Club - Martis Camp

Martis Camp ClubA Special Place

From the beginning, the journey of Martis Camp Club has been one of
heart and hard work in pursuit of creating an exceptional Member experience,
built on quality time with family and friends. Martis Camp's growth and success
is founded in the partnership of DMB Associates and Highlands Group.

Foundation
It was around the turn of the millennium when the development team first walked the property that would eventually become Martis Camp. With decades of experience behind them and the 21st century in front of them, developers Jim Bartlett and Nick Hackstock of DMB/Highlands Group felt it was time for a similar turn of the page in community development. Martis Camp’s breathtaking location, paired with their desire to create something spectacular, set the wheels of imagination in motion.

Vision
That Martis Camp would be an exceptional golf community was assured from the beginning. With Tom Fazio at the drawing board, one of the most talented people in the golf industry was hard at work designing the 18-hole course in the most appropriate and playable route through the forest. Yet the development team was not content to stop there and thought about what more they could envision for the community, beyond a premier golf experience. Putting family and time together at the center of the club experience brought new opportunities for creativity.

Identity
As Martis Camp’s family ethos came into focus, the team crafted amenities in support of it, around aspects of life that never go out of style: spending quality time together, finding inspiration in nature and creating family legacy for generations to come. The team also threw in a dash of whimsy, a bit of surprise and acres of fun, aligning Martis Camp’s lifestyle with its meaningful name. As Architect John Sather noted, “The word ‘Camp’ has a playfulness to it. A place where your mind might wander while you are in another place and long for a retreat to nature. A place of informality and togetherness.”

The Lost Library, 2008
True to its name, the Lost Library feels like a forgotten treasure tucked away in the forest along the Cross Camp Trail. As the first Club amenity built at Martis Camp, its diminutive size (just 1,000 square feet) and rustic exterior may have been surprising to some but its charm and intellectual appeal spoke volumes about Martis Camp’s commitment to inspired mountain living. Solar powered, LEED-certified and always stocked with M&Ms, the Lost Library remains a favorite escape of many Martis Camp Members.

The Family Barn, 2009
By the name alone, no one knew what to expect of Martis Camp’s much anticipated Family Barn. Who had heard of such a place? Yet when it opened on Fourth of July weekend in 2009, the Family Barn redefined the nexus for social gatherings and family togetherness through its Art Loft, movie theater, bowling alley, basketball court, swimming complex and outdoor amphitheater – all in one place with a soda fountain, too. Club lifestyle had been reinvented for the active family of the 21st century.

Parks & Pavilions
Martis Camp’s alpine setting provided the ultimate outdoor playground, connected by a 26-mile trail network created from the historic logging roads and skid trails already on the property. With a few creative enhancements, the fun was just beginning. From 2008 to 2021, the Club added unique amenities to each neighborhood in the community including the 18-hole Putting Park, Aerial Adventure Park, Tennis Pavilion, Pickleball Pavilion, Park Pavilion and sports field, Springs Pavilion (pictured), Creekside Pavilion and Hunter's Camp.

The Camp Lodge, 2011
Finding a location for a 65,000 square-foot clubhouse could have been a daunting task but, after noting a few potential locations on the map of the community, a bit of trailblazing led to the moment of discovery by Partner Ron Parr. Work began soon after on designing the crown jewel of Martis Camp’s amenities – a clubhouse resplendent in its surroundings with the character that had come to define the community and set it apart from others. The Camp Lodge is home to the Bar & Bistro, coffeehouse and bakery, fine dining rooms, golf shop, spa and boutique, fitness center, outdoor lap pool and soaking tubs, and locker rooms.

Lookout Lodge, 2012
With Martis Camp being a year-round destination neighboring Northstar California, all the elements were present to create private ski access for Club Members. Through collaboration with Northstar, extension of the ski lift and ski runs, and construction of Lookout Lodge, the dream became reality, adding an invaluable winter dimension to the Club experience. In addition, Lookout Lodge offers indoor and outdoor dining, equipment storage, a ski shop, and daily shuttle service available from every home in the community to the Martis Camp Express Lift throughout the ski season.

The Beach Shack, 2013
With the region’s main attraction just a skip of a stone away, the development team was always hopeful of extending the Club experience to the shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2013, the opportunity presented itself in the form of a lakeshore real estate listing that compelled a visit by the development team. Shortly after, the Beach Shack at Lake Tahoe was born, adding days at the lake to Martis Camp's summer activities. Valet parking, chaise lounges, changing rooms, bar and dining service, and kayaks and paddleboards invite lazy days of water, sand and sun.

Residential Architecture
Beyond Martis Camp's unique Club amenities, the community's remarkable residential architecture has developed through a careful blend of guidance and freedom. The collective result expresses our mountain lifestyle, while each home remains unique to its site and its homeowners. We support diversity of style and form within a broader design aesthetic appropriate for our alpine environment. Homes in design proceed through a phased approval process with Architecture Review, ensuring that all completed homes are exemplary of our architecture guidelines.

Architect: Ted Brobst
Photo: Asa Gilmore

Summer Concert Series
Martis Camp Club's Summer Concert Series annually invites established and up-and-coming artists to perform on the Family Barn stage at the amphitheater. The series has also included performances at Lookout Lodge and intimate acoustic evenings by the Concert Park Lake. We've had the pleasure of welcoming singers, songwriters and musicians from all over the nation including Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett, Kenny Loggins, Wilson Phillips, the Beach Boys, Huey Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Kelley, Crystal Gayle, Colbie Caillat (pictured), Pablo Cruise, Runaway June, Pete Escovedo, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and many dance and cover bands as well.

Dining
From morning to evening, Club Members have many options for dining at Martis Camp. Martis Perk starts the day with fresh coffee, housemade pastries and breakfast items at the Camp Lodge. The Family Barn soda fountain offers casual family favorites for lunch, dinner and dessert including burgers, sandwiches, shakes and sundaes. The Camp Lodge Bar & Bistro serves up housemade pizzas, artisan salads, delicious entrées and a menu of steakhouse cuts cooked to perfection. The exquisite Cliff Room welcomes Club Members for fine dining with a panoramic view of the Sierra. Lookout Lodge offers seasonal specialties at the base of Lookout Mountain – warm up and refuel on winter ski days, and have a seat on the terrace for alfresco summer dining.

Folk School & the Art Loft
Living to Learn! Martis Camp’s Folk School engages Members in arts and activities centered on history, tradition, social interaction and quiet reflection. Experienced instructors teach everything from painting to pottery to quilting to woodworking, and many other art forms in between. Folk School's Epicurean Series explores the world of food and wine, culinary techniques and how-to processes such as canning and cheesemaking. Folk School curriculum runs year-round with a variety of classes, workshops and week-long sessions available to Club Members.

The Next Chapter
With the completion of the community and turnover from the developer to the Members in January 2019, Martis Camp's next chapter has begun. The exceptional quality of the Member experience remains our top priority as we look ahead to the expansion of Club amenities including Lookout Lodge (completed December 2023), the Camp Lodge Fitness Center and the sports field. In addition, the new Event Barn (under construction) will provide another venue for the Club, as well as Members seeking a location for a wedding or special event. The future of the Club continues to grow, along with the membership and the many relationships formed here at Martis Camp ... a special place.