New South Lake Tahoe Outdoor Sports Area Creates Snow When Mother Nature Fails

A lack of snow in South Lake Tahoe has caused local businesses to get creative in order to succeed. Over the next several days we'll be taking a look into what they're doing to make it.

Opportunities to go snowmobiling or go tubing down a run have been few and far between, that is, until now.

Sierra Mountain Sports has turned the meadow in-between MontBleu Resort and Friday's Station into a winter paradise with snow created by their seven snowmaking machines. Each machine cost #1,000 each. They make snow whenever conditions are right (temperatures and humidity) so winter enthusiasts can enjoy tubing down their hill or take some spins around a course on a snowmobile.

If the large group of people enjoying the hill on a Monday afternoon is any indication, the business is a success.

Snowmobiles rent for $55 per half hour. The double tubes rent for $35 and the singles for $25 (no outside equipment can be brought in due to liability issues). Sierra Mountain Sports plans to expand operations and make more tubing hills. They are open 7 days a week.

Borges Sleigh Rides, which normally operates in the meadow as well, has had to return to normal summer operations with their sleighs on wheels instead of blades. They can be found in front of the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. If natural snow fills the meadow again this season, Borges will operate there as well.