Winter in Lake Tahoe may not bring to mind images of palm trees, fruity cocktails and travelers clad in hibiscus-patterned shirts. But that could change on Dec. 14, the opening day for the new Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe. 

“We’re brand new and this is a unique design,” said resort general manager Bill Cottrill. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s not the standard ‘make it look like a mountain inside our rooms.’”

Opening celebrations are being developed to celebrate around Dec. 14, and Cottrill said he thinks the resort’s first guests that week will be impressed with the extent of the renovations.

“Usually, in Tahoe, you stay somewhere, and it’s ‘well, this is just a room,’” he said. “But this is going to be different. With design and details, they didn’t have to go to the extent they did. But it adds to the vibe, and guests will get a little chuckle out of it. It’s just about fun.”

Margaritaville will be the first new hotel opening in South Lake Tahoe’s tourist center in more than a year, following Desolation Hotel’s launch in June 2022. Rooms at the Margaritaville Resort start around $249 per night, plus a $49 per night resort fee, when bookings open on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The process of converting the former Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel into a Margaritavilla cost “north of $70 million,” said Cottrill, and included nearly every part of the property, from the roof to the Wi-Fi to the guest-facing spaces, like the lobby and rooms.

The brand is owned by Jimmy Buffett-founded Cheeseburger Holding Company, which operates 45 hotels and resorts across the Americas. While the resort will include plenty of expected branding — like tropical throw pillows, a surf-themed LandShark Bar & Grill, and live music every day — Cottrill said the design team included some details designed to pay homage to the resort’s Sierra locale, including the ongoing use of “Emerald Bay green” throughout the property. 

Locations of Margaritaville properties range from New York City to San Pedro, Belize, but the South Lake Tahoe location will be the brand’s first property in a ski destination. The idea for a Margaritaville Resort in Lake Tahoe was in the works for some time, Cottrill said, well before the current location became available. The resort will have ski-friendly amenities, he said, including plenty of ski racks and a complimentary ski and board check service so guests don’t need to carry their equipment to their rooms. 

Cottrill said he thinks the hotel will appeal both to Margaritaville fans and travelers just looking for a convenient place to stay on a ski trip. But he’s hoping the brand’s name recognition helps give it a leg up over other area properties.

“Margaritaville hits on all cylinders, from young folks to middle age to older age and people from all income levels,” he said. “There’s a very big awareness of Margaritaville. It’s sometimes surprising just how high it is.”