A playful, arty and affordable alternative to South Lake Tahoe's bleaker options. Rooms start at $89.
THE BASICS
The beauty of the approximately 191-square-mile alpine lake has traditionally been matched by the charmlessness of the lodging surrounding the south side — too grimy or too garish, mostly. From an abandoned old snowboarders' motel, Basecamp has carved out a third option, one that combines a D.I.Y. aesthetic and wit. Every highly curated, reclaimed-wood-covered nook is Dwell magazine-ready; instead of Bibles, each of the 50 rooms comes with a "Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook." A communal, hostel-like sensibility pervades the space, minus the sketchiness. The urge to pocket the soap is somehow absent.
LOCATION
With the Nevada state line mere steps away, the nearby Harrah's Lake Tahoe casino looms tall and ugly. Views aside, Basecamp couldn't be better situated for summer or winter diversions. It's a five-minute walk to a private beach in one direction (Basecamp guests get free passes) and to the Heavenly ski resort gondola in the other.
THE ROOM
Wes Anderson called — he wants his set back. With their Coleman lantern-style lamps and other nostalgic camping artifacts, the comfy rooms manage coziness and kitschy chic without veering into twee or fussy (or depriving you of a flat-screen TV). Every room is different: in the Great Indoors, an old-school canvas tent covers the king bed, a chandelier hangs within, and a fake fire glows beside a picnic table; the Explorers Club combines eight bunks, an HD projector and an Xbox to give budget-minded skiers an absorbing home base. Central to the larky aesthetic is the art of the illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, prominent in each room. Like many hotels in the area, this one lacks air-conditioning, and the overhead fan was no match for a hot night when I was there in September. But Basecamp's spirit is one of mountain-hut bonhomie, not high thread count, and the heat was forgiven.
THE BATHROOM
Beneath Basecamp's high concept are the bones of an old roadside motel. The bathrooms couldn't be called spacious, but they're not cramped, either, and the showers have all the horsepower required by a day on the slopes. No bathtub, no frills.
AMENITIES
All roads lead to chumminess here. I watched an actual friendship form around one of two fire pits, $2 s'more ingredients in hand. A similar esprit de corps wafted out of the roof-deck hot tub. Communal dinners — $20 to $25 or so for beer or wine and whatever's cooking — are consumed at a long, wood table alongside fellow travelers. The thirsty can also make use of the two-stool bar. (In warmer months it's a short walk to the outdoor Lakeside Beach Grill, also owned by the Basecamp team, where a 25 percent discount and beach views await.)
A small continental breakfast appears in the morning, and in the shade of an evergreen the patio becomes a mellow dining room.
BOTTOM LINE
Basecamp has the low-key, homespun feel of a hotel started by your hippest friends and run by your most organized. Great location, surprisingly good prices and a high level of creativity make this a welcome addition to a lovely piece of California.
Basecamp Hotel, 4143 Cedar Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; (530) 208-0180; basecamphotels.com.
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