Olympic Valley
Olympic Valley is a four-hour drive from the Bay Area, and a one-hour drive from the Reno/Lake Tahoe Airport. Olympic Valley includes the ski area Palisades Tahoe which was the site of 1960 Winter Olympics, and is now owned and operated by Alterra Mountain Co. which graciously hosts our workshops each summer. Many of our events take place in the Olympic Plaza, the lodge at the foot of the ski area, and the Olympic Village Lodge, just a short walk from there.
Located in the California Sierra Nevada, the valley is close to the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Summers are warm and sunny; participants will have opportunities to hike to the local waterfalls, take nature walks up the mountain, swim in Lake Tahoe, and play tennis, ice skate, or bike along the Truckee River.
Drive
About half of our participants bring cars. Many of our participants get a ride to Olympic Valley in a carpool (we provide a list for those who are interested in ride-sharing.) The drive from the Bay Area takes about 4 hours. Detailed directions will be provided upon acceptance.
Fly
Reno/Lake Tahoe International Airport is the airport which services our area. Reno is almost an hour from Olympic Valley. We will have shuttle vans picking up participants at the Reno/Lake Tahoe International Airport baggage claim area on registration day. We must have your flight information early in order to schedule our vans. We schedule the pick-ups after we have received most participants’ flight arrival times. We cannot pick up anyone arriving after 3:00 PM. There will be a round-trip shuttle charge of $95.00* due at registration. There will be no pick-ups at the South Lake Tahoe Airport.
*Price subject to slight change without notice.
Bus/Train
There is a train-and-bus station in Truckee, 15 miles (20 minutes) from Olympic Valley. (The Yellow Line leaves Truckee for Olympic Valley/Tahoe City every hour on the half-hour. The cost is only $2.00 and it takes about 22 minutes to arrive in Olympic Valley.
FAQ’s
When Should I Arrive in Olympic Valley?
Try to plan your trip to arrive in Olympic Valley no later than 3:00 PM, on the opening (registration) day.
Poetry: Monday, June 19, 2023
Writers Workshops: Monday, July 10, 2023
When Should I Plan to depart from Olympic Valley?
Plan your departure from Olympic Valley for early afternoon on the last day of the workshop:
Poetry: Sunday, June 25, 2023
Writers Workshops: Monday, July 17, 2023
Will I need a car?
About half of our participants bring cars, the other half walk or get rides to and from their houses to the conference center. Olympic Valley also has a Valley Shuttle, which runs every twenty minutes and takes participants up or down the length of the valley. This service is free of charge. If you have any physical disabilities, or have a problem with high elevation, a car would be a good idea. So a car is not necessary but can make your week easier and afford you the ability to visit Lake Tahoe and surrounding sights.