SpecialSpecial Advertising Advertising Section Feature Mountain, Land & Ski PHOTO BY J. EDWARDS
THE GREAT DRAW TO Red Ledges, named Diamond Peak, for surrounding MOUNTAIN on the north shore rock formations, of Lake Tahoe, features year-round has a vertical activities, including HOMES drop of 1,840 feet. snowshoe hiking at Mountain homes Daniel’s Summit. boast scenic views.
by Tonie Auer PHOTOS COURTESY OF RED LEDGES odd and Jill Kaufman dreamed of owning a home with water views on Lake Tahoe. Leaving behind the high taxes of California was a bonus. They didn’t want a place with neighbors who were only there part of the time and used their residence for short-term rentals, but they did want a home Tclose enough to their family for visits. After some searching, they discovered the allure of private resort-style communities in the great outdoors. Clear Creek Tahoe, located between and general manager. Whitetail Club, FOUR-SEASON LIFESTYLES course, but has 12 holes, which are all Carson City and Lake Tahoe, is a new located in McCall, Idaho, is largely made Part of getting that experience is par 3 with two holes on each green. private residential community set on up of second and third homes, providing enjoying the four seasons of activities “There is the standard regulation hole 2,136 acres, bordered by 400,000 acres of a respite from the big city, Garcia says. these resort communities offer. Red and an eight-inch hole. And there are protected national forest. It incorporates “They’re looking for less crowded areas Ledges amenities and activities range no rules in the golf park: play barefoot, the natural beauty of the land with with their own spaces,” he says. from tennis, swimming, fitness classes, bring your dog or use a soccer ball. amenities like its Coore & Crenshaw golf Mitchel Burns, chief operating officer horseback riding and snowshoeing It’s all about having fun in a laid-back course, Twin Pines Lake and Ski House, of the Red Ledges private community to mounting biking twice a week and atmosphere,” he says. and a variety of year-round activities. near Park City, says homeowners want to special events throughout the year for Fly-fishing on the nearby Provo River The Kaufmans were a little hesitant make friends. “That is our secret sauce,” residents and guests. is very popular as well. For those who about the brand-new development. Ten he says. “All of these gated communities “What makes it different is residents like a more physical challenge, hiking minutes inside the gates was all it took have wonderful amenities, but where are connecting and building friendships. Mount Timpanogos — at an elevation for the empty nesters to know they had we excel is by making activities like our Once they connect, they are self- of almost 12,000 feet — is an option, too. found the right place. ski club accessible, so our members organizing and creating more activities Red Ledges has a club that leads training “We didn’t have to buy a house on can meet and ski together regularly as as friends,” Burns says. hikes with the goal of completing the all- the lake because the club’s lake house a group.” Snowmobile adventures and cross- day trek to the top. really meets that need for us,” Todd It’s all about those friendly en- country skiing on both groomed and Meanwhile, Clear Creek Tahoe features two private hiking trails that explains. “We can go there to enjoy counters and finding personalized year- ungroomed acreage are among the connect to the Tahoe Rim Trail and go the views year-round, and during the round mountain living that focuses on Whitetail Club’s winter activities. There all around Lake Tahoe, says Georgia winter we get shuttled to the nearby ski shared experiences. are also natural ice ponds for skating and Chase, director of sales. Residents slopes at Heavenly and then back home “Our residents tend to be a mix of other sports. have private access to Lake Tahoe and for dinner.” empty nesters and families who seek Throughout the year, personalized 180 feet of sandy beach with exclusive The 57-year-old asset manager notes an experiential lifestyle,” Garcia says. fitness training and mountain yoga access to the Twin Pines Lake and Ski the lots were selling quickly — and largely “They want to be one with nature and reigns. All-terrain vehicle camping to people like he and his wife, looking to trips are available as well. And, of House. Paddleboard yoga and use of enjoy wellness. They’re also at a point in a personal watercraft are just a few of establish a social life somewhere new. their lives where they want a full-service course, there’s the golf course. Garcia They love Clear Creek Tahoe’s first-class says Whitetail Club’s new cart barn has the water activities, along with use of experience and amenities to enjoy.” Clear Creek’s Hinckley Yacht, Louise. facilities, from the golf course to the In the spring, Whitetail Club has a computer-aided teaching bays to help Summit Camp recreation areas. improve your golf swing. Last year Summit Camp opened with a tailor-made culinary program which family pool, water slide, tennis center, CONSUMER DEMAND features cooking with regional wines Family events include scavenger hunts, fishing derbies and lake activities bocce court, hot tub, fire pits and many Families like the Kaufmans are and pairing food with craft beer from ranging from boating excursions to other family activities. Construction flocking to resort-style communities local breweries. sunset dining. There are also camps for just started on a 20,000-square- with year-round activities and amenities Getting people involved adds to the the kids that focus on a variety of activities foot clubhouse. that are next level, whether cardio tennis experiences that residents are looking for. from sports to educational topics. Clear Creek’s Coore & Crenshaw- classes or mountain yoga. At Red Ledges, there is an amphitheater designed golf course was ranked No. “Our membership has high standards for concerts. Residents are encouraged LIVING IT UP 24 in Golfweek’s 2019 Best Residential and expectations, so we offer a four-season to bring a blanket and a bottle of wine At Red Ledges, the real treat for Golf Courses in the U.S. Chase says amenity package with professionally — and mingle. When the weather isn’t families might be the Jack Nicklaus the private course is easy for members trained personnel,” says Tom Garcia, great, there are indoor “Red” Talks from signature golf park, which Burns says to access and highlights the area’s Whitetail Club and Shore Lodge president regional thinkers and leaders. is built to the same standards as a golf beautiful natural landscape. The Wall Street Journal news organization was not involved in the creation of this content. SpecialSpecial Advertising Advertising Section Feature Mountain, Land & Ski
WINTER W NDERLANDS
by Tonie Auer The Reno Tahoe area claims to have the largest Gondola, which is about “15 minutes from our hen it comes to winter concentration of ski resorts in North America. Among gates,” Burns says. the dozen or so ski destinations is Squaw Valley, PARK PLACES adventures, skiing and which hosted the 1960 Winter Games. The region W The Deer Valley Resort was recognized as the is also home to David Wise, who won the gold in 2019 United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski snowboarding rank high on the list. the men’s ski halfpipe in PyeongChang in 2018 and Awards, which selects winners by votes cast by ski Sochi 2014, four-time Alpine skier Stacey Cook, and But where to go? You have options, professionals. It is the seventh year in a row for the two-time halfpiper and Sochi 2014 gold medalist Deer Valley win. from hitting the slopes with the Maddie Bowman. “Most of our members choose Deer Valley “It’s one of the best places to go skiing in the professionals to sticking with because it is a very civilized ski area, famous for U.S., with 11 downhill ski resorts and a handful perfectly groomed runs, hidden powder stashes and of additional cross-country ski resorts,” says Ben the beginners. five-star service,” Burns says. “The St. Regis Hotel McDonald, senior communication manager of is there with the private Deer Crest Club, where we Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitor’s Authority. “At have a reciprocal club agreement. Our members can Diamond Peak in Incline Village, you can see the drive up to valet park at the club and grab breakfast beauty of Lake Tahoe as you glide down the slopes. while the staff takes their skis and boots and has It also has an average snowfall of more than 300 them waiting slope-side when they finish dining. It inches annually, and the region features an average is a great setup.” of about 300 days of sunshine per year.” About 30 minutes away from Red Ledges are Mount Rose Ski Tahoe in the northern Sierra three more ski areas. Park City Mountain Resort is Nevada Range has the highest base elevation at the largest ski resort in the U.S., with 7,300 acres, 8,260 feet and is one of the premier places to ski Burns says. It is also only a 35-minute drive from the and snowboard, McDonald says. Naturally, the Salt Lake International Airport. Reno-Tahoe region’s biggest economic driver is Also, just a half-hour drive away is Sundance tourism, not only as a vacation destination, but also Mountain Resort, which was named the No. 1 ski for conventions. resort in North America by Conde Nast Traveler as VIEW FROM THE TOP part of its 2019 Readers Choice Awards. Fun fact: It Also in Tahoe is Heavenly, with a summit is owned by world-renowned actor Robert Redford. elevation of more than 10,000 feet and a vertical Additionally, Woodward Park City is a half-hour drop of 3,500 feet (the area’s longest). Heavenly is the away from Red Ledges. It opened the nation’s first region’s largest mountain resort and features views action sports and ski resort in December 2019. of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES 30 lifts and 100 trails crisscross between California Not many people think of Idaho as a ski mecca, and Nevada from four base facilities. but just outside of McCall, Idaho, lies the private “There is world-class skiing at Heavenly and a residential community Whitetail Club, and president dozen or so other ski resorts around Lake Tahoe,” and general manager Tom Garcia says two world- says Georgia Chase, director of sales at Clear class ski areas are within a 20- to 30-minute drive. Creek Tahoe, a private residential community on Tamarack Resort, to which Whitetail Club the eastern slope of the Carson Range. “Eight of shuttles its members, has 2,800 feet of vertical (the the resorts here are among the top-rated resorts height of the ski hill) on 1,100 lift-accessed acres for nationwide,” she adds. “Clear Creek provides our skiers and snowboarders, along with Nordic and owners and members easy access to Heavenly from snowshoe trails. our lake house, Twin Pines, which is just a short Another great ski area, Brundage Mountain, four blocks away via our shuttle. Members and which has been credited with the best powder in owners can also ride across the lake to the slopes of Idaho by Ski Magazine, is just 20 minutes away door Homewood in our Hinckley Yacht.” to slope, Garcia says. Brundage is best known for In the Park City region there are four ski resorts its powder-packed glades, wide groomed runs and within a 30-minute drive of Red Ledges, a 2,000- more than 320 base area inches of snowfall annually. acre, four-season private community, says Mitchel Brundage also features lift-assisted access to more Burns, the property’s chief operating officer. Red than 20 miles of mountain bike trails, he adds. Ledges features an engaging mountain lifestyle with “Our members are snow lovers who also enjoy world class golf, skiing, tennis, horseback riding, Whitetail Club’s private 20 kilometers of Nordic mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, fly fishing, skiing trails. To them, Brundage is a dream with the and a robust schedule of social and recreational freshest powder. The mountain itself can be skied by programming designed to facilitate mingling and all levels, and they have back-country skiing, which I friendship among members. really enjoy. These are ski areas that can be enjoyed The closest ski area is the award-winning Deer by many people. We are spoiled to have them so Valley Resort, accessed via Deer Valley’s Jordanelle close by,” Garcia says.
Cross country and nordic skiing are popular sports on both groomed and ungroomed acreage at Whitetail Club. COURTESY OF WHITETAIL CLUB