It’s not an outlaw. It’s not a rebel. And it’s definitely not the bad boy. It’s just Homewood.
Accustomed to operating below the national media radar, little ‘Homie’ has the inconspicuous feel of a forgotten prom date wedged between the King and Queen of the class. But while Tahoe’s ‘finer’ resorts try to serve eggs benedict every morning, Homewood’s got its shirt sleeves rolled up to dish out mama’s tasty home fries.
This is not only the closest ski area to Granlibakken (except for The Big G’s own little hill!) but it is the best one for the biggest, closest views of Lake Tahoe. There are some mellow runs where you look up from your ski tips to see piers, mooring fields and mile after mile of big blue lake – it’s awesome. I am not big into resort stickers but I have one of theirs on my rig.
Because Homewood faces east it is sheltered from the high winds that come with Sierra storms. Heavy clouds get hung up on the higher surrounding ridges and unthinkable piles of snow bury this 1260-acre ski area. Also, it is entirely below the tree line and has almost 600 acres of glades so visibility (and conditions) during near-whiteout conditions is actually good.
The great Homewood irony, though, is this. The West Shore of Tahoe lies about 200 yards from its lowest ski runs making for the region’s best lake views. But like a blindfolded sultan at a bellydancing championship, the views for skiers are lost on these epic storm days.
So no matter what day you go to Little Homie chances are it will be the most memorable of your ‘downhill’ days in Tahoe. Check it out and don’t forget to swing into the little shop at the bottom for your sticker…
