Squaw Valley resurrects plans to add year-round coaster

Squaw Valley has applied for a permit to install Lake Tahoe's second gravity-powered coaster, the Timberline Twister.

In March, 2013, Squaw Valley scrapped plans for the coaster "due to business considerations and capital priorities," a.ccording to a letter sent to Placer County at the time

Now plans are back on for the ride that will expand on-mountain experiences for families. It will be located at the bottom of the mountain between the Far East and Red Dog chairlifts, an area already zoned for this type of recreational use.

Heavenly Mountain Resort opened a mountain coaster in South Lake Tahoe in June 2016. There are now more than 24 such rides at mountain resorts in the United States.

“Our guests have told us loud and clear that they want more activity options when they come to visit,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “As part of a tourism dependent economy, we are committed to remaining an attractive destination in a dynamic travel industry. We are not alone in this pursuit: resorts across our industry have installed similar coasters to diversify their year-round recreational offerings.”

As part of the permitting process, biological resources studies have been conducted and did not identify any special-status animal or plant species within the project area.