Homewood Announces 2020-21 Operational Updates, Confirms Ellis Chair Will Run Next Season
Homewood’s Ellis chair in February 2020. The lift didn’t run for the final two months of last season due to mechanical issues.
California’s Homewood resort has announced a number of upgrades and operational changes for the 2020-21 season. The Tahoe mountain will open for the season on December 11, 2020.
To allow for social distancing, Homewood has replaced its old school tickets with a contactless RFID pass system. Lift tickets will only be available for online purchase, and ticket windows will remain closed in favor of on-site pickup kiosks. While season passholders will have unlimited, unrestricted access next season, Homewood will require other visitors to reserve parking spots while purchasing tickets to manage on-mountain capacity.
Guests will not be required to load lifts with anyone outside their own party, and only private lessons will be offered at this time. Indoor dining will be “limited,” and the resort plans to offer hot and grab-and-go food options through online ordering.
The Ellis triple chair, which shut down last January on account of major mechanical problems, will return to service next season. The lift will receive the first of two scheduled refurbishments in time for the upcoming season, which the resort says will drop the chair’s ride time by nearly four minutes.
Our Take
Homewood’s COVID-era social distancing policies echo those issued by many other resorts, and it seems like the resort will use parking to ultimately determine capacity across the resort.
While expected, we think the big news here is the confirmation that the Ellis lift will return to service next season. This lift provides the only direct access to around half of Homewood’s lift-serviced terrain, and when it was down, visitors would have to take a shuttle to the North side base area and bear through a ride up the slow, safety-barless Madden chair to get back on the mountain. Such a situation would be completely unacceptable this season, and we’re glad the resort has addressed it. We look forward to visiting Homewood this winter to check out the revamped lift for ourselves.
It’s unclear yet whether Homewood will operate its Snowcat Adventure tours next season. We’ve reached out to the resort for comment.
For planned resort operations across other North American resorts, check out our comprehensive guide on policies for the 2020-21 season here.
