New parking system to be used near Zephyr Cove in hopes of alleviating parking woes

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - For years, beachgoers have been parking along US50 at Zephyr Cove to access the beaches at both Zephyr Cove Resort Beach and Zephyr Shoals. It was a nightmare to drive by the resort on popular beach days with cars left in no parking zones, tires over the white lines when parked, and people walking along US50 on both sides of the highway.

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) conducted safety studies and last year added a stop light at US50 and Warrior Way and made the long stretch of highway from north of the light to the resort entrance as a "no parking" zone.

Fearing the beachgoers would now fill up the approximate 800 parking spaces in the lots at Whittell High School and Zephyr Cove Elementary School, Douglas County Library, and the playground, plans have been approved for change. (see map above or here)

On busy beach days and holidays, the lots will now have a charge to the public to use, unless the car belongs to a Douglas County resident. Parking software will be used to charge the non-residents.

"It is the goal of the County through pricing to park between 300 and 500 cars in the facility," explained Assistant County Manager Scott Morgan. "If we start exceeding those numbers and reaching facility capacity, rates will be adjusted up. The flexible rate is designed to reduce the impact on Zephyr Cove Beach and create a better user experience."

The Douglas County Commissioners approved the following daily parking rates, starting June 15, 2024 through August 31, 2024:

$20 daily weekday
$40 weekend
$100 high-demand holiday weekend (flexible rate)

All Douglas County residents will park for free. All the rates are flexible with discretion given to the Community Services Dir. to modify or adjust rate based on demand. The funds the county receives goes to the Parks Department.

They have also installed portable restrooms and garbage dumpsters on Warrior Way near the fire station.

"Clearly a lot of the problems we've been experiencing at Zephyr Cove Beach are due to overcapacity," said Morgan. "The additional security, sanitation facilities and restricting the number of vehicles in the area should alleviate some of the pressures and concerns that have been experienced in prior years."

The proceeds will be split with 40 percent going to the County, 40 percent to Douglas County School District, and 20 percent to the two school's booster clubs/PTAs. The schools normally handled paid parking during the 4th of July holiday as a fundraiser.

This is a one-year pilot program that will help determine the long-term viability and potential expansion of a Douglas County parking program.

Morgan explained they had to act quickly to get something in place before summer.