Are the great outdoors Tahoe's answer to the economy?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While tourists have gravitated toward Lake Tahoe for a half century because of the postcard views and unique activities this mountain community offers, gaming has been the economic lifeblood of the area.

But with gaming wins in decline for almost two straight years, local business and recreational leaders think Tahoe's prime asset - the great outdoors - could draw visitors and their dollars.

"We just need more things geared for people to do in the outdoors," Kent Wattanachinda, owner of WattaBikeShop in Meyers, suggested.

Summer, spring and fall activities like water skiing, golf, fishing, parasailing, mountain biking, hiking, camping, mountain climbing, team sports and sailing could help fill in the financial gaps created by Tahoe's shoulder seasons, local leaders said.

"If there is good snow, we'll do good. We need to fill in the peaks and valleys of the seasons. In the summer we're not real competitive," said John Rice, a general manager at Sierra-at-Tahoe.

Area business and recreational leaders point to the Heavenly Village Gondola and Flyer ZipRider as stimulants to the recreational economy, but said there is much more that can be done.

"Obviously Heavenly has taken steps for a year-round presence with the gondola and zip line," Rice said. "That's great for Tahoe and gets more people into the mountains and that turns into more business for all of us."

New bike trails could also become an attraction for the South Shore, Wattanachinda said.

The city should take a cue from the West Shore with its extensive bike trail from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley and build a network of city bike paths so visitors can safely enjoy the area's beauty, Wattanachinda said.

"There's so much potential right there, and it's right in town," Wattanachinda said.

"That would be so cool instead of riding along Highway 50. It would take a long time and a lot of money, but it would be good for the city instead of spending money on that hole in the ground."

While the U.S. Forest Service plans to build more bike trails in remote areas in the future, Wattanachinda said that the best opportunity to attract mountain bikers is at Heavenly Mountain Resort. A 5-mile single-track trail through the burn area near Kingsbury Grade has the 15-year resident gushing about the potential the downhill trail provides. There's only one drawback, he said - it's not very accessible.

"It's gonna be the most scenic ride right there," Wattanachinda said. "Heavenly could have something like that. With the gondola, it could create more revenue and bring more people here, not just the gamblers."

Traditional sports and team sports could also improve the town's economy, said Gary Moore, parks and recreation director for the city of South Lake Tahoe.

"What we really have to get is a local sports commission together," he said. "Whoever takes the lead on it, it could be the clearinghouse for whatever people want to bring into the area, whether it's a track meet, softball tournament, boating contest or biking events."

Weekend softball tournaments have been popular in drawing summer visitors to the area. Moore said the recreation department facilitates such tournaments. The department receives a fee for each tournament, and that revenue is used to pay for the lighting and maintenance of the fields.

"Everybody has been doing this a little bit, finding a niche in the market," Moore said. "If there was a clearinghouse for promoters to call with their idea of bringing an event to South Lake Tahoe, (it would be effective). It doesn't have to be a team sport, it could be a skateboarding competition."

The 2 1/2-year-old track and field at the Community Youth Sports Complex has the potential to generate tourist revenue in the future, Moore said.

"Track meets are primed right now. That beautiful track and field facility has a history. What do we have to do get it kick-started?" Moore said.

Last summer, local promoter Anthony Davis put on a masters and all-comers meets to showcase the facility to people from outside the area.

The struggling economy has actually helped two outdoor activities offered by the recreation department: camping and golf, Moore said.

"The Campground by the Lake had its biggest year ever ... a 20-plus percent increase in business," Moore said. "The logical reasoning is that this is an inexpensive way to vacation in Lake Tahoe."

However, area parks may not be able to offer the same services and be as maintained as they have in the past after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger trimmed $14.2 million of funding for them.

The city-owned greens in South Lake Tahoe have also seen business increase during the recession, Moore said. The nine-hole "family" Bijou Municipal Golf Course in the heart of town costs a resident player $15 and a nonresident $20 per round.

"Bijou Municipal Golf Course had an outstanding year," Moore said. "Even the nonresidents think it is a bargain."