INCLINE VILLAGE - Joining a trend set the past few years by Tahoe venues such as Northstar and Squaw Valley, Diamond Peak Ski Resort this winter will encourage its patrons to not smoke.
The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees this week approved the installation of numerous signs at Incline's ski mountain to bear the slogan: "Our guests appreciate you not smoking at Diamond Peak - thank you."
"We need to do more than just advertise ourselves as a family ski resort - in order for us to be a family-friendly resort, we need to be a non-smoking resort," said trustee Chuck Weinberger. "We're already well behind the curve."
According to Diamond Peak General Manager Ed Youmans' proposal, the option to ask - rather than demand - patrons not smoke is preferred, because the district avoids spending time adopting and enforcing policy.
"Not being allowed to smoke anywhere outdoors is not a law in any state in this country," Youmans said.
The approval came with the caveat that staff designate one or two areas at the mountain where people can smoke.
"We are a family-friendly resort, and, while I don't smoke myself, there are families who do smoke," said trustee Bea Epstein.