Martis Camp
Updated September 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Martis Camp is a private, gated club community in Truckee's Martis Valley. It isn't open to the public and homes aren't rented nightly. What's inside and how access works.
Martis Camp is a private, gated club community of 2,177 acres in the Martis Valley, between Truckee and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, off Highway 267 next to Northstar. It is not open to the public: the golf course, the lodges, the trails, the lakefront Beach Shack and the private chairlift to Northstar are for owners who are club members and their guests. Homes there are not rented by the night.
We manage 41 vacation homes on the North and West Shore of the lake. We have no homes in Martis Camp or Truckee. Our nearest homes are in Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay, 15 to 25 minutes down Highway 267. This guide sets out what Martis Camp is, how access actually works, and what visitors can do nearby.
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Martis Camp at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, gated residential community and club |
| Size | 2,177 acres; 671 homesites |
| Elevation | About 5,900 to 7,100 feet |
| Where | Martis Valley, Placer County, off Highway 267 between Truckee and Kings Beach |
| Public access | None; owners who are members and their guests only |
| Nightly rentals | No |
| Golf | Tom Fazio 18 holes, par 72; Dick Bailey putting park |
| Ski | Martis Camp Express chairlift to Northstar's Lookout Mountain |
| Lake | Beach Shack in Tahoe Vista, about 12 miles from the gate |
Source: Martis Camp's own description and its Beach Shack page, checked September 2026.
What is Martis Camp?
Martis Camp is a low-density master-planned community of 671 homesites on 2,177 forested acres. Estate homesites average more than an acre and a half; smaller cabin homesites run about a third to half an acre. The club, Martis Camp Club, runs the amenities: golf, a ski lodge on Northstar, a clubhouse, a family activity building, a lakefront beach club and a network of private trails.
It was developed by DMB Associates of Arizona, and the golf course opened in 2008. The original developer sold out its homesites years ago, so every purchase today is a resale.
Is Martis Camp open to the public?
No. This is the most searched question about the place, so here is the plain answer:
- The gate is staffed. There is no public entry, no day pass and no public tour program.
- The amenities are for members. Owning a home and belonging to the club are separate steps, and the amenities follow club membership.
- Guests go in with a member. Friends and family of members can use the facilities under the club's guest rules.
- Buyers tour with an agent. If you are genuinely shopping for a home, a real estate agent can arrange to show a listing.
- The chairlift is private. You cannot ride the Martis Camp Express from Northstar into the community.
Please respect the gate. The roads beyond it are private, and residents value their privacy. For the same reason we don't name residents here.
Where is Martis Camp?
Martis Camp sits in the Martis Valley in Placer County, off Highway 267 between Truckee and Brockway Summit, bordering Northstar. According to Martis Camp, it is next to the Truckee Tahoe Airport and about 30 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Its address is Truckee, but it is not in downtown Truckee, and it is not on the lake.
From the gate area on Highway 267:
- Downtown Truckee: about 10 to 15 minutes north.
- Kings Beach: about 15 to 20 minutes south, over Brockway Summit.
- Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay: about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Incline Village: about 25 to 30 minutes.
Brockway Summit is about 7,200 feet, and winter chain controls on Highway 267 are common. Our winter guide covers chains and parking.
Martis Camp amenities
Golf
An 18-hole, par-72 course by Tom Fazio, 7,751 yards from the back tees, which Golf Digest rated the third-best new private course of 2009. There is also an 18-hole putting park designed by Dick Bailey. The course is private; there are no public tee times.
Skiing: the Martis Camp Express and Lookout Lodge
The members-only Martis Camp Express, a high-speed chairlift, climbs from inside the community to Northstar's Lookout Mountain in about six minutes. Lookout Lodge, about 8,000 square feet, is the members' ski lodge at the bottom. The lift gets you onto Northstar; you still need a Northstar ticket or an Epic Pass to ski it. Northstar targets November 20, 2026 for opening day.
Camp Lodge and the Family Barn
Camp Lodge, about 50,000 square feet, has dining, a spa and fitness center, and an outdoor lap pool with soaking tubs. The Family Barn, about 18,000 square feet, has bowling, a pool, a movie theater, a soda fountain and an outdoor amphitheater.
Trails and parks
More than 26 miles of private hiking and biking trails, several pavilions and parks, and the Lost Library, a small reading cabin along the trails.
The Beach Shack on Lake Tahoe
Martis Camp's beach club is on the North Shore in Tahoe Vista, about 12 miles from the gate. In fall 2025 the club bought the former Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort, a family-run lakeside resort for nearly 50 years, adding 275 feet of shoreline and about 17,250 square feet of beach. Members get kayaks, paddleboards, food and drink, and valet parking. It is private; the public beaches nearby are listed below.
Martis Camp golf membership and club costs
Club membership is tied to owning property in Martis Camp: you buy a home or homesite, then apply to the club. There are different membership levels, and golf is a separate, higher level. The club does not publish its fees, and the figures you'll see quoted online vary and date quickly. If you are serious, ask the listing agent and the club for the current initiation fee, dues and any waitlist before you make an offer.
Martis Camp real estate
Martis Camp is one of the most expensive communities around Lake Tahoe. Every sale now is a resale, and prices depend on the homesite, the view, and how close it is to the golf course or the ski lift. The community's design review sets standards for new homes.
If you're considering buying in Martis Camp or elsewhere around the lake, our sister brokerage Real Estate Tahoe can help. If you're thinking about a home you'd rent out, remember that Martis Camp is not a nightly-rental community; our North Lake Tahoe investing guide explains where short-term rentals are allowed.
Can you rent in Martis Camp? Ski leases and alternatives
Not by the night. Martis Camp homes are not offered as short-term vacation rentals. What does show up are monthly or seasonal leases, often called ski leases, of 31 nights or more, arranged through local agents. Terms vary by home and must follow the community's rules, so ask the agent what is allowed.
If you want to be near Martis Camp and Northstar for a week, the realistic options are:
- Northstar Village and Northstar's own neighborhoods, which have condos and homes on the mountain.
- Truckee, 10 to 15 minutes north, with hotels and vacation homes under the town's permit rules.
- The North Shore of the lake, 15 to 25 minutes south: Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay. This is where our homes are, and it's the same stretch of shore as the Martis Camp Beach Shack.
From our Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista and Carnelian Bay homes, Northstar is about 20 minutes up Highway 267, and the lake is minutes away. Browse our homes, or look at ski cabins and homes with a hot tub. If you book, book on our own site: our nightly prices on Airbnb are set 28% higher than on our site, and 17% higher on Vrbo, and each home page shows the dollar saving for your dates.
Things to do near Martis Camp (open to everyone)
- Northstar. Skiing on the Epic Pass in winter; in summer, the village and the bike park. Opening day target: November 20, 2026.
- Martis Creek Lake and the Martis Valley trails. Public trails in the valley floor off Highway 267, good for an easy walk or ride.
- Downtown Truckee. Restaurants and shops on the historic main street.
- Kings Beach State Recreation Area. The big public beach on the North Shore, 15 to 20 minutes away.
- The Lodge at Tahoe Donner. A public restaurant and wedding venue on Truckee's north side; see our guide to The Lodge.
- Summer hikes. Our Tahoe National Forest guide covers trails around Truckee.
Martis Camp vs. nearby communities
| Community | Where | Access | Nightly rentals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martis Camp | Martis Valley, next to Northstar | Gated; members and guests | No |
| Lahontan | Martis Valley, off Highway 267 | Gated golf community | Ask the HOA |
| Northstar | On the mountain | Resort village open to all | Yes, with permits |
| Tahoe Donner | North side of Truckee | Open community; amenities for members and guests, some public | Yes, under Truckee's permit rules |
| Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay | North Shore of the lake | Open towns | Yes, under Placer County's permit rules |
Rental rules change. Check the current county or town ordinance and the HOA rules before you buy with rental income in mind. This isn't legal advice.
Plan a trip near Martis Camp
You can't book a stay inside Martis Camp, but you can ski the same mountain and swim off the same stretch of shore. Base in Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista or Carnelian Bay and you're about 20 minutes from Northstar and minutes from the lake. Search your dates, or call us at (530) 317-0291 and we'll help you pick a home.
Questions
Is Martis Camp open to the public?
No. Martis Camp is a private, gated community with a staffed gatehouse. The golf course, lodges, trails, Beach Shack and the Martis Camp Express chairlift are for property owners who are club members and their guests. There are no public tours and no day passes.
Where is Martis Camp?
In the Martis Valley in Placer County, between Truckee and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, off Highway 267 next to Northstar. It is next to the Truckee Tahoe Airport and about 30 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, according to Martis Camp.
Can you rent a home in Martis Camp?
Not by the night. Martis Camp homes are not offered as short-term vacation rentals. The only rentals we have seen advertised are monthly or seasonal leases, often called ski leases, arranged through local agents. Confirm the terms with the listing agent, because the community's own rules govern leasing.
Is Martis Camp connected to Northstar?
Yes. The members-only Martis Camp Express, a high-speed chairlift, runs from Lookout Lodge inside the community up to Northstar's Lookout Mountain in about six minutes. Members still need a Northstar lift ticket or Epic Pass to ski Northstar.
Does Martis Camp have a golf course?
Yes. An 18-hole, par-72 Tom Fazio course of 7,751 yards, plus an 18-hole putting park by Dick Bailey. Golf Digest rated it the third-best new private course of 2009. It is private; there is no public tee time.
Where is the Martis Camp Beach Shack?
On the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, in Tahoe Vista, about 12 miles from the Martis Camp gate. In fall 2025 the club bought the former Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort, adding 275 feet of shoreline and about 17,250 square feet of beach. It is members only.
How do you buy a home in Martis Camp?
Every sale today is a resale, through a real estate agent. Club membership is separate from the home purchase and has its own application and costs, so ask the listing agent and the club for current figures before you make an offer.