As the ski industry grew and more and larger resorts sprang up throughout the Lake Tahoe region, little Ski Incline continued to serve its community admirably. During this time, proud members of the community enjoyed skiing at the resort, but at the same time they often wondered "what the heck's up there?" referring to the terrain just northeast of Ski Incline.

The upper mountain, which was not developed, "was magical and had to be experienced by all," said former Ski Incline General Manager Jurgen Wetzstein. "We used to say the view from the top (now Diamond Peak) is one of the most spectacular views in the world. To the east, you have pure desert and Washoe Valley at your feet; to the north, you see some magnificent mountains; and to the south and west are the fabulous views of Lake Tahoe," says Wetzstein.

In 1985 after many debates, the community was finally convinced that it was time to make this view of Lake Tahoe accessible to all who visited and skied in Incline Village. After painstaking research, more than a hundred public meetings, and numerous reports, an expansion plan was developed and received the community's blessings. During the summer of 1987, Ski Incline embarked on this first phase of a ten-year master plan.

By December of that year, the resort had doubled its skiable terrain, added a mile-long quad chair lift to the top of the Peak, expanded its grooming and ski shuttle fleet, built a Child Ski Center, and constructed an on-mountain maintenance facility.

Because its skiing terrain changed so dramatically with the addition of mostly advanced runs, the resort's name was changed to "Diamond Peak at Ski Incline," alluding to the industry's "black diamond" symbol for expert ski terrain.The following year, the resort's snowmaking system was expanded to the upper mountain, giving the resort snowmaking capabilities on over 50 percent of its terrain.

As time passed, the name "Diamond Peak" stuck and "Ski Incline" was retired to the history books.

So What's Coming Down the Road at Diamond Peak?
Since the expansion to the upper mountain, we have continued to refresh and rejuvenate Diamond Peak (formerly Ski Incline). New quad chairs have replaced 30-year-old lifts; the snowmaking system has been upgraded, expanded and automated; buildings have been expanded and renovated; and the resort has remained in the forefront of industry technological developments and modern guest service techniques.

And while much of Ski Incline's makeover is now complete, the master plan envisions still more for this outstanding facility to meet the community's and our guests' changing needs and tastes: an expansion and face-lift of Snowflake Lodge: a new base area "Guest Services" facility; and a mountain-top "Twin Lakes Warming Hut."