LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge closed October 4, 2026, to begin an approximately $5 million transformation, with plans to reopen in April 2027. The investment includes a redesign of the restaurant interior and a refresh of all 23 lodge rooms, updating the property while preserving the character guests have long loved.
Leading the restaurant operations is Chef Mark Estee and Local Food Group, whose hospitality experience and roots extend throughout Tahoe and Northern Nevada. Ownership of Sunnyside remains unchanged and locally based, with the property continuing under the same ownership. Therefore, the partnership unites locally-based ownership and an experienced regional operator around one shared vision: investing in the property while protecting the sense of place synonymous with Sunnyside.
“This isn’t about changing Sunnyside into something it was never meant to be,” said Estee. “It’s about understanding what people already love and finding thoughtful ways to make the experience even better.”
At the heart of Local Food Group’s approach is a belief that hospitality should feel personal. The goal is for guests to feel less like they’ve simply been served and more like they’ve been welcomed into someone’s home on the lake. Whether stopping in for a burger, spending a weekend at the lodge, or returning for a tradition decades in the making, the new experience will center around one idea: Where Lake Tahoe Feels Like Home.
Their philosophy extends beyond the guest experience to the people who bring Sunnyside to life. Local Food Group looks forward to welcoming back Sunnyside team members and will prioritize eligible returning employees who want to continue their careers at the property. Their experience, relationships, and connection to longtime guests are an important part of carrying Sunnyside forward.
Under the new operating structure, dining and lodging will have dedicated management, allowing each to receive focused attention while creating a cohesive experience across the property.
With a significant investment underway, experienced regional leadership in place, and a hospitality philosophy grounded in making people feel genuinely welcome, Sunnyside is preparing for a new chapter built around what has always mattered most: the people who make Sunnyside special and the unmistakable feeling of being at home on Lake Tahoe. With work soon underway, the team is eager to bring the next chapter of Sunnyside to life.