visitors

STATELINE, Nev. - While the crowds weren't there in 2020 for the 31st annual American Century Championship in July due to COVID-19 safety concerns, its impacts will be felt for years to come by the community. The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) will distribute a record $250,000 to local non-profits after the players in the popular celebrity tournament gave up the $600,000 in prize money. It is all being donated to Covid-19 relief organizations, equal justice initiatives and South Tahoe-based non-profits.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Black Lives Matter (BLM) group of Carson City is planning a protest at the Judicial Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) in Minden on Saturday, August 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is in response to a letter Sheriff Coverley sent to the Douglas County Library about its proposed diversity statement which included the words "#BlackLivesMatter." Since that time the letter has set off a fire storm with media coverage across the country.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. Calif. - Traffic leaving South lake Tahoe through Meyers on Sundays and holidays through the winter can be a nightmare. Map apps lead visitors onto roads that are steeper and not plowed as much as US50, thus creating hazards and clogged roads. Tow trucks are backlogged hours to assist getting the stuck vehicles off Apache, Mandan, North Upper Truckee and Sawmill Roads.

Due to these jammed roads, residents in the area cannot to get to work or the grocery store, and a Traffic Advisory Committee was formed to seek solutions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After much discussion and deliberation, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has made the difficult decision to cancel planned interpretive programs and visitor services at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center through the end of October, including second- and third-grade conservation education field trips. In addition, they have made the decision to cancel the Fall Fish Festival this year, an event that typically draws up to 12,000 visitors over the weekend.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) will soon be getting body cameras after a unanimous decision by City Council during their meeting on Tuesday.

They approved spending up to $470,000 on 42 body cameras, 28 in-car cameras, and cloud based storage for both.

To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, California Governor Gavin Newsom has added more counties to his "watch list," those showing concerning trends in rates of COVID-19. This list now numbers 37 which makes up 93 percent of the state's population. There are 58 counties in the state.

New on that list are Mono County (home to Mammoth Mountain) and Santa Cruz County, a popular tourist destination. North Lake Tahoe is in Placer County which was added to the list earlier this month.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has reopened their boat ramp at Lakeview Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd.

They closed the ramp for two weeks as the City reevaluated its operating plans due to a spike in COVID-19 cases and the significant increase of visitors to the area.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act today, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide much needed funding for the crippling $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at national parks.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - When the three parking lots with 90 spaces were created last year in Incline Village for the popular East Shore Trail, they were free but all were told paid parking was coming in the near future.

That time has now come.

Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) has unveiled the Park Tahoe pilot program at the trailhead north of Ponderosa Rand Road. The lots were created to expand off-highway parking options along the high traffic area of SR28 between Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular farm-to-fork festival, Sample the Sierra, is moving to a digital format this year due to the current pandemic.

The 11st annual event will still include a variety of food-related entertainment typically found at Sample the Sierra, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, musical performances, giveaways, and shopping. Instead of only having these things during the day of the traditional in-person event, this year's will be spread out throughout August and September (a more detailed schedule is coming later).

In South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Mammoth Lakes, our public lands are woven into the fabric of life. These lands are symbols of our strength and keepers of serenity in these turbulent times. As we've seen locally, our parks and public lands are a beloved resource and one that is essential for our collective recovery. If we want our parks and public lands to be there for us for the long haul we need to invest in them now.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) continues to work on area highways. The following is their current project list at Lake Tahoe and in the Sierra.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and a significant increase in visitation to the Lake Tahoe Basin over the last few weeks, the City of South Lake Tahoe has made the decision to close its boat ramp at El Dorado Beach to re-assess their operations there.

“The priority of the safety of our residents, visitors, and staff always comes first,” said South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin, “While we’d like to keep them open, this move is being taken out of an abundance of caution.”

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - There has been a successful partnership between the Tahoe Fund and Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition in bringing bike racks to businesses and public agencies around Lake Tahoe for the past two years. They have now announced an opportunity for more low or no-cost bike racks in their "Bike Racks for Tahoe" program for centrally-located town center locations in the Tahoe Basin.

The program is designed to encourage locals and visitors to ride their bikes around lakeside communities instead of drive.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first cannabis dispensary to operate under the new City of South Lake Tahoe rules and regulations is now open.

Embarc Tahoe has opened its doors and held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday with Mayor Jason Collin, Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Wallace, members of the Embarc Tahoe team and the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce.

Owner Christy Wilson moved into what was once Tahoe Teriyaki and has since been several different businesses.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The 31st annual American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe next week will still bring over 70 celebrities to the greens of Edgewood Tahoe, but this year spectators will be absent from both the beach and the course.

The tournament will be held July 8-12 and Patrick Mahomes, Tony Romo, Jerry Rice, Steph Curry and his dad Dell Curry, and a host of others from the entertainment, sports, and broadcasting fields will be in Lake Tahoe for the annual event.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is promoting Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Month during July. This year’s theme is “Fight fire with a plan” to encourage residents and visitors to prepare their family, property and possessions now before a wildfire starts by creating a plan.

Some ways to plan include:

Develop a family evacuation plan.
Assemble a Go-bag and a disaster supply kit for your home and vehicle.
Create and maintain defensible space around homes.
Sign up for emergency notifications for residents and visitors and stay informed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you were planning on setting off fireworks around Lake Tahoe this 4th of July, you can forget about it. They are illegal around the lake and in neighboring counties. A mild winter and a large amount of forest fuels put the area at a high risk of fire this summer, and fireworks could be devastating.

Without the official fireworks shows at the north and south ends of the lake, many fear people will resort to the fireworks bought at roadside stands and Indian reservations. While those are legal in the areas they are sold, they are not legal at Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire season is upon us and many restrictions are now in effect where outdoor burning, campfires, and fire pits are concerned. 2020 started out with the driest February on record since the 1850s, and there is an increased fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region.

It is important to understand that with all of the different fire areas around Lake Tahoe, there are different rules.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In response to Governor Sisolak’s announcement of the State entering Phase 2 of COVID-19 recovery, Douglas County Community Services has announced the reopening of child care programming, Lake Day Camp, at Kahle Community Center starting on Tuesday June 23, 2020.

Procedures will be implemented at the Kahle Community Center as outlined below based on Directive 21 – Roadmap to Recovery for Nevada for Phase 2.

Safety Guidelines for entering the Kahle Community Center building include:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Need help finding out which Forest service campsites and recreation sites are open or closed? While all of their sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin are open, that is not the case in other areas in the Sierra and the rest of California as we start to come out of seasonal and COVID-19 closures.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On June 12, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) concessionaires will begin opening developed campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin. They are joined by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest who is opening all of its campgrounds in California.

Nevada group campsites and day-use areas that hold less than 50 people will also reopen. Visitor centers and California group campsites remain closed. Both the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and LTBMU offices remain closed.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev, - This year's American Century Championship will return to Edgewood Tahoe for the 31st consecutive year July 8-12, but it will look a lot different than past tournaments due to COVID-19.