At the Lake: Stateline New Year's options discussed by tourism agency

Tens of thousands of people gather in the Stateline casino corridor each year to celebrate New Year's Eve.

But aside from drinking and trying to stay warm, there's not much to do for the college-age crowd that gathers for the impromptu street party.

Some local tourism officials want that to change.

At the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority board of directors meeting Thursday, Chairman Pat Ronan, who owns Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa and is the at-large representative on the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association, said it's time the scene changed.

"Every year on the front page of the Tribune is the guy hanging from the lamppost," Ronan said. "We've got to change the culture of what we're offering."

LTVA special events manager Nicole Cox is looking into event possibilities. Ronan suggested dropping a New Year's Eve countdown ball in Heavenly Village and having a band or DJ play in the area.

Vice Chair Blaise Carrig, chief operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort, said the ideas were excellent but questioned the logistics of the plan. Carrig is concerned that Heavenly Village would be inundated with partygoers and added that a lot of money is invested to protect Heavenly businesses on New Year's Eve.

Ronan said the LTVA, police departments and other entities must communicate to get a plan into place.