visitors

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Nevada State Parks is seeking construction bids for Phase 1 of the Spooner Frontcountry Improvement Project. Phase 1 will involve a complete redesign and update of the over 35-year-old facilities, and construction of a new visitor center and amphitheater at Spooner Lake. Proposals will be accepted at the Nevada Division of State Parks office until March 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. PST.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are some promising signs that the COVID-19 surge is over in El Dorado County. If current data continues in the direction it has been headed, El Dorado County is likely near the peak of the post holidays COVID-19 surge.

The surge of cases and hospitalizations began two weeks after Halloween, then continued through the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays.

The El Dorado County Public Health Director Dr. Nancy Williams says we won't reliably know until another week or two has passed if the surge has hit its peak.

As your elected Sheriff I want to address any citizen concerns regarding potential unlawful protests and violence stemming from next week’s Presidential inauguration. I want to send a clear and unwavering message to the residents and visitors of El Dorado County. Your Sheriff’s Office will continue to vehemently support and defend an individual’s constitutional rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

You may not be aware that someone you know has been a victim, but statistically speaking, it is almost guaranteed. Violence and abuse take many forms, including domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and cyberstalking, and child abuse.

● One in 4 women in the U.S. will experience some form of relationship violence in their lifetime.
● Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
● One in 10 people is stalked.
● Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S each year; however, this data may be inaccurate as many child abuse cases go unreported.

STATELINE, Nev. - It was a much quieter holiday at Stateline this year with a decrease in calls for service, five arrests, and the lowest number of New Year's celebrants in a few decades.

US 50, the highway that runs from South Lake Tahoe into Stateline was not closed due the low number of people in the area. Law enforcement was able to keep those wanting to bring in the new year outside to the sidewalk or they stayed inside the casinos.

"The celebrants were well behaved and embraced the New Year’s Eve celebration," said Douglas County Undersheriff Ron Elges.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Airbnb has responded to a letter written by local officials who asked for assistance in stopping short-term rentals (STR) during the current Stay at Home Order. From December 28 through January 1 the vacation home rental reservation platform said they are blocking guests from booking in Placer County, El Dorado County and the Town of Truckee.

Snow, a good slope and a sled in hand are the ingredients needed for a fun day around Lake Tahoe, but first responders are warning the public to only use official sledding locations or that fun can turn to a bad day very quickly.

Sledding is not as harmless as it looks, just ask the roughly 20,000 kids under age of 19 in the United States involved in sledding accidents annually.

El Dorado County, Placer County and Town of Truckee representatives have sent a letter to Airbnb, asking for assistance stopping short-term rentals (STR) during the current Stay at Home Order. They told the vacation rental booking company that their help is needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and asked them to not allow rentals in Truckee and the California side of Lake Tahoe during the order which is through at least January 1.

Featuring some of the biggest names in skiing and snowboarding, the inaugural Tahoe Backcountry Awareness Week will culminate with the Athlete Summit on Thursday, December 17. The free virtual event, designed to encourage those planning to venture into the backcountry to educate themselves before doing so, will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a live Q&A period with Michelle Parker, Jeremy Jones, Elyse Saugstad, Cody Townsend and Amie Engerbretson.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - First responders in South Lake Tahoe have been dealing with an antiquated public safety communications system for years but that is about to change. On Tuesday, City Council approved the funds needed to fix the system with much more than a band-aid.

National Forest developed campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin have already closed for the winter season and dispersed camping in Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country are not affected by the following closure.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Flatstick Pub Norcal will be adding a second California location in South Lake Tahoe at 4101 Lake Tahoe Boulevard between Ace High Saloon & Smokehouse and the Big Vista Clothing Store in the Zalanta, across from Heavenly Village.

Flatstick Pub is a community focused craft brew pub with challenging mini-golf and other mini-golf inspired games. The company's flagship location is in Downtown Sacramento.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, in partnership with Great Lakes Theater and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, will present The Snow Must Go On – A Virtual Holiday Cabaret Fundraiser on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. A merry ensemble of artists will share festive songs and stories that will bring comfort and joy straight to patron’s homes this holiday season.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) will continue to serve as an appointment-only COVID-19 testing center through March 31, 2021. The college’s standalone Physical Education building is the only large-scale COVID-19 active virus testing site operating in El Dorado County.

The winners of the 13th annual Blue Ribbon Awards were announced Thursday, November 19 during an awards show shown on Lake Tahoe Television. In place of the annual awards dinner the community was invited to tune in virtually with hosts Chris Fiore from the City of South Lake Tahoe and Meg Peart from the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. If missed, everyone can watch the celebration of the 2020 finalists and winners at https://tahoechamber.org/13th-annual-blue-ribbon-awards-show/ (and don't read any further if you want to be surprised).

Crews began work this month in the marsh system of Taylor and Tallac creeks in the Southwest portion of the Tahoe Basin to remove aquatic invasive plants from an abundant and impacted marsh ecosystem, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) said today.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Opening day at Heavenly Mountain Resort is planned for Friday, November 20, with ski and snowboard operations exclusive for all pass holders until December 8.

This year there are many changes due to COVID-19 and Vail says their goal is to prioritize pass holders, including those who have the Epic Day Pass. Those with passes need to reserve their day on the slopes as does the general non-pass holding public.

There will be no ticket sales at the Vail ski resorts this season and all is conducted virtually except for sightseeing rides.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The middle of a pandemic is never an ideal time to open a new business, but the new Beautiful Mess vintage shop and thrift store has been a popular shopping stop for locals and visitors since opening September 3.

"If I can get through this, I can get through anything," said Beautiful Mess proprietor Jessica Marks of the pandemic.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy announced Friday that the gates to Van Sickle Bi-State Park have closed for the winter season. Although roads and facilities will close, the park grounds remain open to pedestrian access year-round.

The 725-acre Van Sickle Bi-State Park provides day-use opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. For visitor safety, sledding is not allowed.

Due to continued public health and safety concerns, trail construction, risk of bear-human encounters and in order to discourage large groups from gathering, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has extended a Forest Order that temporarily closes Taylor Creek and the surrounding area. This order (see here) is extended through November 9 at this time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In an effort to get more members of the public involved in the process a walking tour map of the 56-acre project area in the middle of South Lake Tahoe has been created.

Carson Valley and South Lake Tahoe collaboratively are welcoming visitors to the region with a travel safely, adventure greatly message. Under the cooperative marketing umbrella of the #SierraSafely campaign, the goal of the program is focused on tourism recovery for Douglas County while restoring confidence among visitors and locals in the region.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The public is being invited to give input on the 56-Acre Project in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. As the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County work out the financial arrangement of using county land, plans are underway for how it will look. Through a grant, the California Tahoe Conservancy gave the funds needed to create the master plan for the area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another two residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, one is in El Dorado Hills, one in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, one in Greater Placerville, and none in the Lake Tahoe region. There is a -1 case from Diamond Springs/El Dorado due to a misclassification of a previous case. Both areas with today's cases have seen an increase in visitors due to Apple Hill activities.

One of those new cases 1 is under the age of 18, 1 aged 18-49, - 1 aged 50-64, and 1 aged 65 or older.