Las Vegas Weekly

Las Vegas’ Ski & Snowboard Resort is about to get a huge makeover

The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is about to get a whole lot more kick-ass. The resort at Mt. Charleston recently had its Master Development Plan accepted by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Service, which means it’s expanding from 11 trails to 50, from three chairlifts to 10, increasing snowmaking capability—and that’s only the beginning.

It’s exciting news for the resort, which will now be able to offer year-round services and serve as a special event venue, according to Kevin Stickelman, LVSSR’s president and general manager. Other eventual additions include a 30,000-square foot lodge (three times as large as current lodgings), an amphitheater, mountain bike trails, ziplines and summer sightseeing chairlifts. The cost of all this is expected to hover between $30-$35 million.

“We’re transitioning from a local ski hill to a regional destination resort where people can come and truly experience the outdoors and the backyard of Las Vegas,” Stickelman says. “Everyone knows about the great food and shows of the Strip, but there are only a few places—Hoover Dam, Red Rock—you can go and get an outdoor experience in Vegas. We hope to fill that need.”

The entire plan will take 12 years to fully materialize, but skiers and snowboarders can expect the following changes by opening day:

• Two yurts, one for an expanded youth ski school, the other for beginner programs.

• A more comprehensive youth racing program.

• Increasing outdoor seating at the base lodge from 2,400 to 5,000 square feet.

• A ski corral for equipment storage.

• Much more snow, a result of LVSSR increasing its snowmaking pond’s capacity to 7.6 million gallons, coupled with running electricity up to the top of one of the chair lifts and adding five snowmaking guns. “This means that on opening day we will be positioned to create top-to-bottom powder on every run,” Stickelman says.

• A software reservations program that tracks guest habits, coupled with a new, improved website. “This will make us able to be much more effective in the design of our season pass and ski school programs,” Stickelman says.

• The addition of the NASTAR (National Standard Race) program, which allows its more than 95,000 recreational racers to compare their scores with others on its website and compete for platinum, gold, silver and bronze medals in various age and gender groups.

And Stickelman is quick to point out all this is being done in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, with sensitivity to the environment. Facilities will meet LEED certification standards, and plans include the protection of the endangered Mt. Charleston blue butterfly, as well as methods to restore the area’s natural vegetation. In addition, co-generation, geothermal, solar and wind power will be used wherever possible.

Stickelman says 30 percent of his resort’s business is from tourists, “and we hope to expand on that. We want to say to everyone, ‘Come and experience world-class skiing.’ At the end of this build out, we’ll offer exactly that.”

Oh, and Stickelman sees one other potential side benefit as well: “This could probably become the best outdoor wedding venue in the Vegas area.”