Fireside Lodge — Hotel in South Lake Tahoe

This is a Motor Inn converted/renovated to a cute, Cabin Lodge type of accommodation. This place has thought of everything to make guests' stay as comfortable and fun as possible. Very family and dog friendly.

The Inn in located in a less populated location, right off HWY 89, backed up into the forest featuring various hiking & biking trails. I personally enjoyed being able to walk out my door straight onto a hiking trail.

My husband and I, along with our pup, stayed in the Field and Stream room, during the winter time. Although it was small, it was up-to-date, thoughtfully decorated, and it had everything we needed. The room was clean, and had wood floors, no carpet (which is huge in a pet friendly inn). We loved the in-room fireplace. Since we stayed for 2 nights, we asked for extra coffee (they have very simple folgers packets/powder creamer in the rooms before the good stuff gets brewed in the dining area at 0800hrs) and a couple of extra towels. We were lucky to have considerate neighbors - but be aware that the walls are thin and you may want to bring earplugs in case your neighbors are up later than you. (there are phone numbers to text staff after hours if someone has a yappy dog or decides to have a late night party - we didn't experience this though thankfully).

The dining, lounging and game area is quaint but very cute and cozy. Complimentary Happy Hour wine and cheese hit the spot! There is an excellent beer selection along with a mini bar to have cocktails in-house - available for purchase. We enjoyed the big outdoor firepit and complimentary s'mores. Next time we may use the hot sauna. There are a bunch of dvds available to take back to your room.

The resident dogs are very sweet and cute. Expect the resident dogs to be hanging out in the common areas amongst everyone (in case you have allergies). But they are very well behaved and clean. Our dog stays leashed up and to himself, away from shared areas since he's not a fan of being rushed up on by new dogs. We communicated this to staff and they were very respectful of giving us space when we went out for walks and potty breaks.

Breakfast was a sweet assortment of make- your-own waffles (with all the fixings), cereals, yoplait yogurts, toast, bagels, hard boiled eggs, coffee and juices. This is a continental breakfast, so you're not going to get your cooked eggs + protein - something to be know if you're looking for something more hearty. This is the only thing we wish this inn had so we felt nourished enough before a big hike/skiing/snowboarding/etc. We had to make another stop for a protein, non-sweets, hot breakfast (just personal preferences though).

The staff seemed to be all family. They were very attentive and the hospitality was top-notch. This is honestly a huge highlight!

We look forward to...

4 years ago, we were charged with organizing a trip for a group of friends. Approximately 20 of us travel together frequently. This time we wanted to go to the mountains. We proposed Lake Tahoe and it was met with thundering applause.

We looked at VRBO, Air BNB and other rental house agencies, but everything was so darn expensive. Then I stumbled upon Fireside Lodge. From my first conversation with Steve, I knew this was the place. We booked the entire Lodge for a long weekend in July of 2020. Then COVID hit and everything was shutting down. So, we decided to push the trip back to August of 2021. Steve was very accommodating and worked with us to make sure we got the weekend we wanted. One week before our anticipated 2021 arrival, the Calder fire breached the last mountain pass and was headed towards South Lake Tahoe, and again everything began shutting down. So, we made the decision to postpone once again - good thing, as the mandatory evacuation orders hit right in the middle of our intended visit. So, we rescheduled AGAIN, this time for late June 2022. Again, Steve was delightful in working with us to reschedule. By now, they felt like family.

Success!!! We can report that the stay at Fireside Lodge indeed occurred without incident and that everything was wonderful - Steve and Tracy were amazing hosts. The family atmosphere just continued. Daughter Olivia was so energetic and cheerful serving breakfast, and we really missed Leo on the days she wasn't working. We didn't get to meet Son Nick, but we had many enjoyable telephone conversations, including a week before our arrival as we tried to determine the next natural disaster that would delay our arrival. Thankfully, none of them came true! We really felt like family the entire visit. Breakfasts were amazing, Happy hours were great fun sitting out by the fire. The rooms were really cute and well maintained.

This was a trip to remember, and a lot of the credit goes to the...

A Warm and Memorable Stay at Fireside Lodge

We stayed at the Fireside Lodge in South Lake Tahoe for one night, and it was such a heartwarming experience. Hosts Tracy and Steve were incredibly kind and welcoming, treating us more like family than guests. The photo I’ve shared shows them preparing breakfast in the dining room, tidying dishes with care—a perfect glimpse into the warm and inviting atmosphere they’ve created here.

We arrived late at night two weeks ago to a snowy South Lake Tahoe. Thanks to their convenient non-contact check-in system, we easily got into our room. The room exceeded all expectations—it was clean, cozy, and welcoming, complete with a fireplace that quickly melted away the winter chill. Adjacent to the bedroom was a small kitchen and dining table, which was even better in person than in the pictures.

Waking up to a fresh cup of coffee and gazing out the kitchen window at the snow-covered wonderland was pure joy. The bathroom was compact but spotless and perfectly functional.

In the morning, we visited the office and were greeted by the smell of delicious homemade waffles. Guests gathered for breakfast, creating an atmosphere that felt more like being at a relative’s home than a lodge. As someone without family in the U.S., this experience was especially heartwarming—like being invited into a family gathering for a meal.

The dining room is right next to an arcade space that’s perfect for families and a quiet reading area for adults. On the wall, a sign reads, “In the mountains, life slows down, and friends stay longer.” It perfectly captures the essence of this place.

Fireside Lodge’s location is also a big plus. It’s just a 5–10 minute drive to the breathtaking Emerald Bay State Park, Heavenly Ski Resort, and some fantastic restaurants. Super convenient!

We’re already planning to return for a longer stay. Tracy and Steve, thank you for everything—you made our trip unforgettable. We’ll definitely be back to...