Introducing The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe
In the two days leading up to this morning’s ribbon cutting at the new Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, over 30 inches of snow fell at the Northstar-at-Tahoe summit. The brand new resort opens to a winter wonderland that couldn’t have been scripted better.
Photo courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe
The beautiful Ritz-Carlton resort is the first all-new resort at Lake Tahoe in decades. The contemporary design is modeled after the great early-20th century mountain lodges, particularly inspired by the Ahwahnee in Yosemite and the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood (aka this writer’s favorite place in the world). The finished product is a gorgeous, rustic building full of modern luxuries.
Guests will enjoy ski-in, ski-out access and mountain concierge services. As with any Ritz-Carlton property, you’ll find top quality dining and spa services at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands. The resort’s signature restaurant is Manzanita, created by award-winning San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins.
The 17,000 square foot spa is designed around a water and woods theme — try one of the signature water therapy treatments to unwind after a day on the slopes, or take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center in the spa, including group classes and a co-ed outdoor heated lap pool with breathtaking views of the mountain slopes.
The Ritz-Carlton brand is committed to eco-friendly luxury. The new Ritz-Carlton Highlands resort is seeking LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. The resort features underground parking instead of asphalt lots, recycled steel, a pedestrian-friendly layout, energy efficient heating and cooling, and public transit in the form of the Highlands Gondola, which connects the resort with the nearby Village-at-Northstar.
I’ll be stopping by the new Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe in a few weeks to see it for myself. Wish me luck on the slopes — I’ll probably need it. It’s a good thing there’s a spa on site…
