Tahoe Donner updates members on ski lodge construction, amenity access rule and plans to prioritize members during peak use

Tahoe Donner staff told members the new downhill ski lodge construction is progressing on schedule and budget, and described how a recently adopted amenity access rule and other operations changes aim to prioritize association members during peak times.

Robbie McClendon, assistant director of winter operations, said work at the ski lodge site is advancing daily with multiple trades on site and major interior and exterior work progressing; staff and board representatives said they expect the lodge to open for the 2025–26 season and celebrate on opening day (December 19, as stated by staff).

Association staff and the board also discussed a new amenity access rule described by Benjamin Levine and staff as the most significant update to the amenity access system in 35 years. Directors and managers said the rule fundamentally rethinks how the association provides amenity access rights and will allow staff to identify user categories more finely and prioritize members during high-use times. Miguel Sloan, director of operations, said the Long Range Planning Committee and the director of capital projects will assess which amenities require expansion and that the tennis center and campus are near-term capital priorities.

Staff acknowledged the new rule is likely to increase member use of private amenities and said the intention is to favor members during peak periods rather than restrict member access. Miguel Sloan said staff will implement restrictions for nonmember user categories at peak times to preserve member access.

Operations updates also covered the food and beverage strategic shift and golf operations. General manager Annie Rosenfeld and staff said the food-and-beverage team is redefining menus, pricing and services to improve member value and the operation’s contribution margin. On golf, staff said a new reservation system and a partnership with Golf Moose aim to increase public play and revenue; staff noted the association invested in green replacements in recent years and reported strong course conditions this season.

Communications staff explained why Tahoe Donner News remains a print publication: Lindsey Hogan, director of communications and member relations, said advertising revenue from the magazine helps offset communications department costs and that certain legal member notices still require mailed material under state rules; moving to a purely digital format would reduce advertising revenue and increase net cost to the association.

On trails and enforcement, John Grama, director of land management, described QR codes and signage at trailheads to encourage donations from nonmembers and said staff use cameras and on-the-ground monitoring to enforce e-bike restrictions (no class 2 or 3 e-bikes on association trails) and that staff sometimes directly contact violators.

In public Q&A, members raised concerns about street signage (Truckee public works responsibility), the relative subsidy of golf and food service, and internal staff communication about events; staff replied with specific operational fixes and confirmed the association is tracking these items through committees and department actions.

The meeting concluded with a motion and second to adjourn for lunch; the chair called the voice vote and members present said “aye.”