The Ritz-Carlton Lakeside is expected to be built this summer.

By Kathryn Reed

A private beach for Lake Tahoe Ritz-Carlton guests is close to becoming a reality.

The resort has secured the property in Tahoe Vista on which it plans to build a clubhouse of sorts this summer that would be available only for guests of the Truckee hotel.

“It is something we have been talking about for some time,” Giles Priestland, Ritz spokesman, told Lake Tahoe News. “It would be a wonderful way to have a direct connection to the lake for our guests.”

Kennedy Wilson, an international real estate investment and service firm, and its partners own the Lake Tahoe Ritz. It is KW-Northstar Ventures which has secured the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency permit and approvals from the Placer County.

KW owns what had been the Shore House bed and breakfast. That building will be demolished and a new 2,965-square-foot, two-story structure put in its place.

Paul Thompson with Placer County’s planning department said the design site approval has been issued. Now the applicant must apply for a building permit and have the improvement plans for the site approved. The latter pertains to the parking lot, landscaping and retaining wall.

A rendering of the beach house from Highway 28.

According to TRPA, the project will help with water quality and will have improved scenic aspects. The new structure will be situated so the lake is visible when driving by on Highway 28. That is not the case with the current building.

The structure will have a changing area for guests, as well as a kitchen. It is being called a beach pavilion, with the name Ritz-Carlton Lakeside.

Only registered guests of the Ritz will be allowed to use it; not any of their friends staying elsewhere. When the bed and breakfast was in operation, the beach area was also limited to those guests.

The Ritz estimates between 20 and 30 percent of its guests go to the lake. That percentage is expected to increase to 40 with the beach house. It’s projected about 22 people on average will be there on any given summer day, with 31 people at peak periods.

While there will be parking on-site, the Ritz intends to provide a shuttle for guests and the handful of employees who will work there.

The nine tourist accommodation units and one residential unit will remain associated with the property. Any transfer of those would require TRPA approval.