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Dan Thrift / Tahoe Daily Tribune/ Preparation for the New Year's celebration began early this week as a lookout is readied on the roof of Harrah's Lake Tahoe. The casino corridor will block off traffic during the peak hours.
Chances of rain and snow this holiday weekend are not expected to deter an expected crowd of 65,000 New Year's Eve revelers at Stateline as authorities, cab drivers and liquor store clerks are bracing for a deluge of visitors.
The National Weather Service in Reno is forecasting a stormy weekend with breaks on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Rain will hit the area Friday and turn to snow at lake level early Saturday, meteorologist Jon Bonk said. Around midnight Saturday, the snow is expected to taper off into snow showers with temperatures in the high 20s and wind between 20 to 30 mph, Bonk said.
The storm will break Sunday afternoon but resume that night.
"It could present some travel difficulties, but there seems to be good opportunities to get over the passes," Bonk said.
The likelihood of inclement weather was embraced by 25-year-old twins Maggie and Kate Moyer, who flew into the Reno-Tahoe International Airport Wednesday night to party at Stateline.
"It would be great if it snows," Maggie Moyer said.
"Because we're not used to it," Kate Moyer said.
"It will be a white Christmas," Maggie added.
The two went to Las Vegas last New Year's Eve and wanted to compare the festivities at Stateline for the introduction of 2006.
"We heard there's naked people crawling on the light poles," Maggie Moyer said.
Dan Klebingat, 22, was also in town for the New Year's Eve celebration. Klebingat is on break from Humboldt State. With five Stateline New Year's Eve parties under his belt, Klebingat offered some advice for newcomers.
"You run into some crazy people," he said. "It's an experience you have to see, for sure. It's a giant mess of drunkenness.
The National Weather Service in Reno is forecasting a stormy weekend with breaks on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Rain will hit the area Friday and turn to snow at lake level early Saturday, meteorologist Jon Bonk said. Around midnight Saturday, the snow is expected to taper off into snow showers with temperatures in the high 20s and wind between 20 to 30 mph, Bonk said.
The storm will break Sunday afternoon but resume that night.
"It could present some travel difficulties, but there seems to be good opportunities to get over the passes," Bonk said.
The likelihood of inclement weather was embraced by 25-year-old twins Maggie and Kate Moyer, who flew into the Reno-Tahoe International Airport Wednesday night to party at Stateline.
"It would be great if it snows," Maggie Moyer said.
"Because we're not used to it," Kate Moyer said.
"It will be a white Christmas," Maggie added.
The two went to Las Vegas last New Year's Eve and wanted to compare the festivities at Stateline for the introduction of 2006.
"We heard there's naked people crawling on the light poles," Maggie Moyer said.
Dan Klebingat, 22, was also in town for the New Year's Eve celebration. Klebingat is on break from Humboldt State. With five Stateline New Year's Eve parties under his belt, Klebingat offered some advice for newcomers.
"You run into some crazy people," he said. "It's an experience you have to see, for sure. It's a giant mess of drunkenness.
"If you can't handle a giant crowd, then don't come," he said.
Other advice included getting to Stateline early and wearing heavy clothes.
"Get in your warmest clothes because it's going to get cold," Klebingat said.
Gary Poley also shared some advice for Stateline revelers. Poley, general manager of Yellow Taxi, knows something about the raucous day - he's been working New Year's Eve for three decades.
He divided his words of wisdom into the two segments of cab demand: getting to Stateline and leaving it.
On requesting cabs for Stateline, Poley said those who call for a ride should be ready five minutes after the call is ended. A cab could be around the corner, he said, or it could take more than an hour for a ride to arrive.
Yellow Cab does not accept reservations for a cab.
"So the key is to be ready to go and be ready to get there early," he said.
On the departure, Poley advised people wanting taxis to hit the valet areas of casinos, walk against traffic to attract empty cabs driving to Stateline or wait it out and find at cab at 4:15 a.m.
"It's a free-for-all and it gets ugly and it gets nasty," he said. Poley noted people shouldn't "attempt to walk unless you're willing to walk the entire distance."
Visible clothing is a plus.
"Wear something reflective," Poley said. "Don't wear your black cocktail dress if you want someone to see you."
Officials at Douglas County Sheriff's Department in Nevada and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department expect a crowd of 65,000, and maybe more.
Other advice included getting to Stateline early and wearing heavy clothes.
"Get in your warmest clothes because it's going to get cold," Klebingat said.
Gary Poley also shared some advice for Stateline revelers. Poley, general manager of Yellow Taxi, knows something about the raucous day - he's been working New Year's Eve for three decades.
He divided his words of wisdom into the two segments of cab demand: getting to Stateline and leaving it.
On requesting cabs for Stateline, Poley said those who call for a ride should be ready five minutes after the call is ended. A cab could be around the corner, he said, or it could take more than an hour for a ride to arrive.
Yellow Cab does not accept reservations for a cab.
"So the key is to be ready to go and be ready to get there early," he said.
On the departure, Poley advised people wanting taxis to hit the valet areas of casinos, walk against traffic to attract empty cabs driving to Stateline or wait it out and find at cab at 4:15 a.m.
"It's a free-for-all and it gets ugly and it gets nasty," he said. Poley noted people shouldn't "attempt to walk unless you're willing to walk the entire distance."
Visible clothing is a plus.
"Wear something reflective," Poley said. "Don't wear your black cocktail dress if you want someone to see you."
Officials at Douglas County Sheriff's Department in Nevada and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department expect a crowd of 65,000, and maybe more.
Douglas County will have roughly 100 uniformed and plainclothes officers working the corridor, sheriff's Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said. Three booking stations will be located in the area for speedy processing. Drunken revelers will be given to responsible friends while those with more serious charges will be transported to the nearby jail, Mezzetta said.
Parking will be available on lower and upper Lake Parkway as well as at the casinos. Spots tend to fill quickly.
Lt. Terry Daniels said the police department instituted extra patrols near Stateline. On both sides of the corridor bottles and cans will be confiscated, and fireworks are illegal.
Last year, 28 people were arrested in Douglas County for violations of disorderly conduct, battery, fireworks, destruction of property and trespassing, Mezzetta stated. During the 2003-04 celebration, 67 people were taken into custody while 86 were arrested the year before, Mezzetta said.
At Dart Discount Liquors, manager Jaime Estrada has already seen an increase in business.
"It gets busier every day," he said. "They buy everything, but of course the champagne goes this time of year."
John Packer, communications manager for Harrah's Lake Tahoe and Harveys Resort and Casino, reported the roughly 1,240 rooms between the two resorts are full.
"It's looking really good," Packer said. "We haven't received many people concerned with the weather. In particular we aren't getting any cancellations like we did last year."
Last year, New Year's Day also fell on a weekend, but a winter storm that closed Highway 50 thwarted many revelers' plans, as the Stateline corridor was filled with a relatively paltry, and unrowdy, crowd of 25,000.
Necklaces, beads and hats for New Year's 2006 are being sold at a table in front of Embassy Suites by Brian Sheen. In his fourth year at Stateline, Sheen's booth has become larger and has more items for sale, including extra-large beaded necklaces.
"It's all about having fun for everyone," he said.
Kate Moyer said she and her twin sister came to Tahoe to celebrate New Year's partly because of the opportunity to snowboard. She plans to ride Saturday, then get to celebrating the exit of 2005 and the introduction of 2006.
Parking will be available on lower and upper Lake Parkway as well as at the casinos. Spots tend to fill quickly.
Lt. Terry Daniels said the police department instituted extra patrols near Stateline. On both sides of the corridor bottles and cans will be confiscated, and fireworks are illegal.
Last year, 28 people were arrested in Douglas County for violations of disorderly conduct, battery, fireworks, destruction of property and trespassing, Mezzetta stated. During the 2003-04 celebration, 67 people were taken into custody while 86 were arrested the year before, Mezzetta said.
At Dart Discount Liquors, manager Jaime Estrada has already seen an increase in business.
"It gets busier every day," he said. "They buy everything, but of course the champagne goes this time of year."
John Packer, communications manager for Harrah's Lake Tahoe and Harveys Resort and Casino, reported the roughly 1,240 rooms between the two resorts are full.
"It's looking really good," Packer said. "We haven't received many people concerned with the weather. In particular we aren't getting any cancellations like we did last year."
Last year, New Year's Day also fell on a weekend, but a winter storm that closed Highway 50 thwarted many revelers' plans, as the Stateline corridor was filled with a relatively paltry, and unrowdy, crowd of 25,000.
Necklaces, beads and hats for New Year's 2006 are being sold at a table in front of Embassy Suites by Brian Sheen. In his fourth year at Stateline, Sheen's booth has become larger and has more items for sale, including extra-large beaded necklaces.
"It's all about having fun for everyone," he said.
Kate Moyer said she and her twin sister came to Tahoe to celebrate New Year's partly because of the opportunity to snowboard. She plans to ride Saturday, then get to celebrating the exit of 2005 and the introduction of 2006.
"I figure (we'll celebrate) as soon as we get off the slopes," she said.
Taxi
Tips for getting a cab on New Year's Eve weekend:
-- For a ride to Stateline, call early for a cab and be ready to go five minutes after arrangements are made.
-- After midnight, walk westbound against traffic and look for an empty cab coming back to Stateline past Raley's supermarket.
-- Head for a casino's valet area. Cabs tend to congregate at the valet area.
-- Have a meal, coffee or spend time at Stateline. Look for a cab a little past 4 a.m. Sunday.
Source: Yellow Cab
Get a tow if you've had too much
AAA is instituting a new program called "Tipsy Tow" to prevent drunken driving. Those who have had too much to drink can call 800-222-4357 for a free tow home of up to seven miles. Tell the AAA operator of needing a "Tipsy Tow" and a tow truck will be on its way. Additional passengers besides the driver may also have a ride if there is room in the tow truck. The service is available in Northern California and Nevada. The program is for members and nonmembers of AAA.
Spokeswoman Jenny Mack said AAA is doing it for the safety of communities and added: "We won't tow you to your next party."
Taxi
Tips for getting a cab on New Year's Eve weekend:
-- For a ride to Stateline, call early for a cab and be ready to go five minutes after arrangements are made.
-- After midnight, walk westbound against traffic and look for an empty cab coming back to Stateline past Raley's supermarket.
-- Head for a casino's valet area. Cabs tend to congregate at the valet area.
-- Have a meal, coffee or spend time at Stateline. Look for a cab a little past 4 a.m. Sunday.
Source: Yellow Cab
Get a tow if you've had too much
AAA is instituting a new program called "Tipsy Tow" to prevent drunken driving. Those who have had too much to drink can call 800-222-4357 for a free tow home of up to seven miles. Tell the AAA operator of needing a "Tipsy Tow" and a tow truck will be on its way. Additional passengers besides the driver may also have a ride if there is room in the tow truck. The service is available in Northern California and Nevada. The program is for members and nonmembers of AAA.
Spokeswoman Jenny Mack said AAA is doing it for the safety of communities and added: "We won't tow you to your next party."
