See what new, exclusive $12,000 ski club membership looks like at Tahoe resort
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- Palisades Tahoe launches 200 Apex Club memberships at $12,000 for 2025-26 season.
- Membership grants exclusive lounges, priority lifts, premier parking and concierge.
- Daily Apex tickets capped at 33 and start at $800; some proceeds go to local foundation.
When it comes to mountain living and playing, it’s all about elevation.
Skiers and riders like to know the altitude at the base and summit of a mountain. Resorts strive to take skier and rider experiences to the next level.
Palisades Tahoe, the legendary Northern California ski resort near Lake Tahoe, knows all about that. On Wednesday, the ski resort offered a first look at its new Apex Club — an exclusive membership program designed to redefine high-altitude luxury, convenience and comfort on the slopes.
“At Palisades Tahoe, we’re always looking for ways to elevate the guest experience while honoring the spirit of this mountain,” Patrick Lacey, Palisades Tahoe spokesman, said in an email. “Today, we’re excited to introduce the Apex Club —a premium, small-volume membership designed to take the ski day to a new level of ease and comfort. From private lounge spaces to priority lift access, the Apex Club is built around one goal: helping guests make the most of every moment on snow.”
The Apex Club launches for the 2025-26 ski season with 200 full-season memberships, starting at $12,000 each — a price tag that speaks to its ultra-premium intent. Members can enjoy a ski day untethered from the usual hassles, thanks to a suite of high-end perks: exclusive lounges, priority lift lines, premier parking and white-glove concierge service that promises to make every lap on the mountain seamless, according to Palisades Tahoe.
Prefer to sample this lifestyle without a huge commitment? A limited number of daily Apex Club tickets are being made available — just 33 per day — starting at $800 a day.
The centerpiece is a private clubroom located at the heart of Olympic Valley. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the sleekly appointed indoor-outdoor space features continental breakfast, a full bar, premium bites, private restrooms, daily bag storage and dedicated workstations for those mixing business and powder.
High above, at 8,000 feet, members can duck into the Mid-Mountain Lounge at Gold Coast for handcrafted drinks and alpine fare, all while soaking up expansive Sierra vistas. Concierge staff orchestrate everything from dining reservations to tuning up gear, allowing guests to maximize every minute on the hill.
Certain to be coveted are the priority lift lanes at critical lifts (including Funitel, Red Dog, Gold Coast, Big Blue and more), promising minimal waits and maximum vertical for club members. Premier parking a stone’s throw from the chairlifts, exclusive member events and first-shot privileges on lessons and demos round out the list of VIP benefits.
Membership isn’t just expensive, it’s intentionally limited. Those who join this year get first dibs on renewal, while everyone else is relegated to a waitlist. Single-day Apex tickets — also capped — require advance purchase and can sell out early on peak weekends.
“The Apex Club is the peak of what we offer,” Amy Ohran, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe, said in a statement. “It’s about sport at the highest level and the best experience on this mountain — simple as that.”
Luxury alpine memberships are nothing new in the world of destination skiing. For example, Mammoth Mountain — the famed Eastern Sierra giant — offers its own version of a premium guest experience via Mammoth Black, a program that includes private concierge service, lounge access, premium parking and custom ski/snowboard experiences.
A portion of Apex Club proceeds will be directed to the Palisades Tahoe Community Foundation, which supports youth outdoor access, local environmental projects and other programs in the Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows areas.
“Elevating the guest experience can — must — go hand-in-hand with a responsibility to our home in the Sierra Nevada,” Ohran said.
Palisades Tahoe is Lake Tahoe’s largest ski and snowboard destination, offering 6,000 acres across eight peaks, all linked by the Base to Base Gondola. It’s home to World Cup athletes and is the former site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 4:55 AM with the headline "See what new, exclusive $12,000 ski club membership looks like at Tahoe resort."
