Reno #2 Emerging Ski Town

Our beloved Biggest Little City keps popping up on lists of all kinds! The latest, Top 10 Emeriging Ski Towns, Reno places #2 for our gaming industry.

Read the full article below or online here.

Top 10 Emerging Ski Towns [National Geographic]

1. Odgen, Utah

2. Reno, Nevada

3. Revelstoke, British Columbia

4. Nelson, British Columbia

5. Sandpoint, Idaho

6. Driggs, Idaho

7. Mammoth, California

8. Red Lodge, Montana

9. Waitsfield, Vermont

10. Durango, Colorado

Reno, Nevada

Photograph by Grant Gunderson, Tandem

Best For: Mixed groups of hard chargers, beginners, and nonskiers who’d rather do their gambling off the slopes

This historic gold-mining town at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains became one of America’s 20th-century gambling meccas before its current reinvention as a hip, outdoorsy city of university students, artists, and, yes, skiers. We know what you’re thinking, but Reno actually is a ski town. Not only is the better-than-you-think Mount Rose 25 miles from downtown, but Reno sits at the northern tip of Lake Tahoe’s constellation of ski areas as well—the densest concentration of ski resorts in North America. There are 18 resorts within a hundred miles of Reno’s international airport.

Sure, Reno, population 225,221, still has plenty of casinos and nightclubs that party all night, but think of it as a smaller, more family-oriented Vegas. Set on the banks of the Truckee River, the pedestrian-friendly downtown has seen a much needed revamp worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s now filled with cafes, galleries, and artist’s lofts overlooking the river walk. A-list musicians routinely play at various venues, while those seeking a more classical experience can check out the nearby Reno Philharmonic or Nevada Shakespeare Company.

Mount Rose, a 20-minute drive from downtown, isn’t the biggest or flashiest ski area in the region, but it’s less expensive than most, has an excellent beginner program, and its expert area, the Chutes, opened in 2004, serves up a buffet of 1,200-plus-feet, 45-degree, north-facing pitches. It also features the highest base elevation in the Tahoe region at 8,260 feet, helping it escape the rains that can despoil the region’s snowpack.

Ask a Local

Luke Jacobson is vice president and an engineer at Reno-based Moment Skis. He has lived in Reno for nine years and praises the “young entrepreneurial spirit in the area.” Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs

Budget: Sands Regency Casino

Swank: Grand Sierra Resort

Best Eats

Cheap: Noble Pie Parlor

Gourmet: Campo

Best Aprés Spot

Lincoln Lounge

Best Rest-Day Activity

Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake are always must-sees.

Favorite Ski Run at Mount Rose

When the Chutes is open on a powder day it can't be beat.