Palisades Tahoe Base-to-Base Gondola Will Not Operate for 2021-22
Gondola components at the Squaw Valley (now Olympic Valley) base in May 2021.
Palisades Tahoe’s Base-to-Base Gondola will not operate at all for the 2021-22 season, according to a press release put out by the resort. This new gondola is set to provide the first lift connection between Palisades Tahoe’s Olympic Valley (formerly Squaw Valley) and Alpine Meadows bases, truly connecting the two sides as one resort for the first time. The gondola will also have a mid-station at Olympic Valley’s KT-22, as well as a turning station on the Alpine Meadows side that will not allow loading or unloading. The project began construction this May.
Palisades Tahoe’s press release also had details on a few other resort improvements, including a new magic carpet at the upper-mountain High Camp beginner area, a new health-centric base area eatery, and the return of preferred parking for carpools. The full statement can be found here.
Our Take
It’s not every day you see a resort commit to an entire season with an unfinished lift adorning the footprint, but given the complexities of the installation and resource diversions due to wildfires, it’s hard to blame the resort for this circumstance. That being said, it’s going to be a shame to see unfinished lift towers spanning Palisades Tahoe’s KT-22 area for the entire 2021-22 season.
The Base-to-Base gondola delay means that besides the name change, the experiences at the two Palisades Tahoe mountains will remain pretty much the same this year as in year’s past. While it’s hard to predict how this upgrade will truly affect the experience before the lift starts operating, Alterra has released several details that offer clues about what to expect. Based on what we know so far, we’ve compiled a list of potential pros and cons this project may bring here.
Once combined, we’re reasonably confident that Palisades Tahoe will remain at the top of our California rankings. But with all of its potential impacts, the real question is whether the gondola will contribute to a better overall experience or just a generally equivalent one. After enjoying both resort sides as home mountains for the 2020-21 season, we’re excited to go back and reassess the transformed resort once the project is completed.
To see how the resorts stack up as they currently exist, check out our 2021-22 mountain reviews for Palisades Tahoe’s Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows sides. Additionally, see our video of the last day at KT-22 before gondola construction began below:
