Unsafe tree removed at Heavenly Village, plans unveiled for what's next

Many saw the large tree at Heavenly Village as they drove or walked by, not knowing that it was a hazard and deemed unsafe to be around pedestrians. On Monday, June 4, the tree was cut down by the contractor hired to bring it down, Kenny Curtzwiler and K & K Services, and another local business, Frank's Stump Grinding, took care of the remains and ground level and below.

The 90 foot tree is now firewood, but Dreu Murin of the Heavenly Village management team told South Tahoe Now what is going in its place.

Permanent new trees will be brought in and planted, but the highlight will be a 35-foot Christmas tree, much as they do at Rockefeller Center. Curtzwiler's team will bring in a tree cut down outside the basin to be put up during the Heavenly Holidays, making it a community tree with locals putting up decorations and a surrounding celebration.

What new trees are coming hasn't been determined or approved yet, said Murin.

There is a large tree a few yards away that is close to the Marriott Grand Residence, and it may be coming down too, once its fate is decided by the owners of the village.