Sugar Bowl to Reopen On Friday for Ski Tourists
On Friday, ski resort Sugar Bowl will resume operating its operating hours for guests and tourists planning to visit during this year’s winter holidays. However, the said hotel would implement new regulations adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, ensuring the health and safety of both its staff and customers. After Thanksgiving, the resort will reopen its doors the next day.
For Bay Area weekend skiers, Sugar Bowl resort is one of the most popular ski accommodations in the area. The lodging’s address is at Donner Summit’s I-80 west of Truckee, its location relatively close to the 11 extensive ski areas within Lake Tahoe. Its scheduled date opening coincides with that of the other famous ski resorts in the place. The first ones to open their doors are Northstar and Heavenly, which resumed business on November 20 of this year. Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley would follow suit to offer transactions starting Wednesday.
This year’s winter season, Sugar Bowl imposed new resort regulations following the pandemic breakout that occurred earlier this year. For instance, guests can only access the parking lot if they have either proof of-day use ticket purchases or season passes to show to the resort’s staff. According to Sugar Bowl’s released official statement to the public, it urges tourists to buy their tickets ahead of their planned visiting schedule. As of late, the resort halted its production and distribution of new season pass sales.
Sugar Bowl CEO Dallas’ Statement and the Resort’s New Ski Guidelines
Sugar Bowl-Royal Gorge president and CEO Greg Dallas confirmed in his official statement that the resort thoroughly prepared its reopening project to prioritize its staff’s and guests’ safety from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The cross-country ski area west of Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge, only grants permission to season pass holders for lodging with them during this year’s early winter days.
Moreover, Dallas expressed his hopes that future guests would take time to understand the new precautionary measures established by the resort. Dallas assures that everyone can still enjoy a safe and fun skiing and snowboarding trip provided that everyone would adhere to the rules and make smart decisions during their visit to Sugar Bowl and its neighboring ski resorts.
Apart from showing purchased tickets or season passes to access the parking lot, Sugar Bowl also established several rules to adhere to coronavirus guidelines. The resort would only accept payment through credit and debit cards but not physical cash. Additionally, all lift riders and skiers should wear face coverings when venturing out to do winter activities at the designated skiing spots. When taking chairlifts or liftlines, everyone must observe strict social distancing measures. Human ticket scanners get replaced with radio-frequency identification scanning gates at primary chairlifts. The resort only allows outdoor dining, and the resort employees would serve food in grab-and-go style.
Following Sugar Bowl’s scheduled reopening this coming Friday, the resort also intends to open six lifts spinning. These lifts include White Pine, Mt. Lincoln Express, Christmas Tree Express, Flume, Jerome Hill Express, and Nob Hill.
Pre-COVID-19 Events and Tahoe Ski Resorts’ Future Plans
Following the occurrence of the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, ski areas around Tahoe shut down earlier than usual during the last ski season. Since then, the area’s ski resorts were thinking of implementing proper social distancing measures and COVID-19 regulations for their employees and guests’ safety for this year’s upcoming holidays. Several resorts started limiting the number of guests to accommodate in their lodgings, including giving skiers and riders fixed time schedules to do winter activities in the mountains to avoid congestion.
As of the latest news update, most of Tahoe’s ski resorts sell their tickets and passes online to lessen the hassles that staff and guests might encounter once the reopening commences. Additionally, the Sugar Bowl resort has canceled this year’s walk-up ticket sales.
