Martis Camp Acquires Mourelatos; Barton Health Expands to Incline; Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan; More

INCLINE VILLAGE

In an on-going effort to meet the health care needs of the Lake Tahoe community, Barton Health is expanding its medical services into Incline Village. The multi-specialty practice will feature cardiovascular care as well as a plastic and reconstructive surgery and aesthetics service line.

The expansion reflects Barton Health’s latest commitments to local patient care. In July, Barton Health joined Cleveland Clinic Connected, a global network of top-performing healthcare organizations focused on best practices and innovation. 

In addition, Barton Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery will offer patients personalized care in Incline Village for their reconstructive and aesthetic procedures. This service line offers effective solutions to improve bodily form, soften signs of aging or disease, and improve appearance and self-esteem. Options include non-surgical rejuvenations such as injectables; aesthetic surgical treatments such as brow lifts and Mommy Makeovers; and reconstructive surgeries such as breast reconstruction and scar minimization.

The multi-specialty facility is located at 925 Tahoe Blvd. in Suite #105 in Incline Village.

For more information, visit bartonhealth.org.

~ Barton Health press release

OLYMPIC VALLEY

Placer County officials are inviting residents to attend a virtual informational meeting to learn about the amended Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The meeting will provide updates on the reduced plan and include Alterra Mountain Company, owner and developer of Palisades Tahoe, as well as county staff.

Registration is not required to attend. Click here to access the Zoom meeting.

The amended plan:

• Reduces the total bedrooms within the specific plan by 40%.
• Reduces total new commercial space by 20% in the main Village area.
• The Mountain Adventure Camp height has been reduced 96 feet to 78 feet.
• Affirms the permanent elimination of an indoor waterpark within the Village Specific Plan area.
• Redesignates the land that was proposed for development at the base of Shirley Canyon to Village – Forest Recreation and creates a conservation easement, preserving the land for recreation and public trail access in perpetuity; and
• Sets a plan for development within the specific plan boundary for 25 years.

Residents will also have a chance to ask questions and learn more about the plan at an in-person Olympic Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 8. That agenda will be posted here 72 hours prior to the meeting.

Learn more about the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan at placer.ca.gov/8213/village-at-palisades-tahoe-specific-plan.

~ Placer County press release

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

Residents and visitors in the North Lake Tahoe region can continue to ride for free on Placer County’s Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit for the next two years following approvals at the Nov. 18 Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The board also adopted a resolution approving the TART Systems Plan Update. The new plan identifies recommendations for regional transportation improvements, including:

• New 30-minute frequencies on all routes during peak seasons to increase ridership by nearly 153,000
• Maintaining the West Shore route as separate and extending it into Tahoe City to increase ridership by roughly 12,000
• Extending all TART fixed routes to provide service between 6 and 8 p.m. year-round and increase ridership by roughly 19,800
• Implementing potential fares on TART Connect during times when fixed routes are operating
• Expanding TART Connect service to Ponderosa, Palisades, and Martis Valley to increase ridership by 2,800

The plan also identifies other investments including:

• Purchasing eight buses, including five battery-electric buses, to move towards an electrification of the fleet
• Purchasing one commercial shuttle vehicle for either para-transit service or West Shore Tahoe City service expansion, as well as one gas van
• Installing zero-emission bus charging infrastructure and supporting upgrades at the Cabin Creek Road facility and the Tahoe City Transit Center 
• Adding five new bus shelters and one bench or shelter along state Route 28 and state Route 267
• Developing a bus passenger facilities plan to create an inventory of existing stops in the region
• Adding a software platform to provide accurate real-time bus information 
• Installing digital real-time bus displays at key shelters

All proposed enhancements will require additional funding totaling $2,064,800 in addition to the current $13.5 million operating budget.

~ Placer County press release

LAKE TAHOE

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) announced six transportation projects and transit services recommended to receive more than $11.4 million in federal and state funding this year through the agency’s Regional Grant Program. The grant awards will improve safety and outdoor recreation access, and reduce vehicle miles traveled in the Tahoe Basin, according to TRPA.

Transportation improvement projects include:

• Nevada State Route 28 trail, transit, and safety improvements — Sand Harbor to Thunderbird Cove ($3,253,000)
• Tahoe City Complete Streets Improvements — Grove Street intersection pedestrian and bike safety, walkability, traffic circulation, and accessibility improvements ($1,400,000)

Transit service improvements include:

• Emerald Bay summer transit and parking management project ($540,000)

In its dual role as Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Planning Agency, TRPA allocates federal and state transportation funds every two years to priority projects listed in Connections 2050, the Regional Transportation Plan. Each project will advance regional goals for safer roads, cleaner air and water, and improved transit services to get people to work and popular recreation areas without a car.

The agency also released more than $340,000 in permit mitigation fees this year to local transportation and air quality improvement projects.

To learn more about the projects receiving the awards, visit trpa.gov/transportation/funding/regional-grant-program.

~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release

LAKE TAHOE

The Placer County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved the Tahoe Basin Area Plan Phase 2 Housing Amendments to support the development of new achievable housing in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

With this approval, the county adopted an addendum to the previously certified Tahoe Basin Area Plan’s environmental impact report (EIR) in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act requirements. Staff noted that the proposed Phase 2 Housing Amendments would not result in any new or substantially more severe environmental impacts than those previously identified in the EIR.

This approval repeals and replaces the Tahoe Basin Area Plan, amending chapters 2 and 3 of the plan’s Implementing Regulations to refine code sections that promote achievable housing.

These amendments apply only to 100% deed-restricted housing projects within the town centers in Kings Beach and Tahoe City and other areas already zoned to allow multifamily housing. The amendments are intended to provide greater flexibility related to height, density, and parking throughout the TBAP area. Each deed-restricted property would be identified with one of the following three designations: affordable, moderate, or achievable (local workers) housing. 

Learn more about the Tahoe Basin Area Plan here: placer.ca.gov/3342/tahoe-basin-area-plan.

~ Placer County press release

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

Event producers seeking support for 2026 events planned in North Lake Tahoe are invited to apply for event funding beginning Dec. 5. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 9, 2026, for first-time events or those that received one year of funding through the North Tahoe Chamber.

In 2025, 40 events — some happening over multiple dates, and representing a diverse range of experiences — received nearly $625,000 in funding. From local favorites like the Made in Tahoe Festival to the Alpenglow Speaker Series, Broken Arrow Skyrace, and the Tahoe Film Fest among many others, the events that received funding were selected because they promoted community vitality, environmental stewardship, and economic health in the region.

Events that take place during off-peak periods are given priority to help support the local economy and mitigate impacts to the environment. In addition, events that help drive people to lakeside communities are prioritized in the winter, while events that take place in the mountains are the focus in the summer.

Event producers interested in applying for 2026 funding will find minimum eligibility requirements, evaluation framework, funding disbursement details, reporting and accountability information, and more available online.

Visit northtahoechamber.com to learn more and apply beginning Dec. 5.

~ North Tahoe Chamber

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins, Kami Elois Power, 54, of Gardnerville was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between November 2019 and May 2023, Power worked as an office manager and controller at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe. During her employment, Power embezzled more than $1.4 million from the company. She disguised more than $700,000 of these fraudulent transfers as payments made to vendors that the company worked with. She disguised additional fraudulent transfers as payments for payroll or reimbursements. Power also used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases and paid down the balance of her own personal credit cards.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

Power is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Coggins on Feb. 27, 2026. Power faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. 

~ United States Department of Justice press release

LAKE TAHOE

This year, the Tahoe Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grant cycle revealed something urgent: mental health needs in the region have surged, including the need for bilingual services. Many of these applications highlighted experiences in the community of an increasing need to find help: parents searching for support for an anxious teen, individuals struggling to find bilingual counseling, families seeking grief counseling. These stories are a reminder that mental health touches every family, every neighborhood, and every shore of Lake Tahoe.

On the North Shore, Tahoe Family Solutions has long been a trusted resource for families, offering counseling, youth development programs, and family support services. With this grant, it will expand bilingual mental health counseling by increasing office hours for licensed therapists and providing culturally responsive care for Spanish-speaking families. This means more children and parents can access therapy without leaving their community, reducing wait times, and breaking down language barriers. 

This grant is a lifeline to the community as the need for these services increase and intensify.  

~ Tahoe Community Foundation press release

NEVADA COUNTY

Nevada County Assessor Rolf Kleinhans announced the release of the 2025 Assessor’s Annual Report, which provides an overview of the county’s assessment roll, property tax savings programs, and other key information.

The annual report is part of the Assessor’s Office’s ongoing effort to keep the public informed about the property assessment process and how property tax revenue supports schools, public safety, and other vital county services.

For 2025, Nevada County’s assessment roll reached a record $28.3 billion, an increase of 4.74% over last year. This figure represents the total gross assessed value of locally assessed real estate, business, and personal property as of Jan. 1, 2025. Property tax revenue generated from this roll supports essential county programs, such as public schools, hospitals, road maintenance, law enforcement, fire protection, and so much more. The continued growth in assessed value underscores Nevada County’s vitality and enduring attractiveness as a place to live and do business.

Read the 2025 Annual Report here: Annual Report, Newsletters, & Brochures.

~ Nevada County Assessor’s office press release

LAKE TAHOE

The highly anticipated Parks For All Holiday Auction returns. Find the perfect gift or excuse for a next adventure. Tahoe CA State Parks will add more items as the auction goes on.

Proceeds will support funding educational programs for children (and adults) of all ages in Tahoe CA State Parks. The State Parks keeps these educational programs free of cost to build a more equitable park system. Support creates lifelong park and nature lovers.

View the auction at sierrastateparks.org/events/parks-for-all-holiday-auction-2025.

Bidding ends Dec. 1st at 6 p.m.

~ California State Parks

TRUCKEE

The Town of Truckee Short-Term Rental Division released its 2025 Division Data Report as part of the bi-annual review process established when the STR ordinance was updated in 2022. This report offers a comprehensive look at the makeup and use of the Town of Truckee’s current STR inventory, comparing trends across data from year-end 2021 through June 30, 2025. 

The report highlights key insights and expanded data on registered STRs, hosted rentals, workforce housing impacts, waitlist activity, transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenues, and overall program compliance. 

One key takeaway the town noted is that from 2021 to 2025, 53 multi-family units and one Additional Dwelling Unit drop from the STR program, resulting in a 2025 STR inventory that is 88% single-family units, 11% multi-family units, and less than 1% ADUs.

Another takeaway pointed out that there is strong continued interest in joining the STR waitlist, with a total of 1,423 applications received since go-live in June of 2022. About 25% of waitlist applications received are for properties that had recently sold (within the previous 14 months). There remains consistent turnover in registrations and currently trend at an estimated wait time of about 16 months on the waitlist. 

View the full 2025 Short Term Rental Division Data Report (PDF).

~ Town of Truckee press release

TAHOE VISTA

Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort has been sold to Martis Camp Club for $25,750,000. After a nine-month transaction, Martis Camp Club, the private club arm of luxury community Martis Camp, publicly shared its acquisition of the resort on Nov. 16 and records show the grant deed transfer on Nov. 14. Included in the 21.8-acre purchase, originally listed for $29.5 million, are two other parcels including Mourelatos Cable Car Ice Cream Parlor.

The resort had been operated by the Mourelatos family since 1978. The family decided to sell almost three years ago. Now, nearly 50 years since its opening, Alex Mourelatos believes Martis Camp Club will carry on his family’s legacy and stewardship of the land.

“There’s no doubt that they are going to cherish and take advantage of that wonderful beach access for generations to come, just like we did,” Mourelatos said.

Mourelatos said the six-acre parcel of land on which the ice cream parlor stands presents a great opportunity for workforce housing, something his family had attempted in the early 2000s. Mourelatos said Martis Camp Club has the ability to take advantage of the opportunity of the extensive land. Martis Camp Club has yet to say what it plans on doing with the land across from the resort. In a press release, it said the large sandy beach will “expand [Martis Camp] member access, recreation, and the lakefront experience.” 

“This acquisition reflects our long-term commitment to thoughtful stewardship and the preservation of Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty,” said Colin O’Hanlon, chief operating officer of Martis Camp Club in a press release. “Our immediate focus is maintaining the integrity, hospitality, and welcoming spirit of this remarkable property while thoughtfully exploring ways to enhance the experience for our members that honor the community and environment.”

Martis Camp Club owns several properties in Tahoe/Truckee including the Martis Camp Beach Shack, open to members and also located in Tahoe Vista. 

Mourelatos described his family’s “amazing journey,” and shared a letter written by his father Andreas’ cousin, Nina Mourelatos. 

“Guests returned year after year, not just for the landscape of Lake Tahoe, but also for the spirit your family instilled, hospitality grounded in genuine care, tradition, and excellence,” she wrote to her family. “While this chapter now comes to a close, the impact of your family’s stewardship will continue to echo in experiences of those who worked, rested, celebrated, and found belonging, with those within these walls.”

~ MR

OLYMPIC VALLEY 

The Natural Selection Tour announces a Ski Super Session, which will serve as the first stage of competition in the 2026 YETI Natural Selection Ski journey. Super Sessions embrace a collaborative, session-style format that prioritizes progression, creativity, and freestyle expression on natural terrain.

This winter, eight of the world’s leading freeride and freestyle skiers — four men and four women — will converge at Palisades Tahoe for the high-energy Super Session. Their performance at Palisades Tahoe will wrap up with one man and one woman advancing to compete at the YETI Natural Selection Ski finals in Alaska. There the season’s tour champions will be crowned and then later revealed on Red Bull TV in April.

The Natural Selection Ski Super Session at Palisades Tahoe will also stream exclusively on Red Bull TV. Super Session winners will be revealed in the episodes as they premiere leading into Alaska’s final event.

The Natural Selection Ski selection committee will invite four men and four women to compete in the Palisades Tahoe Super Session. Riding on the resort’s famously steep, technical, and feature-rich terrain, athletes will have the freedom to approach the face in a session format designed to bring out creativity and style.

Palisades Tahoe offers a world-class mix of steeps, cliffs, spines, and technical freeride features shaped by deep Sierra snow and decades of ski royalty. This terrain makes it the ideal venue to debut the Natural Selection Ski Super Session.

~ Natural Selection Ski/Palisades Tahoe press release

RENO

Passengers traveling through the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) should plan for the usual busy holiday crowds as projected passenger volumes remain strong after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted recent flight reductions.

Passenger volumes are projected to be within range of last year’s holiday totals, with Nov. 25, 26, and 30 expected to be the busiest travel days, each bringing an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 total passengers through the terminal. While flight schedules are stabilizing, these projections are above an average travel day at RNO, and passengers should plan accordingly.

• Arrive early: Plan to be at the airport at least two hours before boarding times.
• Anticipate overflow parking: Check parking availability in real time before heading to the airport, consider catching a ride or reserve a spot in advance at renoairport.com/parking.
• Expect potential lane closures and construction activity: Several infrastructure projects under the MoreRNO program are now underway, including the Central Utility Plant (CUP), Police and Airport Authority Headquarters (The HQ), and the Ground Transportation Center (GTC), all located along the airport’s Loop Road.

~ Reno-Tahoe International Airport press release

TRUCKEE

A new chapter in community healing and creative spirituality has begun in Truckee with the opening of The Alchemy Space, a vibrant teaching studio and gathering place rooted in the mission of the Community School for Human Arts, and honoring the legacy of For Goodness Sake and The Peace Offering.

Opening its doors in October 2025, The Alchemy Space serves as a retreat for creative expression, movement, and spirituality, through practice, learning, and celebration. It’s a home for practitioners, artists, teachers, and seekers in the North Lake Tahoe region. The space offers movement classes, meditation, workshops, seasonal retreats, communal tea hours, and rental space for aligned practitioners.

The Alchemy Space continues the work of long-trusted community institutions such as For Goodness Sake — Truckee’s non-denominational spiritual center known for its inclusivity and open-hearted approach — and the Peace Offering, which for years provided a gathering ground for conversations on peace, healing, and connection.

In addition to in-person classes and workshops, The Alchemy Space is also home to Generation WE — a podcast hosted by Leili Eghbal and co-founder Kerry Taylor. The podcast is available through all major platforms and at humanartschool.org/podcast.

~ The Alchemy Space press release