New operators of historic Camp Richardson to preserve the family feeling

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - No, the new concessionaires of Camp Richardson are not going to demolish the hotel and build condos in its place. No, they are not tearing down the cabins. No, they are not getting rid of the charm that has made the resort what it is known for. What ExplorUS is going to do is improve the 100-year-old property with renovated rooms and cabins, improved access, a new restaurant on the shores of Lake Tahoe, as well as a list of other things that are still being planned out with a historic architect.

"We want to preserve the feeling Camp Richardson has of being a great family resort," said William Boas, vice president of operations for ExplorUS. "What Camp Richardson has been so far is fantastic, and we hope fantastic for many more years."

Boas was in South Lake Tahoe, preparing his company's newest property. ExploruS is a family-owned company with almost 30 years of experience operating National, State, and local park concessions. They have concessions in 16 states and specialize in hospitality and experiences in places like Muir Woods, the Hawaii Volcano House overlooking the Halema’uma’u Crater, the Petrified Forest, Lassen National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands National Park. They operate 17 marinas along the California Coast as well.

"We are in a lot of beautiful places," said Boas. "We are very fortunate."

Many people were surprised when long-time concessionaire Bob Hassett did not get a new 20-year concessionaire permit for the US Forest Service-owned Camp Richardson. The process includes those who are interested in managing the property submitting a proposal on what they would do for the next 20 years, including improvements matching the Forest Service's goals.

Camp Richardson is a publicly owned historic lakefront resort on 128 acres. It was purchased by the US Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) in 1965 and has been operated by various concessionaires since 1985. The first special use permit for the property was given to Camp Richardson Resort and Marina, Lyman Sutter. In 1995 the permit was issued to Seven Summits Corp, Roger Gardner. They merged with Camp Richardson Resort, Inc., Chong Sik Moon one year later. Then, in 2000, the permit was issued to Camp Richardson Resort, Inc., Bob Hassett. Now, it rests in the hands of Camp Richardson, LLC, ExplorUS.

Last week, ExplorUS announced its plans for $12 million in renovations, but that is only a starting point, said Boas.

Not all of the upcoming plans can be revealed at this time, pending approval by the LTBMU, but Boas was able to share the following:

Yes, there will be a restaurant. The name will not be the Beacon, but the new name isn't going to be revealed yet so it's just being called "the restaurant" for now. It will get some needed repairs and Boas hopes they can reopen in about six weeks. The popular "Rum Runner" drink is staying with Camp Richardson as the licensed recipe holder. An updated menu is also coming.

They plan on having music at "the restaurant."

The hotel rooms will be renovated first with new furniture and other updates. "They will be reflective of the historic feel and the woods," said Boas.

Oktoberfest is coming back!

The uses in the buildings on the west side of SR89 will be transferred over to the same side of the road as the hotel and cabins. This will reduce the need for heavy foot traffic crossing all summer long to the ice cream parlor and coffee shops. If is unknown at this time if there will be new buildings built, or current buildings repurposed.

They will be improving parking, and ingress and egress to the resort.

Local experts and a historical architect are on board to work on authentic renovations.

"We want to respect the history," said Boas.

A new general manager is heading to South Lake Tahoe from the Hawaii Volcano House in Hilo. Robert Henderson and his family are making the move from Hawaii. He is used to being in a historic building and a steward of natural sites.

Most of the full-time year-round staff is staying on board with ExplorUS and Boas expects many of the seasonal team members to return this summer.

Boas said they will also be reaching out to the neighboring properties like Tallac Historic Site and Valhalla Tahoe to work together on events and other endeavors. They also look forward to being a valuable community partner and invite everyone to come by and visit. They will also pursue a shuttle-type service from near Stateline to Camp Richardson.

"As a company, we have great respect for parks and forests," said Boas. "We get the honor to manage them."

Advenco, LLC was the winning concessionaire for Camp Richardson. ExplorUS is the corporate name, and Advenco is an arm of ExplorUS. The team at Camp Richardson will have ExplorUS emblems along with the Camp Richardson name.

The new phone number for the resort is 530.494.2228. The old websites are still online, as are the old phone numbers. The new website is https://camprichardsonresort.com/. Reservations made at the hotel before ExplorUS being awarded the permit have been transferred over but people are always welcome to call and check.

The marina will remain with Hassett as it isn't included in the Camp Richardson concessionaire permit. He will run the marina and its fueling station, and the pier.

The namesake of the resort, Captain Alonzo Richardson, bought the property in 1924. Richardson first built cabins and a lakefront pavilion and added a hotel in 1926. Later came the dining room, and gas station. In 1927 he built the long pier. In the early 1950s, after Richardson died, the resort was passed to his widow Cora and his daughter and son-in-law Florence and Ray Knisley. By the 1960s the operation of the resort was becoming more difficult and less profitable, and there was great pressure on the family to sell the land for commercial development. Instead, Ray approached the United States Forest Service with the option of taking over the land. Ray was a man who made efforts to preserve the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, improve Nevada's educational system, and tighten the operations of local governments. He served on the TRPA board for numerous years and was a four-term Nevada assemblyman.

"We strive to safeguard our natural, historic, and cultural resources while making every moment matter for our associates and our guests," is the company's mission.

From the ExplorUS website:
We strive to create grand adventures for our guests while reducing the impact on local ecosystems. We are committed to preserving and protecting the unique environments and precious resources where we operate, allowing our guests and future generations to experience the beauty, serenity, and splendor of these parks.

At our core, we are park concessionaires that focus on lodging, camping, retail, food service, and outdoor experiences. Our success in this industry is tied to the simple belief that we do not consider park concessions to be just another business. We are stewards of the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the parks in which we work and are committed to providing a level of hospitality that honors those resources.