Lahontan vs. Martis Camp: Which Fits Your Lifestyle?
Written by Jackie Ginley, Tahoe Truckee Real Estate Expert
The answer to that question really depends on your goals. That's why I like to start my client relationship with a phone call or a meeting to understand YOU: your values, your hobbies, what you do for fun, where you see yourself and your loved ones 5 to 10 years from now, and how your Tahoe property fits that picture.
The best representation isn't just about finding listings—any realtor with access to the MLS can do that. It's about having a granular understanding of the communities in which I work, knowing the people involved, and recognizing opportunities as they emerge.
“My goal is to match exceptional clients with exceptional properties, whether those homes happen to be on—or off—the market.”
Below are a couple of real world scenarios:
San Francisco Buyer Seeks Solitude at $5M
Q: "My wife and I are from San Francisco. We have grown children who are off on their own. I'm about 5 years out from retirement, and wife still works (although she can work remotely). We're looking for an exclusive golf course community with social programming and fitness classes. We'd like spend around $5 million, plus or minus. We can spend more for the "perfect" home, or for a home with at least 4 bedrooms, but we're more comfortable around $5M. Privacy and elbow room are important to us. In the City, we live very close to our neighbors, and we'd prefer our Tahoe home to be a place where we can relax outside in the hot tub without seeing other neighbors."
A: Lahontan is a better match for this couple. It comes down to price: $5M +/- is slightly above the median sales price in Lahontan, and it opens the selection to a wide range of properties offering both privacy and at least 4 bedrooms. 
In Martis Camp, the $5M range offers a selection of Cabin homes on lots of less than half an acre. 'Cabin' is sort of a misnomer, because many of the homes on Martis Camp's Cabin lots are extraordinary examples of contemporary design with walls of glass, and blue-rolled steel. But due to the smaller lot size, they feel more dense than other properties in Martis Camp.
Martis Camp cabin home pictured here sold for $4.825M in 2026 ($1,485/sf)
Busy Peninsula Couple Prefer Ski-in/Ski-out
Q: My partner and I are from the Peninsula and both work 60+ hours a week. (A live-in nanny cares for our twins.) We're not big golfers, but a lot of our friends and associates are, and we're hoping the Tahoe home will be a place where we can host friends for a week and have something for everyone to enjoy. We're looking for something under $10 million, but we can go higher for the perfect home. Resale value is important to us, so we don't want to overpay. My partner is an avid skier, and would love a ski-in, ski-out location (or a home close enough to the mountain that you don't have to mess with parking to get to the lift). We eat out a lot, and prefer on-site dining options.
A: This buyer is describing the lifestyle Martis Camp was designed to deliver. The private ski lift, year-round dining, children's programming and resort atmosphere all line up with how they intend to use the home.. 
While Lahontan offers a number of great properties under $10M (all of the current inventory there is under this price point), Martis Camp's Lookout Lodge offers its own lift to the top of Northstar's Lookout Mountain as well as year-round dining options. Lahontan's main lodge restaurant closes for part of the spring and fall seasons, when there are fewer owners in residence.
The Martis Camp home pictured above is just a short walk from Lookout Lodge, which offers great dining as well as lift access to the top of Northstar's Lookout Mountain. It sold in 2025 for a little over $16.7M
Lahontan vs. Martis Camp at a Glance
| Quick Comparison | Lahontan | Martis Camp |
|---|---|---|
| The Vibe | Mountain living in a sprawling pastoral valley. | Striking architecture against a dramatic alpine backdrop. |
| Lifestyle | Relaxed lifestyle; quiet luxury. | Exclusive lifestyle; full concierge. |
| Best For | Golf purists, value-conscious luxury buyers. | Active families, ski access, extensive amenities and a full-service resort lifestyle. |
| Home Prices | $2.5M–$9M | $4.5M–$20M+ |
| Homesites | 509 homesites ranging from approximately one-quarter acre to 1.5 acres. | 671 homesites ranging from less than one-half acre to parcels of approximately 2.5–5 acres. |
| Golf Club | Initiation fee is subject to market pricing. As of mid-2026, approximately $350,000, plus annual dues of approximately $32,200. Invitational, with memberships offered publicly. | Approximately $300,000 initiation fee and $45,000 in annual dues. Private and generally limited to property owners. |
| Social Club | Social membership is optional, but club dining, swimming, tennis, fitness and spa amenities generally require membership. As of 2026, initiation is approximately $70,000, with annual dues of approximately $16,100. | A social membership transfer fee is charged when a property changes ownership. As of 2025, the fee was approximately $125,000, with annual dues of approximately $29,000, including access to club amenities and the Lake Tahoe Beach Club. |
| Amenities | Seasonal casual and formal dining, golf, tennis, swimming pools, fitness and spa facilities, clubhouses, extensive trails and public ski-shuttle access. | Year-round and seasonal dining, golf, tennis, swimming pools, fitness and spa facilities, a private Northstar ski lodge and lift access, and a Lake Tahoe Beach Club. |
*The above is based on 2026 data. Club programs, membership costs, availability and real estate conditions can change. Buyers should confirm current details before making a purchase decision.
What $3-6 Million Buys in Lahontan
What $3-6 Million Buys in Martis Camp
How will we spend our time here?
Golf
Both Lahontan and Martis Camp are exceptional golf communities, and both courses have earned 4.5-star ratings from Golf Digest. While they share that distinction, the golfing experience—and the club culture—feel quite different.
- Martis Camp, designed by Tom Fazio, is dramatic and memorable. The course winds through the mountains with sweeping vistas, bold elevation changes, and immaculate conditioning. It rewards strategic play while remaining enjoyable for a wide range of golfers. Beyond the championship course, members also enjoy the whimsical 18-hole Putting Park, where families often gather in the evenings for a relaxed round that feels more like miniature golf than serious competition.
- Lahontan, designed by Tom Weiskopf, offers a more classic golf experience. The routing flows naturally across the valley floor with broad fairways, panoramic views of Northstar, and a quieter, more traditional atmosphere. The beautifully designed nine-hole Par-three course is one of my favorite amenities—perfect for a quick evening round or introducing grandchildren to the game, while still offering enough bunkers and water hazards to keep experienced golfers engaged.
One practical distinction is membership. Lahontan offers invitational golf memberships to non-property owners, while Martis Camp golf is reserved exclusively for property owners.
Winter & Ski Access
If you're a powder hound, and you like skiing Northstar, this is one area where Martis Camp trumps Lahontan. With its own lift access to the top of Northstar's Lookout Mountain and a beautiful ski lodge to boot, Martis Camp offers unparalleled access to the slopes. Several homes, like the one pictured above with the swimming pool, are within walking distance of Lookout Lodge. Don't feel like driving? Call for the concierge shuttle, and your driver will probably even carry your gear into the lodge for you and put your boots on the warmer.
In winter, miles of hiking trails convert to cross country ski trails at both communities. Martis Camp consistently grooms for both nordic striding (parallel tracks) and skating, and offers both skis and snowshoes at the Family Barn.
Dining
Both Lahontan and Martis Camp have excellent restaurants at their main lodges, as well as other menu options open seasonally at other facilities. Martis Camp offers more of a year-round service, while Lahontan's tends to be more seasonal, with options limited to the weekends in the winter.
- Martis Camp offers year-round dining at The Lodge, it's 50,000 SF clubhouse overlooking the 18th hole. Martis Camp's Family Barn also offers pub-style fare, and is open most of the year (weekends only in the spring and fall, the so-called "shoulder seasons," when fewer owners are in residence).
- Lahontan offers several dining options during the busy summer season. Owners and golf club members can book formal dining at The Lodge, Lahontan's main clubhouse which is open 7 days a week during the summer, and Thursdays through Sundays for dinner. Camp Lahontan, also open only during summer, offers take out as well as poolside service through Labor Day.
Kids & Grandkids
Both Lahontan and Martis Camp offer summer camps and activities for children, and Martis Camp's programming is more robust. If you're looking for programming where you can drop off the kids for supervised activities, the Family Barn at Martis Camp offers a variety of activities from arts and crafts in the 2nd story loft to movie nights at a 44-seat theater. Camp Lahontan, next to the family recreataion pool (open during summer), also offers a nice spot for kids to hang out with games, as well as crafts.
Fitness & Wellness
Both communities have indoor fitness centers, as well as scheduled group lessons ranging from yoga to boot camps for the die-hards. You will find terrific spas at both Lahontan and Martis Camp, with surprisingly well stocked juice and liquor bars astride the locker rooms. Martis Camp offers a year-round saline lap pool. At Lahontan, you can try the cold plunge. (*Lahontan's fitness center is undergoing a significant renovation that should be complete in summer 2026.)
Lake Tahoe
If you absolutely need private beach access at Lake Tahoe, Martis Camp is the better option. Their beach club on Tahoe's north shore (next to The Franciscan) is about to expanded with the $26 million acquisition of Mourelatos. The North Shore property will allow Martis Camp to greatly expand what had been tight quarters on the beach, with better dining options, and possibly additional programming on the dry side of North Lake Boulevard.
Lahontan does not have a private beach at Lake Tahoe for homeowners, but there are many attractive public options on the North Shore ranging from Speedboat Beach and Kings Beach to Skylandia State park or Commons Beach in Tahoe City. You don't have to have a private beach to enjoy the Lake or the many recreational opportunities it offers.
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Getting There
Lahontan and Martis Camp are next to each other in the Martis Valley, which is less than a 3 hour drive from many parts of the Bay Area. If time is at a premium for you, Surf Air at the nearby Truckee Airport offers private and semi-private flights to and from various Bay Area locations like San Carlos. Jet commuting has become a popular option in recent years for owners who are able to spend more time at their Martis Camp or Lahontan homes, since air travel takes you from Truckee to Silicon Valley faster than it would take to drive there from Marin County or other Bay Area locations.
About Jackie
After more than a decade representing buyers and sellers, I've built relationships and market knowledge that help my clients compete intelligently, especially when inventory becomes tight. As a broker working both in California and Nevada, I can also help guide my clients through the nuances of buying in either state. One time, a client of mine from the Los Angeles area was scouring Incline Village to find the right home (for tax reasons, Nevada was a must), and she told me over lunch, "I wish I could find something like Lahontan in Nevada." So I found their perfect home in Clear Creek Tahoe.
I know it sounds stupid, but I don't really think of myself as someone who "sells" houses. I discovered during the Harvard Program on Negotiation that I'm not much of a traditional "salesperson." I bring a different skill set to the table If you want to work with someone who is smart, kind, and a good negotiator - someone who puts your interests above her own, give me a call.