Special Guest Column to the N. Lake Tahoe Bonanza by our own GM

Jan 7, 2009

Below please find an early unedited copy of the soon to be printed Guest Column (in the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza) by IVGID’s General Manager Bill Horn. This guest column is about the Diamond Peak Ski Lodge Renovation Project. We hope you find this factual, informative and timely.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort~What You Don’t See!

Recently, a number of Recreation Fee paying parcel owners have questioned, “What did the District do to the Diamond Peak Lodge for $4,000,000?” This is an excellent question and I am happy to explain the process.

A total tear down of the Diamond Peak Lodge was out of the question because the resort would not have been open for business this year. While some might suggest that the resort staff could operate out of construction trailers, the District team did not consider this a viable or workable option for either District staff or the customer experience. The goal of this renovation, which was approved by the District’s Board of Trustees, was to improve the customer experience and improve the opportunity to increase the revenue producing areas of the rental shop, food and beverage, Child Ski Center and the ticketing booth.

When a member of the public looks and/or experiences the renovation first hand, there are a number of facts that must be kept in mind:
(a) All public projects (of which this is one) in the State of Nevada cost more to construct as the result of the ‘Prevailing Wage Laws’ which require union wages to be paid. These costs typically add anywhere from 25% to 40% to a public project depending upon the amount of labor required.
(b) This was a renovation project and not a complete tear down by design.
(c) This renovation, on a building that was originally constructed in 1967, required the District to bring the structure up to the current codes of Washoe County and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

Now, I would like to take you through the visible customer/guest positives – there is now 2,600 additional square feet of food and beverage space; with the installation of sky lights allowing natural light in, the third floor now has an openness that greatly improves the eating and socializing experience; sixty percent of the roof structure was removed to provide the open feeling of the third floor; the rental shop was expanded by 800 square feet allowing it to carry more and varied rental inventory; new restrooms on the third floor and renovation of the second floor restrooms provide added convenience; a 30-person meeting room with a fireplace was included on the third floor, and an addition of 300 square feet of locker room space was included.

With any renovation, there are a lot of things that occur which are usually not seen by the customer/guest; these are such things as new paint, electrical upgrades, plumbing improvements, heating and ventilating upgrades, siding replacement, replacement of windows, upgrade/new roof, reconfiguration of existing spaces for better utilization, etc. During the Lodge Open House in December, the District Staff created a “Passport” which asked each participant to visit an area of the lodge where renovation took place – I hope that everyone who attended participated in this event because it really provided an opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the terrific facilities we now all enjoy.

While the District recognizes that there will always be dissenters, the District Staff takes very seriously its mission statement to be a “…fiscally responsible community partner which provides superior utility services and community oriented recreation programs and facilities with passion for the quality of life and our environment…”. I am personally very proud of this renovation, the work accomplished by the selected contractors and their subcontractors, and most of all, the team of District Staff members who have put their hearts, souls and backs into making this renovation project the very best possible guest experience within the budget provided to them.

Should anyone desire to be taken on a behind-the-scenes tour or even a front-of-the-lodge tour, please get in touch with me. I want each and every guest, customer and parcel owner to share the same level of excitement that the District Staff and Trustees have for the newly renovated Diamond Peak Ski Resort. Remember, this is YOUR TAHOE place and it is kid and family approved!

Bill Horn
General Manger
Incline Village General Improvement District