The 1960 Winter Olympics, held in what is now Olympic Valley, helped establish the region as an internationally recognized winter sports destination. Photo courtesy of Placer County

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Planning Commission took action to unanimously recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the proposed Sierra Nevada Olympic Winter Museum and Community Cultural Center, a project envisioned to celebrate the legacy of the 1960 Winter Olympics and the history of winter sports in the Sierra Nevada.

The proposed project, located at 101 Olympic Valley Road in the Olympic Valley community, would bring an approximately 20,000-square-foot museum and community cultural center to Olympic Valley Park. The project site is located between the park's driveway connection to Olympic Valley Road and the existing pickleball courts.

The proposed two-story, U-shaped building would provide a range of indoor and outdoor spaces designed to serve both residents and visitors. Planned uses include a museum focused on Olympic and Sierra Nevada ski history, a cultural community center, event space, a cafe and museum gift shop and potentially a visitor center.

Outdoor improvements would include gathering areas designed to complement the building and provide opportunities for community events and activities. A plaza deck is proposed south of the building, along with a V-shaped garden to the east.

The proposed development would be located within Olympic Valley Park, an approximately 26.8-acre year-round community park consisting of two parcels owned and operated by Placer County. The project represents an opportunity to add a cultural and educational destination within the existing park while maintaining the park's broader role as a community gathering place.  

“Museums promote the recreation and pleasure of park visitors,” said Placer’s Deputy CEO Stephanie Holloway “The proposed SNOW Museum's focus on active recreational and athletic pursuits enhances the park's purpose of outdoor recreation.”

The 1960 Winter Olympics, held in what is now Olympic Valley, helped establish the region as an internationally recognized winter sports destination. More than six decades later, the proposed center would provide an opportunity to preserve that legacy, share the history of winter sports in the Sierra Nevada and create a new community gathering space for Olympic Valley.

The project site is subject to a deed restriction associated with Placer County's 1999 purchase of the park parcel from the U.S. Forest Service. The restriction limits future uses of the property for private development of a commercial, residential or industrial nature. Through continued discussions, the Forest Service has indicated that the proposed project does not appear to violate the property's deed restriction, thereby allowing the county to proceed with project discussions.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the Planning Commission's recommendation and the project's requested land-use entitlements at a future meeting.

Find more information about the proposed project here: https://www.placer.ca.gov/7884/SNOW-Sports-Museum-and-Community-Cultura.