The Highlands

To date, only a handful of five-star resort destinations worldwide have embraced the "ski-in/ski-out" concept. The Highlands, a new mountainside collection of 1,450 ski-in/ski-out residences, boasting breathtaking views and an ever-growing list of amenities at Northstar-at-Tahoe^TM ski resort.

The Highlands community will be integrated with Lake Tahoe's first five-star luxury hotel, a 172-room destination resort, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, is projected to open in late 2009. It will include 75 Ritz-Carlton (full-ownership) Residences as well as The Ritz-Carlton Club offering 78 residences for deeded fractional ownership. Also included at this destination resort will be a world-class spa, several pools, restaurants, lounges and shops, and 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space — all connected just steps away by a gondola to the new Village at Northstar™ shops, restaurants and ice rink.

"Our main objective for The Highlands is to create a true mountain resort experience, echoing and respecting Lake Tahoe's history, natural setting and architectural heritage," notes Blake Riva, managing partner, East West Partners. "We want to draw from North Lake Tahoe's historic vernacular of the early 1900s, and add new, more contemporary interpretation with today's building technology and techniques. But more than just designing buildings, we're making sure the buildings have a naturally weathered appearance in their wooded hillside locations."

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe will seek to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) -- certified level from the U.S. Green Building Council, one of the first large scale, five-star hotels to do so in the U.S. Other environmentally friendly features for The Highlands include underground parking instead of outdoor asphalt parking lots, reducing the need for paved roads and maximizing natural, permeable surfaces most suitable for restoring ground water from rain and snow. The condos and townhomes will be purposely attached to reduce footprints and auto use. From its inception, The Highlands will set a new standard for sustainable development in the mountains.

Roofs made of recycled rubber tires will be designed to give buildings at The Highlands a 100-year life span. The condos and townhomes will be purposely attached to reduce footprints and auto use.