Glenbrook. Fleur du Lac Estates. Clear Creek Tahoe. Schaffer’s Mill. These private communities promise the best of Lake Tahoe region living, and the amenities at each surely deliver on that promise. From golf and water sports to hiking and biking to sumptuous homes, each offers access to year-round activity and exclusive comfort. Yet one luxury community exceeds all expectations for what a Lake Tahoe lifestyle can provide. With a Northstar California high speed chairlift, a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, an arcade-filled Family Barn, and a lakefront beach club, Martis Camp simply can’t be beat for haute mountain living.
Located just beyond Truckee, on the backside of Northstar California Ski Resort, the gated, 2,177-acre Martis Camp community features 671 homes on lots ranging in size from 1/3 of an acre to 4 acres. Most are second homes; a handful are primary. “Cookie cutter” is a non-existent term here; every home is custom, designed within a broad spectrum of architectural guidelines. Styles range from timbered craftsman to glass-walled contemporary, with golf course, forest, or mountain views. Those seeking quietude might prefer a wooded cul-de-sac location. Ski devotees will no doubt prefer a “Martis Camp Express” ski lift-proximate home, such as 9505 Dunsmuir Way. A mere minute’s drive from the private member’s Ski Lodge, this spectacular 7,430 square foot estate is currently available and features an expansive great room with retractable patio doors that bring the outside in. Its gondola proximity makes it a desirable abode for any skier; Martis Camp residents have exclusive access to the lift that takes them directly to Northstar’s blue and black runs. (Green run fans are granted exclusive fire road access to Northstar village, bypassing the traffic along State Route 267.)
Golf enthusiasts might choose a course adjacent home, such as the also available 10213 Birchmont Ct., located on a raised promontory framed by an aspen-lined creek. This impressive, 9,024 square foot estate overlooks the 12th fairway of the 7,751-yard golf course, around which the community was built. Fazio was provided pre-home development free rein in designing his course layout, and he strategically utilized the acreage to scenic advantage. The homes, bike trails, parks, and club facilities came later.
And just like Martis Camp homes, those club facilities are spectacular. The Family Barn features a full basketball court, two bowling lanes, an Art Loft stocked with tools for every medium, pinball games, a movie theater, and a swimming pool. The Barn’s outdoor amphitheater is the site of twinkle-lit, al fresco concerts featuring top talent, and the family restaurant serves-up comfort food dishes and awesome ice cream sundaes and milkshakes. This big red heart of the community is a gathering spot for every age.
The nearby 50,000 square foot Camp Lodge is home to a convivial bar (with excellent crafted cocktails), bistro, a coffee cafe (don’t miss the house made pop tart), an adult’s only lap pool, a sumptuous spa and boutique filled with the latest and greatest fashion labels, and men’s and women’s locker facilities and lounges where attendants serve tea, coffee, and sweet snacks. Actually, those with a sweet tooth will find great happiness at Martis Camp; find your way to the charming, fireplace-lit Lost Library to find a vitrine of M&M’s for the taking. You’ll also find a full library of tomes, as well as a selection of the days’ newspapers. It’s a special place, quiet and cozy.
The community also features tennis and pickleball courts, a soccer field, an aerial adventure course, an 18-hole putting park groomed to the same specifications as the main course, a fishing pond stocked with trout, and a variety of small parks furnished with children’s play equipment. Martis Camp’s focus on children is one of its most compelling qualities. Here, kids of all ages are free to roam the vast property. 26 miles of bike trails invite childlike exploration and adventure, and with a 24 hour-monitored gatehouse and round-the-clock security, safety is all but ensured.
And no Lake Tahoe region home would be complete without lake access; Martis Camp’s access comes in the form of the Beach Shack, where the term shack is used very loosely. This small, private lakefront estate features chaise lounges, water sports equipment, a proprietary food truck, bar, valet parking, and ultra-personalized service—a hallmark of the entire Martis Camp community. Many Martis Camp employees are considered family by residents who have come to know the team well through the years. Friendly, accommodating, and always at service, they are integral to the magic that is Martis Camp. Whether a secondary or primary home, residents find that their Martis Camp abode is where their hearts are most fully found.
Take a peek at current Martis Camp home availability here.
Photos courtesy of Martis Camp