Publisher’s note: This is one of a series of blurbs about how the lack of winter is impacting businesses in the Lake Tahoe Basin. If you have an idea, please email info@LakeTahoeNews.net.

The vacant lot next to MontBleu casino in Stateline has been turned into a multidimensional snow playground.

Edgewood Companies, which owns that parcel, has rented the bulk of the land to John Shearer. Shearer also operates Tahoe Sport Fishing and has been in the snowmobile business for 10 years. He grew up a farmer, and said now he is in the snow farming business.

He saw a need and filled it – something he has wanted to do for a few years. Shearer said he is inspired by what Heavenly Mountain Resort does with snowmaking and is doing his part to provide snow fun.

It costs about $1,000 a night in power to blow snow. He hopes to cut that in half later this month when he can tap into three-phase power. Right now he rents generators for $2,500 a month and uses 100 gallons of fuel a night.

During the summer Shearer paid for an underground pipe and high pressure pump to be installed to access the water for snowmaking.

Snowmobilers may go around in what is like a big racetrack.

Sledders have access to a mini hill that is built all of snow.

“Eventually I want four tubing lanes, smallest to biggest and different bumps in the middle,” Shearer told Lake Tahoe News.

While it’s mostly tourists playing there, Shearer hopes to one day attract locals, too.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report