan's Ice Pond Village Center North Base
Pictured: A rendering of the Master Plan's Amphitheater and slope side of the North Base Hotel/Lodge
'It’s flexing the pricing to control the volume of the experience.'
The next community meeting for Homewood Mountain Resort is on Saturday when locals will discuss the status of Homewood Mountain Resort's additions to the Master Plan and its rumored privatization.
