Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe breaks ground on South Shore

A ground breaking ceremony at Edgewood Tahoe brought out community and political leaders, all wanting the celebrate their new project, the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe.

Rain brought the ceremony indoors, but spirits weren't dampened as people speaking at the ceremony highlighted the major impacts the new project on the state line will make on South Shore's economic and community revitalization, as well as important environmental and recreational enhancements in the area.

The first check-ins will be in early summer 2017. The LEED-designed 169,000 square-foot project will add 154 new hotel rooms on the shores of Lake Tahoe, bring in a new health spa, bistro style restaurant and bar, a conference and events center. Plans also include 40 fractional residences, improvements to the golf course, and expansion of the existing clubhouse.

The project will create a new public swimming beach at the lake as well as lake viewing decks, walking paths, and offer new adventure concessions such as kayak and bicycle rentals.

"This property will give us a higher level of accommodations for our visitors," said Betty "B" Gorman, Executive Director of the Tahoe Chamber. "It gives us more diversity, gives our visitors more price points to choose from."

The property will also deliver significant water quality benefits for the 4,200-acre Edgewood Creek watershed plus enrich wetlands, provide new fish and wildlife habitat and upgrade storm water systems for urban areas upstream.

"We have a 40,000 acre restoration project that just happens to have a hotel with it," said Joanne Marchetta, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). "This project has the whole package."

Marchetta also noted that tourist accommodation units for the project were exchanged from the removal of older, unused lodging in South Lake Tahoe.

“The Edgewood Lodge, with all its amenities and lakefront location, represents what makes Tahoe a timeless destination,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “It signifies what visitors want by combining the great outdoors and indoors with a central and spectacular location.”

During a special groundbreaking moment, Park family representatives of the fifth, sixth and seventh generations took turns with ceremonial shovels on the beach in front of the Edgewood Tahoe Clubhouse.

“For more than 120 years, the Park family have been stewards of this magnificent land,” said Chuck Scharer, president and CEO of Edgewood Companies while explaining the history of the property. “The family-owned, locally operated Edgewood Tahoe Resort will be a physical representation of all the change that is happening in our community. It will be a place where health, recreation and green building blend to improve local economies; where the blighted old is replaced by the energy-efficient, attractive new and where visitors and locals come and leave with treasured memories."