Lake Tahoe, California – San Francisco and Truckee, California based JMA Ventures, LLC announced today the acquisition of Lake Tahoe’s West Shore Cafe, a full service lakefront property located in Homewood, California, adjacent to Homewood Mountain Resort.

JMA’s acquisition of West Shore Cafe represents a new beginning for the inn and restaurant, which closed its doors during the summer of 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer the West Shore Cafe,” said Art Chapman, Chairman of JMA Ventures, LLC. “The re-opening fits JMA’s commitment to restore the vitality of the west shore. We intend to bring back good food at an affordable price to those looking for a lake view dining experience; and to have some fun at the same time,” he said. “The Cafe will create new employment opportunities in both the winter and summer; and will encourage destination visits to Lake Tahoe’s west shore,” he added.

The West Shore Cafe is the fourth property acquired by JMA Ventures within California’s North Lake Tahoe destination. Other current holdings include Homewood Mountain Resort; Alpine Meadows Ski Resort; and the Hotel Avery – a full service four star hotel slated for construction, which received approval from Truckee, California’s Planning Commission during November, 2008. Within San Francisco, JMA holdings include Ghirardelli Square; Fairmont Heritage Place; 706 Mission Street; and Epic Roast House and Waterbar restaurants along San Francisco’s famed Embarcadero.

JMA has plans to announce the re-opening date for dining and lodging later this summer. For additional information about West Shore Cafe, visit WestShoreCafe.com.

West Shore Cafe viewed from Lake Tahoe

This photo is visual proof as to why everyone should try Homewood.  The snow, the views, the terrain… well, the picture (taken February 27) really says it all:

Here are a few reasons to call Dial-A-Ride for a free ride to/from your house to/from Homewood Mountain Resort.

Reason Number 1: One less thing to worry about.
Sometimes taking one thing out of the equation makes all the difference…Do the kids have their gloves, hats goggles/glasses, jackets, snowboard/skis, boots, poles, water, sunscreen, chap stick, etc.  You have enough to worry about.  Leave the driving to us.

Reason Number 2: One Word.  “Beer.”
What’s the first thing you think about after a perfect day of skiing?  Beer!  Go to the bar and have a few beers.  And don’t worry about driving yourself home.  It makes the beer taste that much better, trust me.

Reason Number 3: The car is stuck in the driveway.
Worry about the car latter.  Ski/board while you can.  My van will make it, where your car might not.

Have fun and be safe!

~Brooke

“Hopping from pillow to pillow”

With snow in the forecast, you’ll want to know the best places to grab pow stashes in the Tahoe Basin. Homewood is a good start, but we’re not telling you where they are. You have to sniff them out for yourself. See if you can spot them in this video.

“I don’t know if there are words to describe what skiing powder is like. You kinda just got to do it…”

One of the nice things about Homewood is that you can lay down your first tracks and they’ll still be there for you to admire on your way up the lift. Then link them up and make your own powder 8’s! There’s plenty to go around…

Experience it first hand: check out our $29 Dollar Lift Ticket Days.

A Tahoe phenomenon occurs on any given sunny weekend around noon at Homewood. “It’s ready, I can smell it,” yells a woman toward her husband. He’s standing in the Quail Chair lift line. Upon hearing her news, he clicks out of his skis, throws them in a nearby snow bank – clearly and abruptly abandoning his plan to keep skiing.

“Run ahead of us and grab a table,” he tells his wife in a tone of combined excitement and panic. Unzipped ski jacket flailing, he is now three steps ahead of their four kids and attempting to dignify his ski boot clad half run/half walk.  His C3PO robot-speed-walk is his only hope of beating the salivating mob closing in on him, all headed toward the South Lodge deck.

What is going on?

As a vegetarian, I’ll admit to driving blind on the art of grilled meats; however, bearing witness to the Pavlovian response of approximately 200 guests downwind of the South Lodge, it’s apparent that people are not only trained; they are addicted to Homewood’s barbecue.

There are three plates available for lunch at Homewood’s South Lodge barbecue: sirloin, half of a chicken, or a combo plate of the two aforementioned. All three options are served with a garden salad and homemade garlic bread. Sounds simple enough. Hardly.

The Steak:
Homewood prides itself on three steak gospels: 1) Stop calling it “steak”. This is choice sirloin. 2) Only use six-month aged choice sirloin. 3) Never, never add barbecue sauce. “It’s all in the spice rub,” said Chris Patrick, Homewood’s chef. It wasn’t what he said, but how he said it: he actually stopped tending the huge mounds of roast beast, removed his sunglasses, and whispered this. And he was serious. Homewood’s special spice rub, slow-cook technique, and aged sirloin produce a dish analogous to epicurean nirvana.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Amber Kijanka, Homewood’s event manager. “It literally falls apart so easily that you don’t even need a knife,” she added in an increasingly distant tone, undoubtedly wishing for lunch.

The Chicken:
Contrary to one’s first inkling, this is not a basic, boring bird devoid of character. The fowl burdened with a vanilla rep undergoes a glorious, flavorful transformation at Homewood’s weekend barbecue. “It’s a two-step process,” Chris Patrick explains with the joyous intensity of John Madden at the Super Bowl. “We grill the chicken first; then we steam it – not baste it – in beer,” he said. Of course. Beer. It makes the world turn. “This creates a nice, browned, crispy skin that covers a juicy, flavorful meat.

The Grill:
The grill itself is something to behold. At first glance, one might mistake it for medieval artillery. It’s huge. And at Homewood, propane and charcoal are publicly eschewed. “We only use a wood-fired barbecue,” said Ken Minkoff, Homewood’s Food & Beverage Manager/Barbecue Aficionado said with one hand on his hip, and the other thumbing toward the enormous pile of oak firewood behind him. “There’s just no other way,” he concluded quite definitively.

Eat at the Homewood Barbecue:
“Everyone must try Homewood’s barbecue. It’s unlike any lunch at the lake, and it is phenomenal,” said Kent Hoopingarner, Homewood’s General Manager. The South Lodge Barbecue fires up for lunch every Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, weather permitting. Skis and snowboards are optional; an appetite is mandatory.

• Grilled sirloin, garlic bread and salad – $12.
• 1/2 grilled chicken, garlic bread and salad – $12.
• Combo plate: sirloin, 1/2 grilled chicken, garlic bread and salad – $14.

There’s something about the combination of Homewood’s beauty, the magic of the West Shore, and lots of fresh snow that inspire one to pull out a camera in an attempt to depict Mother Nature’s handiwork.  Below is one person’s attempt.  Soon you’ll be skiing at Homewood and have a chance to enjoy this incredible place for yourselves.  In the meantime, iron some fresh wax onto your skis or board (remember to scrape), bookmark Homewood’s snow report (we’re already updating it to make sure you’re ready for a holiday visit), and enjoy some photos of Homewood preparing for a fantastic winter! 

Terry Weltmer and his team of snowmakers have been making great use of Homewood’s very cold temperatures!
 

Everyone is busy shovelling, making snow, grooming, and getting ready for great holiday skiing.

Homewood’s South Lodge is so pretty during a snow storm…

Homewood’s trees are undeniably some of the most beautiful around Lake Tahoe.

I recently had the privilege of talking with Nancy Lasky.  Her husband, Bob Lasky patrolled at Homewood for many, many years.  Nancy laughed as she recalled that many of the younger patrollers would often refer to Bob as “Gramps”, a term of endearment earned by his often-requested advice, stories, and shared enthusiasm for skiing.  Nancy wrote a wonderful letter to me, giving some history about how she and Bob became a part of the Homewood Family.  Homewood feels similar ties to the Lasky’s, and has preserved Bob’s memory by naming his favorite ski run Lasky Lane. 

In the words of Nancy Lasky:

“My family has worked and supported Homewood Mountain Resort for over 30 years, with a
combined service of 57 years,” Nancy Lasky said.  “We developed a special
bond with Homewood over the years and taught both of our grandchildren to ski at Homewood.
Our children and son-in-law also worked at Homewood for a total of 30 years.  
Bob was an employee for 18 years; and I worked at Homewood for two years as the Office Manager, and then became the Office Manager at the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce.”

 
“My late husband Bob, was a Major in the United States Air Force from 1966–1987.  He was an
Aeronautical Engineer and held a top secret security clearance.  While stationed in Denver, CO,
Bob became a National Ski Patroller at Arapahoe Basin, a trainer for two years, as well as becoming an EMT.  I also became a patroller during this time.  In 1983, we moved back to California, and we both joined the National Ski Patrol at Homewood, where Bob was the Patrol Director for two years.  He also earned his National number with the National Ski Patrol during this time.  After retiring from the Air Force, we moved to Tahoe City, and Bob became a [full time] Pro Patroller at Homewood. While patrolling, Bob would often exclaim, ‘Look at the view from my office,’ while pointing out the surrounding mountains and view of Lake Tahoe from Homewood’s summit.  Homewood’s view was quite an improvement from his windowless office while stationed in the Air Force.  He loved the view from Homewood.” 

“A Memorial service was held for Bob in 2002, at the top of the mountain.  In Bob’s memory, the ski patrol – along with many donations – put up a flag pole and plaque in his honor at the top of the Mountain and named the run under the Quad Chair, ‘Lasky Lane’.  Homewood upgraded the previous Quad Chair, renaming it the Old Homewood Express.”

Bob Lasky represents the true spirit of Homewood, and the mountain felt it important to preserve the story of how Lasky Lane was named.  Lasky Lane now graces the mountain’s trail map, and Bob’s favorite run will forever host his name and summon happy days of skiing at the mountain. 

“The run is mostly from Bonanza to road #2.  This steep part under the chair was among Bob’s favorite.  The patrol made the sign the first year, honoring Bob as their coworker, ski partner, and friend.   

Other runs at Homewood named for people who either skied or worked at Homewood are: 
Wally’s Folly, Richard’s Bowl, Martin’s Lane, Woody Fellers, and Jimmy’s Run.”

To view more photos of Bob Lasky, click on any of the photos in this letter. 

Homewood’s Quail Lake is indeed a sublime hideaway during summer.  The Quail Lake Fishing Club enjoys a private fishing nirvana at this quiet alpine lake.  Members enjoy a chance to fish in solitude; view flowers and wildlife; and catch enormous trout.  The catch-and-release policy means the fish just keep getting bigger as summer goes on!  This fisherman had the fortune of having the lake entirely to himself last week. 

Congratulations to Melissa and Jim!  They were married at the top of the Quail Chairlift at Homewood this past Saturday, August 13, 2008.  What a beautiful ceremony – classic Tahoe weather and amazing family and guests made for a great afternoon. 

Family members attended from all over the country – Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona, Bay Areal, Texas… a very cool group!  We at Homewood wish you all the happiness in the world; and again, congratulations! 

We have had another wonderful year here at Homewood marked by:

1. 3,000 1st time skiers
2. Biggest January snow EVER!
3. Sore jaws from constantly being in “awe” watching the tricks landed at the Sick & Twisted event

We are sad to see another season come to an end, but are thrilled we had a chance to share it with all the skiers and boarders who came to visit. THANK YOU!

We are closing a little early this year, but it is only because we are already getting prepared for next year. A lot will be changing here at Homewood:

• Breaking ground on our new mid-mountain day lodge
• Breaking ground on the luxurious condominium development at the base

We are looking forward to skiing with you again next year, and can’t wait to see the smile on your face when you see how we will have changed.