The Lodge at Serene Lakes

The Lodge is a wonderful year-round get away. The first winter snow storm usually hits in December with 3-4 feet of snow. We’ll get scattered snowfalls throughout the winter months building up to 12 feet or more. A Sled Hill two blocks away calls to local kids and guests (sleds in the garage). Four downhill slopes are within 15 minutes—Soda Springs, Donner Ski Ranch, Sugar Bowl, and Boreal. A bright refreshing spring begins to make its appearance in April calling for hikes through the surrounding forest, and for bike rides. Summer brings warm, lazy days on the beach and kayak rides on our clear mountain lakes. Then, fall’s crisp days beckon us to amble through the forest and be amazed at the autumn color up on the summit.

We have made a number of changes for your health, safety, and confidence, during COVID, including:
-no more back-to-back reservations...so at least 30 hours between guests;
-we are significantly upgrading the work of an already outstanding cleaning crew to include sanitizing and disinfecting all touch surfaces—counters, handles, switches, controls.

Make reservations now, while prime weeks are still available. Prime weekends tend to go fast and get booking far in advance, but one can often find non-holiday weekends and weekdays open throughout the year. Thankfully, Serene Lakes is not overcrowded during summer, but life is a little slower and quieter spring and fall. We are finding that people are making inquiries, then their dates are getting taken if they don’t book right away. We know that is frustrating!

Serene Lakes remains the best kept secret in the Tahoe National Forest. While Truckee and Tahoe are crawling with people, our little community serves as a quiet, peaceful, safe get away. Tucked behind Soda Springs in a surprisingly level little hollow surrounding two natural, clear, clean spring-fed lakes, we are a perfect family retreat. .

The Lodge is just a few hundred yards down the hill from Royal Gorge, the largest XC ski center in North America. Miles and miles of marked, groomed, cross country trails surround homes in Serene Lakes. All these well-marked XC runs become hiking and biking trails spring, summer, and fall—miles and miles of them.

Start each morning out on the front deck with coffee, or up on the smaller “Juliet deck” in the tree tops, off the upper King bedroom.

During quiet evenings, roast marshmallows, and enjoy a beverage seated around a fire pit on the largest covered deck in Serene Lakes. Comfortably BBQ on a new Weber on the covered side deck.

Great restaurants, watering holes, and shopping await in Truckee, just 15 minutes down the hill. Check out the Donner Party Museum just below us at the end of Donner Lake.

Inside The Lodge, a well-equipped kitchen provides new plates, cups, and glasses; a new 8 qt. Instapot; new coffee maker; new toaster; new nonstick pots and pans; a newer electric Jennair range; and new microwave.

The Lodge has two masters with new king mattresses, each with auto head lift features. Snuggle into new hypo-allergic Primaloft comforters. The kids will enjoy their bunks with the same Primaloft comforters. There is a bathroom with shower on the main floor, serving one king master. Another full bath with tub and shower is on the third floor serving the bunk room and upper master, which offers its own small private covered deck.

A 55” 4K internet streaming TV can be enjoyed relaxing on the new front room furnishings. Hulu, Netflix, and Disney + provide lots of options, and YouTubeTV provides access to live sports, news, and broadcast networks. WiFi internet is accessible throughout the lodge for all guest devices and accommodates Zooms for kids’ distance learning and parents’ work while at The Lodge.

Full-sized washer/dryer is also downstairs, with a third shower and third water closet next to what we are calling a “bonus room”. We’ve just moved in a log daybed (twin) with another trundle twin into the bonus room. We’ve also added a desk to accommodate distance learning and adults who have to spend a little quiet time connecting with work.

We have also stocked a new horse shoe set, volleyball, and new bocce balls for the SLPOA beach. We have several board games and puzzles in the upstairs loft cabinet. We have a new corn hole game for the Lodge deck. Little kids and big kids love the foosball table in the entry room.

Feel confident that we have amended our cancellation/refund policies to provide full refunds a) for reservations unable to be fulfilled due to any STR county closure orders, or b) if anyone in your visiting party unfortunately comes down with Coronavirus.

Guests are welcome to bring pets. We have a pet door leading to the deck, and we have plaid covers for the duvets in rack king closet, should your pet be used to sleeping on your bed. We request, however, that guests not leave pets locked in the house or on the deck for extended periods. They get lonely and bored in unfamiliar places. Guests will be responsible for pet damages when left unsupervised.

WE ARE OPEN! We are waiting for you and your family. Come on up—-relax a little. Play a little. You deserve it.

As a guest of this cabin, you'll find a fitness center, barbecue grills, and an arcade/game room. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Soda Springs cabin is smoke free.