Evo to Expand to California with Third Adventure Campus and Hotel
This article originally appeared on Outside
Outdoor retailer and adventure travel planner evo continues its charge into lodging with plans to open a third adventure hotel in early 2023. Campus Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe, California’s Commons Beach will join the company's Journeyman Lodge in Whistler, which it acquired in 2021, and the Evo Hotel in Salt Lake City that opened in June 2022.
“Our aim is to provide a gathering place for the community, anchored in our shared love for the outdoors,” Evo's founder and CEO, Bryce Phillips, said in a press release. “We are really grateful to have this opportunity in Tahoe. It’s a place that is truly magnetic for us--so many great people and relationships from over the years, the beauty of the region, its culture--all intersect making this an especially exciting next step for evo.”
Campus Tahoe City is envisioned as a community gathering space for people "bonded by a passion for the outdoors and the culture that surrounds the lifestyle," the press release said.
The site will repurpose the historic Tahoe City Inn as part of its design. Both day-use guests and hotel residents can enjoy water sports on North Lake Tahoe and area skiing and mountain biking. The space will also include a cafe and bar, service shop, and community art, music, and performance spaces.
The historic significance and charm of the Tahoe City Inn will be preserved, the press release said. Evo representatives also say the company wants Campus Tahoe City to contribute to the Tahoe community and is planning to incorporate several units of workforce housing on its property.
“This campus project will breathe new life into the existing buildings and do so in a way that celebrates the local surroundings," said Tommy Trause, head of new locations development and hospitality at evo. "We are inspired to spotlight the culture, art, and recreation in this fantastic community, generating even more excitement about the area and its heritage."
Evo has a community meeting planned for September to start forging a bond with Tahoe City residents and local businesses.
“We are deeply committed to understanding the community needs prior to opening and will be hosting a community open house and social on Thursday, September 15," evo’s head of marketing, Rebecca Heard, said. "We’re inviting residents and locals to explore the project, hear from evo employees and leadership, ask questions, and more.” Evo has created a meeting page for registration and updates.
As a brand, evo describes itself as an outdoor experiences company whose purpose is to "make life better by building community and igniting the adventurous spirit that lives within us all."
Bryce Phillips founded evo in 2010 as a Seattle-based online retailer of primarily ski, snowboard, and skateboarding gear and apparel. Evo has since expanded to 11 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In January 2022, the company launched Rhythm Japan--a retail, rental, and experiences company with stores in Niseko, Hakuba, and Furano. Its evoTrip adventure travel division curates skiing, mountain biking, surfing, trekking, and other adventure experiences around the world at locations including in Japan, Finland, Austria, and Spain.
Evo also supports several nonprofit organizations dedicated to getting underserved kids outdoors, including Skate Like a Girl, Indigenous Life Sport Academy, and National Brotherhood of Skiers.
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