Eco-friendly lodging, European-style food in Truckee

JEFF AND PATTY BAIRD’S VISION FOR their hotel in Truckee came from repeated visits to ski villages in the Alps, from Austria to Zermatt. The hotels there are smaller and family operated. Personal service means the hotel owner often greets you at the desk.

Their design is modern, with “green” building throughout.

Welcome to the Cedar House Sport Hotel, where “style meets adventure,” as its owners like to say. The hotel, located in Martis Valley just outside downtown Truckee, opened three years ago.

“We wanted to bring a European-style experience here,” says Patty, whose family are avid skiers.

The 42-room hotel, including six two-room suites, features European bedding, down comforters from Germany, spa bath amenities, and cotton robes and towels.

The rooms feature extras such as heated floors in the bathrooms, walk-in showers, refrigerators, flat-screen televisions and complimentary wireless.

Amenities include a full bar in the lobby, a dining room called Stella with a wood-fired oven and a steaming outdoor hot tub. A European-style breakfast is complimentary.

Stella also offers a cooking school.

Cedar House promotes green design. It has a reforested-cedar exterior, recycled-steel
detailing and hydronic in-floor heating. The hot tub is an energy-efficient design.

Though inviting to stay at the hotel, its owners promote rugged outdoor adventure.

They have partnered with the North American Ski Training Center to offer ski clinics, as well as Pacific Crest Snowcats to offer backcountry skiing.

Cedar House is centrally located to enjoy ski areas including Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA and Alpine Meadows.

Shopping and dining on historic Commercial Row in Truckee is just minutes away.

Rooms go for as little as $200 a night on weekends during ski season. Midweek “stay and ski” packages are offered that include lodging, breakfast and a lift ticket to the resort of your choice for as low as $140 per person. A lift ticket alone at Squaw goes for $83, so it’s a good deal.

Cedar House Sport Hotel
10919 Brockway Rd., Truckee
866-582-5655
cedarhousesporthotel.com