Paula Peterson, SouthTahoeNow.com Heavenly Mountain Resort and Palisades Tahoe have announced they will both be opening early, with lifts starting Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Heavenly and Friday, Nov. 22 at Palisades. Heavenly Mountain Resort With 9 inches of new snow in the last week and more actively falling, Heavenly Mountain Resort announced today that it will open two days earlier than originally planned on Wednesday, Nov. 20. These ideal conditions, along with the incredible work of the resort's snowmaking and mountain operations teams, will make for an exciting opening day. Guests heading to South Lake Tahoe to break out their skis and boards for the start of winter will enjoy an early-season footprint on the California side of the mountain. Enjoy a refreshed Mountain Resort food and beverage experience at the brand-new Golden State Kitchen at California Lodge or check out Rockstar Bar & Grill for your food and après fix. The resort will also have a DJ at the base to bring the beats and celebrate the start of the season. The Gondola will operate on Heavenly’s original opening date, Nov. 22, for sightseeing only (no ski or ride access initially) to take in the iconic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada. The Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster at the top of the gondola will be open throughout the Thanksgiving holiday period as conditions allow. “It has been such a privilege to work alongside this dedicated team as they have been working tirelessly ahead of our opening day,” said Shaydar Edelmann, vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort. “Thanks to them — and some recent help from Mother Nature — we can open for the season two days ahead of schedule. I am so thankful for the contributions of the team, and every single one of us is fired up to welcome guests back to the mountain and soak in the great vibes and those iconic winter views of Lake Tahoe.” Heavenly will continue making snow when temperatures are low enough and will monitor conditions to determine when to expand terrain and lift offerings leading up to and following their official opening. Importantly, Heavenly will continue offering guests a variety of choices for parking this season, with a combination of both free and paid parking options after its success last year. The reservations-based parking program will kick off in mid-December on weekends (Saturday - Sunday) and peak periods at the California Base Area. Carpooling is highly recommended and free for vehicles with four or more people through our reservations-based parking program any time guests visit the resort. Additionally, Heavenly will offer a new Lodging Shuttle route and a Harrah’s/Harvey’s parking season pass. More details can be found on the Heavenly “Getting Here & Parking” page of the Heavenly website. Palisades Tahoe Palisades Tahoe is kicking off its 75th anniversary season five days early, on November 22. Lifts will be running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanks to recent snowfall and the tireless efforts of the mountain operations team, both sides of the mountain — Palisades and Alpine — will be open on opening day, offering skiers and snowboarders an early start to this historic season. To mark this milestone, Palisades Tahoe is offering $75 lift tickets from Nov. 22 through Nov. 27. Opening day festivities will also feature: — Palisades Tahoe 75th Anniversary Swag giveaways — Live DJ — Complimentary breakfast burritos for guests “We’re incredibly excited to kick off our 75th anniversary season early,” said Amy Ohran, Chief Operating Officer of Palisades Tahoe. “This is a testament to the dedication of our team and the spirit of these legendary mountains. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the slopes and celebrate this historic season together.” As the resort celebrates 75 years of skiing and snowboarding excellence, this season promises to be one to remember. Palisades Tahoe invites guests and the community to join in honoring the past, present, and future of these iconic mountains. Details on lifts and open runs will be announced later this week. Guests can stay updated by visiting palisadestahoe.com.