The map above outlines Squaw and Alpine ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, California.
(photo courtesy:http://www.powdork.com/2011/squalppinwolf-born-to-be-wild/) squaw=blue, whitewolf=purple (privately owned resort), alpine=red, possible-additional-terrain=yellow.
The merger of squaw and alpine could mean that we have one of North America's largest resort right here in Tahoe, with around 6,400 acres of skiable terrrain when combined. (For reference: heavenly = 4,800 acres, kirkwood = 2,300 acres, whistler blackcomb = 8,171 acres, vail = 5,289 acres). My colleague, an avid squaw fan, told me once that squaw has lots of accessible terrain that it can expand into.
Possible Expansions & White Wolf: A third neighbor to the two is the much smaller White Wolf (private) resort with about 400 acres of skiable terrain. Its owner, Troy Caldwell, told the San Francisco Chronicle this in March 2008: "If my dream were totally brought to fruition, White Wolf Mountain would become an inter-connect between Alpine and Squaw. A skier could ski from the Squaw side all the way to the Alpine Meadows ski area."
Future: Squaw did host the 1960 Olympics that some say transformed Lake Tahoe area. There are already rumours around the 2022 Winter Olympics bid and the host is not picked until 2015. There is some worry on how all this affects lift ticket and pass prices and whether Tahoe is on it's way to be the ski-vacation alternative to the fancier colorado resorts. We have already seen some consolidation in Tahoe with Vail (owns Heavenly) buying North Star resort last season. It will be interesting to see how all these consolidations affect Tahoe area economy.
Under the Covers: KSL Capital Partners owns Squaw (which they bought from the Cushing family) and now majority stake holder in the merger, JMA ventures owned Alpine and now are minority stake holders. JMA also owns Homewood. JMA recently teamed up with 49ers to buy Great America theme park. Not sure if they will be involved in the new 49ers stadium.
