The excitement was contagious as Northstar capped off their $30 million in improvements this week with the grand opening of the Zephyr Lodge and the Promised Land Express chairlift.

The following is from a news release put out by Northstar on Dec 20, 2011:

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Dec. 20, 2011 – With $30 million in capital projects now complete, today Northstar hosted the official grand opening of its new on-mountain restaurant, the Zephyr Lodge, as well as the Promised Land Express, a new express quad chairlift providing access to two new trails and a new ski pod in the resort’s most popular terrain area.
 

Photo: Tahoe TV

“We’re excited to open the Zephyr Lodge and Promised Land Express to our guests for the first time, and in advance of the holidays,” said Bill Rock, chief operating officer at Northstar. “The views from the lodge are spectacular, and our guests are going to love the new on-mountain food options it provides. The lift changes the way our guests navigate the mountain, and offers access to some really fun terrain on the Backside of the mountain.”
 
Completed in just 20 weeks, the 17,000 square foot Zephyr Lodge features 700 seats, a fast casual dining experience, and unmatched views of the Sierra Crest. Resort guests can now enjoy new menu options including an Asian bowl station, a Napa salad bar, and signature items like the Gourmet Brisket Grilled Cheese sandwich. The Zephyr Lodge provides 50 percent more on-mountain seating, and access to 26 additional on-mountain restrooms.
 
The Promised Land Express, a new detachable express quad chairlift with a vertical rise of 1,440’ doubles the lift capacity on The Backside. The new lift also provides access to an all new ski pod in one of the resort’s most popular areas, featuring expanded gladed terrain and two new intermediate ski trails, The Islands and Castle Peak.
 
Currently offering the most open skiable terrain – more than 15 miles – and the highest quality snow surface in North Lake Tahoe, Northstar is open top-to bottom, front-to-back, with access to terrain on every area of the mountain. Thanks to continued investments in snowmaking and a commitment to providing a quality ski experience, skiers and riders are enjoying 2,280 vertical feet of terrain, snow depths ranging from 18-24 inches on 25 open trails, and more than 30 freestyle features in the terrain park on Pinball. Additional lifts and terrain are scheduled to open soon, including the new 22’ Shaun White signature Superpipe, which is on track to be open for guests to enjoy over the holidays.

For the latest conditions updates, visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.