South Lake Tahoe's newest hotel combines sustainable design, tranquility and luxury

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While they've been open for two weeks, Monday, August 15 marked the official grand opening of the Desolation Hotel in South Lake Tahoe. Sitting on the grounds of the old 1960-era Tahoe Villa motel, the new Desolation Hotel was inspired by the tranquility, nature, beauty, and adventure of Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe.

Step inside after a day exploring Lake Tahoe, and enjoy subtle elegance steeped in the alpine theme with hints of Norway and Japan.

There are 21 luxury accommodations at the hotel, all including soaking tubs on their private balconies, indoor fireplaces, and kitchenettes featuring Bertazzoni gas ranges, microwave, disposal, and fridge, as well as a walk-in shower and bathtub.

The rooms come in three types of accommodations: Alpine Studios, Granite Suites, and the three-story El Dorado Townhomes with private garages.

What is described as a eco-luxury micro-resort, Desolation was designed as an alternative to renting vacation homes, giving visitors high-end lodging options with all the necessities of a home, while being placed in between the Heavenly gondola and Lake Tahoe.

The vision of Desolation Hotel came from co-founders Chet Pipkin and his brother Eric Pipkin.

"We live, work, and play in this community—from our founders to many of the team members who helped us build the hotel," said Chet Pipkin. "We are incredibly passionate about delivering an authentic, locally conscientious, and unforgettable South Lake Tahoe experience for our guests. We're providing an immersive luxury destination that offers guests the opportunity to both relax and to get out and adventure, all while being responsible stewards of this incredible natural environment we're fortunate to call home."

The Pipkins are no stranger to the local community. Chet is the founder of Belkin, a consumer technology company that also has the brand Linksys, and he and his wife have been spending most of their time living at Lake Tahoe. Community is important to the Pipkins. The hotel was the host of the 2021 Spooky Spectacular, long before construction was even completed at the Desolation. They put up $50,000 and raised matching funds to give $50,000 to the El Dorado Community Foundation Caldor Fire Fund, and another $50,000 to the Wildfire Firefighters Association.

The Pipkins are also no strangers to the outdoors. Chet's son Spencer just summitted K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, Eric has climbed Half Dome in Yosemite.

Chet said he got the inspiration for the hotel from Tahoe's elements - to honor and celebrate them.

"We hope we've done a great job, not just with the physical but also with the energy and environment," said Chet.

The architect on the project was South Tahoe High graduate and former U.S. Freestyle Ski Team member, Brooke Martone - Ballachey, who owns Monarch Architecture of South Lake Tahoe with her husband Brian. The design company STUDIOETTE brought a unique blend of wood, stone, and colors from Lake Tahoe - muted forest greens, deep lake-hued blues, and rich ambers. Owners Eunji Kim and Irene Yu were on property to see their visions come to life. Eunji and Brooke were roommates at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo where they both graduated with degrees in architecture. Irene also has a degree in architecture and attended Cal-Berkley.

Maggie's is the hotel's third-story restaurant with an outdoor deck that wraps around a tree and offers tree-top views of the mountains. The indoor-outdoor fireplace makes the room comfortable year-round. It takes its name from the Maggie’s Peaks hike, a challenging trail beloved by locals and visitors alike for its rewarding views. It features a scratch-made, modern American menu with fresh pastas, a selection of ethically sourced game meats, and a well-rounded collection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Dishes may include spinach tagliatelle topped with prosciutto-wrapped diver scallops or a bison tomahawk steak sourced from Humboldt County (with the option to finish it tableside using a steak stone). The wine wall and bar selection fill the fare.

Another highlight of the hotel using a name from Desolation Wilderness is the outdoor bar, Velma's, named after Velma Lakes. It is adjacent to the saltwater pool and multiple outdoor firepits and is available exclusively to hotel guests. The menu features a rotating selection of seasonal light bites, Maggie’s most popular cocktails, and an expansive non-alcoholic mocktail selection. A staff favorite is Velma’s Thai Basil & Rye Whiskey Bloody Mary, paired with a house-cured bacon flight.

Chet also teamed with Jamie and David Orr in creating untethered, the coworking offices at Round Hill. Desolation Hotel manager Richard Dunne said hotel guests can use those offices and meeting rooms during their visit if the hotel options don't fit their needs.

Another Pipkin project is the old Sorenson's Resort, which is now named Wylder Hotel Hope Valley.

Chet said he doesn't have plans for any other ventures at this time, but will "continue to be catalyst for good." He said he believes in making things better than they were before.

He was the 2018 keynote speaker at the Lake Tahoe Community College graduation.

“Chet is a terrific role model for our students,” said LTCC Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco at the time. “He’s been hugely successful, but he maintains a sense of humility about his success. He’s also been a huge advocate for education, and for risk-taking and entrepreneurial thinking. Giving back is a big part of his life, and that’s definitely a message I’d like our graduates to hear.”

For more on the Desolation Hotel, visit https://www.desolationhotel.com/. Room rates start at $349/night.