Lake Alpine Lodge
Lake Alpine Lodge
Currently recruiting for the season from June 10th, 2024 to September 30th, 2024.
Lake Alpine Lodge is a family-owned, warm-weather seasonal, high-altitude, well-established resort. We offer lodging, camping, dining, watercraft rentals, and retail with a focus on friendly, elevated service. During peak summer season, the newly redesigned, quick-service casual restaurant operates lakeside at high volume, serving American cuisine and drinks to hundreds of visitors per day.
Nestled between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, high atop the least populated county in California
- Location
- California
- Season
- Summer and Fall
- Staff size
- 30
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Housing is provided at no cost to qualified candidates
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- Yes
- Meals
- Some meals / discounts
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Intermittent
About Lake Alpine Lodge
Our diverse staff at Lake Alpine Lodge includes life-long locals, experienced professionals, international and domestic students, and devoted leadership. Our short, fast-paced season requires dedicated, energetic employees, who are excited to be a part of a team and have a keen eye for efficiency.
We welcome visitors and locals into the remote Sierra, encouraging appreciation of the Alpine forests and waters with elevated service, accommodations, and answers.
We use this mission statement to guide our decision-making, and trust our employees to do the same. We have personally worked many hospitality jobs, experiencing the cringe-y, the mediocre, and the fantastic. We’ve lived the frustration that comes from not fulfilling a reasonable guest request only because it is against the rules, or because penny-pinching takes precedence. That’s not us. Much of our clientele returns every year, often through generations. We rely on our staff to convey a genuine, welcoming, considerate sense of "home" to our guests. Without faceless corporate overlords inspecting our every decision, our timeline is shortened and our team feels appreciated, finding true value in their contribution.
We are honest and hard-working people; no one coasts through a season with us. We value cool heads and positive attitudes, leading by example. And while we expect dedication, we also appreciate it. We keep our Lodge safe, comfortable, and fun for everyone. We appreciate that an employee gives us not just their labor, but their summer (and fall). Everyone involved should end their season happy with that decision.
The Employee Experience
Lake Alpine Lodge employees enjoy their summer in the high-altitude, remote Sierra with abundant recreational opportunities. We are considerate of a proper work-life balance, and take a special effort for our employees to be able to take advantage of the unique landscape.
We ask all staff to be prepared to work every weekend during peak season, June 15 to mid August/Labor Day if possible. We split days off only when absolutely necessary, and can usually give additional days off during the week when requested. If possible, we schedule friends off together and provide last-minute flexibility.
Restaurant staff usually has the option of AM or PM shifts, opening part of their workdays to recreation. Store and boat employees usually work longer, all-day shifts, and a 4 day work week can be implemented if desired.
With the short season, busy weekends, and the remoteness of our area, it is important that individuals are self-motivated to build their own experiences. As dedicated owners, we work all day every day throughout the season running what is basically a small temporary village. We do our best to answer questions, provide connections, and schedule adequate time off for our newcomer staff, providing the framework for staff to build upon.
We also have many employees who like to work as much as possible, saving money and spending their nights in front of a campfire. For them, we have plenty of work, and fire rings, and picnic tables lakeside.
Ideal Candidate
A successful Lake Alpine Lodge employee will be:
- high energy and sociable with a positive attitude
- willing to learn and improve
- punctual, reliable, consistent, and respectful
- comfortable at high-volume business levels
- understanding of the variable business levels of seasonal operations
- willing to step in and help any department when needed
- able to work unsupervised and find new tasks to complete on their own
- open with management about their concerns and issues
- happy in the remote Sierras, doesn’t need to go out on the town once a week
- comfortable in rustic, most likely shared, living conditions (if using our facilities)
Expanding a bit more on a positive attitude, because we regard it so highly. Many of our guests look forward to their time at Lake Alpine all year. Our staff needs to understand that sentiment and rise to the expectation, and occasionally it may be taxing. We aren't perfect and don’t expect to be. In our secluded, high-altitude, nearly one-century old location, a lot can, and does, challenge us every season. We lose power, pipes break, 100 people show up at once on a slow day, someone is irrationally unkind, supplies don't get delivered, equipment breaks when we need it most...
We are people who don't just weather these problems, we thrive on them. We love the adventure of problem-solving, adapting, and getting through a seemingly impossible day, and dissecting it afterward. And we love doing it as a team. We foster teamwork because it makes work fun. We appreciate the unique personalities, experiences, and interests of each individual, and enjoy building the relationships that take us through the season and beyond!
Room and Board
We do our best to offer housing for every employee that needs it. We do not charge a fee for our housing. We only require that all employees are respectful of the housing rules, and donate as much of their time as necessary so the units remain as clean and tidy as when they arrived. Each season we are housing more of our staff than ever before, and we are constantly expanding and improving our facilities and amenities.
We have a variety of accommodations: cabins, bunkhouses, sleeper cabins, and tent cabins. Most sleeping arrangements are shared, except possibly tent cabins and early or late season. If you need to have a private room for the whole season, it will probably be in a tent cabin. Roommates may change throughout the season (we have many more employees during peak season). Some have kitchens and bathrooms, some use a shared, public facility.
It is important to note that we are truly in the middle of the alpine wilderness. Our buildings are old, and tent cabins are 4 canvas walls with unsealed openings to outside. Forest wildlife such as spiders, rodents, and bears are just a part of life for us. If you're super skiddish around critters or deathly terrified of bears, living at Lake Alpine might not be a great fit.
All positions are open to couples and friends, though we cannot guarantee private housing if using our facilities. We do our best.
Candidates with small mobile housing (vans and small trailers) are strongly encouraged to apply, and it is possible to park on the property. Larger accommodations (RVs and large trailers) will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Please note that we do not have any RV hookups.
We are a dog-friendly property, and those bringing their own mobile housing are welcome to bring well-behaved, friendly dogs, provided they are able to remain, quietly, in the van or RV during shifts (they cannot be tethered outside, and they cannot bark incessantly).
All food from the store, which stocks many basic groceries, can be purchased at a 40% discount. Restaurant discount is 50%. Specific food desired for personal use can be ordered for delivery along with our restaurant delivery and purchased at cost (no markup from Lake Alpine Lodge).
USPS, FedEx, and UPS all deliver daily to our Lodge.
Employee Perks
Employees are able to use our watercraft rentals on their off time, during normal, non-peak business hours, free of charge (kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, pedalboats).
Employees receive a 40% discount on all convenience store and grocery items. Apparel and souvenirs have a 20% discount applied (No discount on tobacco or alcohol).
10% discount on all packages in the Sierras with California Rock Guides!
Discounts on cabins and tent cabins for family/friends are possible during off-peak season.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Public transportation to our location, unfortunately, does not exist. Bicycles and mountain biking in the area are indeed very popular, but only in the recreational sense.
Having a vehicle is highly advantageous. We have space for employees to park their vehicles. Parking adjacent to your living quarters is not guaranteed.
We do our best to coordinate rides to those in need. We can assist personally for rides for arrival and departure, but not throughout the season.
The closest small town is Arnold, which is about a 30-minute drive. Murphys is around an hour. The closest airport and greyhound bus station is in Reno, Nevada, about 2.5 hours away. Sacramento is about the same, though the drive is more city and less mountain.
For Fun
If you're considering working a season with us, the Sierra Nevada wilderness doesn't need a hard sell.
Lake Alpine and the surrounding forests offer all the recreational opportunities you'd expect: kayaking, fishing, hiking, paddle boarding, cycling, 4x4 trails, hunting, mountain biking, backpacking, and rock climbing. We often encounter more obscure activities from our staff and clientele as well, like magnet fishing, downhill longboarding, and drone photography.
Check out our website for more details on activities in the area.
Current Job Openings
- Cleans cabins and tent cabins after guest departure
- Makes bed, scrubs toilets and showers, mops floors, etc.
- Works quickly, often as a team of two
- Detail oriented
- Cleans public bathrooms and showers
- Cleans lodge/lodge bathrooms throughout the day and after closing
- Cleans and stocks Day Use Areas/restrooms
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Taking accurate orders from guests, requires comprehensive knowledge of changing menu
- Accurate handling of currency and completing transactions
- Bussing tables
- Washing dishes
- Cleaning and stocking of self-service station
- Check-ins with dining guests to ensure their comfort and satisfaction
- Friendly, welcoming demeanor to all guests, especially during high business levels
- Expansion of duties on slower days with smaller crew, may include food preparation
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Able to work all weekends during season (June 15th-Labor Day, exceptions made when school starts, but must be available for Labor Day weekend)
- California safe Food Handler’s card for all restaurant/bar employees (Lake Alpine Lodge will assist with and pay for certification)
- Preparation and breakdown of station for daily service
- Preparation and plating of food for customers in accordance with health guidelines and Lake Alpine Lodge specifications
- Knowledge of inventory and awareness of supplies and tools needed for service
- Washing dishes
- Maintaining a clean and safe kitchen
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Able to work all weekends during the season (June 15th-Labor Day, exceptions made when school starts, but must be available for Labor Day weekend)
- California safe Food Handler’s card for all restaurant/bar employees
- Is able to perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting, dragging, pulling, squatting, high stepping, and balancing on unstable surfaces
- All completed outside, at 7200 ft elevation, continuously throughout a shift
- Greets all incoming and outgoing guests and assists with watercraft
- Makes sure all guests understand safety regulations (eg wear life jackets)
- Reports to and takes direction from store staff by radio
- Continuously inspect all watercraft
- Basic repairs on watercraft (eg identify and plug leaks)
- Keep a clean and presentable area
- Performs cleaning duties for the entire area, including cleaning bathrooms and trash pickup
- Spends downtime working in store
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Able to work all weekends during season (June 15th-Labor Day, exceptions made when school starts, but must be available for Labor Day weekend)
- Setup/Breakdown of area for service
- Maintain a clean, safe work space
- Friendly, welcoming demeanor to all guests, especially during high business levels
- Knowledge of a wide assortment of cocktails, beer, and wine
- Taking accurate food and beverage orders
- Maintaining an accurate bar inventory from multiple locations
- Use of a staircase while holding a tray of drinks
- Requirements for all positions:
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Able to work all weekends during the season (June 15th-Labor Day, exceptions made when school starts, but must be available for Labor Day weekend)
- California ServSafe, Food Handlers, and TIPS certifications are required before employment begins.
- Greeting all incoming guests
- Computer literate, can learn retail and hospitality software
- Gaining comprehensive knowledge of the geographic area
- Making cabin reservations
- Checking in/out of cabin guests
- Handling of currency/processing transactions
- Answering phones
- Watercraft rental operations
- Maintenance of a well-organized retail space
- Stocking/inventory/checking in new products
- Is comfortable multitasking and working with several people simultaneously
- Takes direction, works well as part of a team
- Able to work unsupervised
- Frequently takes on duties that are “outside” of official position
- Punctuality, consistency, positive attitude, a desire to learn and improve
- Comfortable at high volume business levels
- Well-groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
- Able to work all weekends during the season (June 15th-Labor Day, exceptions made when school starts, but must be available for Labor Day weekend)
- California Safe Food Handler’s card for all restaurant/bar employees (Lake Alpine Lodge will assist with and pay for certification)
Campground
Campground Host
Please note that our camp hosts almost always have their own mobile housing. The only housing we can offer camp hosts is a completely off grid tent cabin, with very limited furniture, which is difficult to live in for an extended period of time in a high alpine, bear-conscious campground. The couple of times we have done this is when it has been absolutely necessary, and only for the peak of peak season (6 weeks around July). Because of the logistical difficulties for an employee in this situation, we do not consider this a default option for new applicants. If you do not have your own mobile housing, we strongly suggest you consider submitting a different position as your first choice.
Camp hosts are needed for multiple campgrounds. Our busy campgrounds require hosts that are welcoming, knowledgeable, capable, and reliable.
Campground Hosts live on-site in each campground. We provide the sites, but they do not have hookups for electricity. Water is available, but not sewer or a dump station. We do not provide RVs.
Season is from when the snow melts (usually early June) to when it gets cold enough for pipes to freeze (usually early-mid October).
Campground hosts are paid for 40-hour work weeks. The job not only entails guest interaction and reservation management while also keeping the campground clean and presentable. This includes cleaning fire pits, picking up trash, painting, cleaning bathrooms, and dealing with late-night disturbances.
All campgrounds are on Recreation.gov, please check them out! You will find ours with the format: (Lake Alpine) West Shore Campground, (Lake Alpine) Silvertip Campground, etc.
Housekeeping
Housekeeper
Housekeepers work alone or in pairs to clean and stock our cabins and tent cabins after guest departure. Housekeepers work unsupervised, cleaning our fully furnished cabins to our guests’ high standards quickly and efficiently with minimal direction from management. Housekeepers also clean the public showers/bathroom building, and the public use areas of the Lodge.
We are a large property, and Cleaning staff duties are not isolated to cabins. Cleaning Staff performs cleaning duties throughout the Lodge, helping to keep all public areas clean. They assist with closing down the Restaurant each night. They support the Campground staff in keeping in keeping the Day Use areas clean, and the bathrooms clean and stocked.
This is a great job for someone task oriented, who likes just putting their head down and getting things done. Housekeepers can listen to their own music, provided they reliably answer the radio. If they so desire and the situation allows, they're time off can be flexible based on tasks completed (in other words getting off work early by completing everything necessary quickly).
Housekeeper
Requirements for all positions:
Kitchen
Dishwasher
We have concluded hiring for this position for the 2024 season. However, our needs often change in our volatile, high alpine location. Applications received from qualified candidates will be kept on file for such an occasion.
This position has an ideal season schedule for a student (full time in Peak Season). After school starts full time hours may not be possible.
The Dishwashing position entails, clearing/bussing tables, stocking the self-service station, washing dishes, and cleaning.
It's mostly cleaning. There will be one dishwasher for the entire season. They will work 5 days a week, less in the shoulder season depending on staffing and restaurant hours. The shift will be PM, most likely 12-9 with an hour lunch, and include closing down the kitchen.
Our dish pit is is not isolated from the rest of the kitchen, they are very much in the mix. The dishwasher also consistently helps in FOH duties, such as stocking and bussing tables.
This position will receive tips. Tips are shared among the entire restaurant staff.
Cashier/Dining Room Attendant Basic Duties:
Requirements for all positions:
Line/Prep Cook
We have concluded hiring for this position for the 2024 season. However, our needs often change in our volatile, high alpine location. Applications received from qualified candidates will be kept on file for such an occasion.
No Experience Necessary! We can train anyone to work in our kitchen and provide all necessary certifications.
BOH Restaurant employees are housed on the property completely free of rent/utility charges!
We are seeking cooks for our quick service casual restaurant. The high volume restaurant operates daily throughout the season.
We provide training where needed, all we require is an openness to taking direction and a strong desire to learn.
Compensation on a sliding scale, commensurate with previous experience and abilities.
Line Cook/Prep Cook Basic Duties:
Requirements for all positions:
Marina
Boat Attendant
We have concluded hiring for this position for the 2024 season. However, our needs often change in our volatile, high alpine location. Applications received from qualified candidates will be kept on file for such an occasion.
Boat Attendants spend most of their days on the beach of Lake Alpine assisting with kayaks, rowboats, outboard motorboats, paddleboards, and pedal boats. Boat employees are active, energetic individuals who enjoy busy days talking with many people, often in the water.
Boat employees work in teams of 2-3, and are comfortable engaging with many customers simultaneously. For example, a group of three and a group of four return on kayaks, a group of two is departing on paddleboards, a family of five needs help with life jackets, a man is asking about boat prices and rental process, and the store is radioing down to double-check inventory. It is, of course, impossible to help all these people at once, but it is a simple process for the right candidate to quickly engage with each of these customers individually, assuring them they aren’t ignored or forgotten.
Boat Attendants help customers in and out of watercraft, assuring they understand and obey safety regulations. Boats staff does minimal paperwork and maintains continuous radio contact with the store, which processes all transactions.
Boat employees work unsupervised and need to keep themselves busy by maintaining an impeccably clean area, inspecting and cleaning watercraft, making small repairs on watercraft (patching small holes, tying straps, etc.).
The Marina is located within a large Day Use Area that Boats employees are in charge of. Boats employees clean this entire area multiple times throughout the day: picking up trash, cleaning/restocking the restrooms, and assisting guests throughout the area.
Boat employees will also learn the basics of operating the store, which is the primary department they assist when boats are not busy.
Boat Attendants Basic Duties include:
Requirements for all positions:
Restaurant
Bartender/Cashier
Our bar is open daily through lunch and dinner, earlier on the weekends to serve our beloved Alpine Bloody Marys. The Lake Alpine Lodge Bar is a casual, comfortable venue, with our bartenders exuding the welcoming, knowledgeable attitude expected at a mountain lodge.
Please be aware we are not a traditional restaurant, and we do not hire traditional server/bartender positions. The duties of our FOH staff are extensive and evolving.
FOH employees split their shifts between working behind the bar and manning the cashier station in the dining room (which only does food sales). They also work with the kitchen support staff to keep the FOH clean throughout service.
Bartenders work alone, in pairs, and/or functioning as cocktail servers servicing the outdoor areas on busy days. Barbacking, stocking, and prep work are completed by bartenders.
While bartending experience is not strictly required, candidates without experience are encouraged to show their guest service abilities to be considered for this competitive position. Out of our entire staff, bartenders usually have the longest interactions with our guests. We rely on our bartenders’ ability to engage and build relationships while simultaneously meeting customer dining needs, often with every seat occupied.
Tips received in the restaurant are pooled between all restaurant staff.
Bartender/Barback/Cocktail Server Basic Duties
Retail
Store Clerk
We have concluded hiring for this position for the 2024 season. However, our needs often change in our volatile, high alpine location. Applications received from qualified candidates will be kept on file for such an occasion.
The store functions as the de facto headquarters of the Lodge. Store Clerks will have comprehensive knowledge of not only store inventory, but the bar/restaurant, boat rentals, cabins, campgrounds, and overall geographic area. The store is the first and last stop for many of our guests. Store clerks are energetic, and welcoming, and enjoy speaking with dozens or more different people every day.
The store functions as the front desk for the cabins, checking guests in/out, assisting with new reservations, and keeping contact with housekeeping. Boat rentals are administered through the store, with store clerks processing transactions and maintaining continuous radio contact with boat employees throughout the day. The store phones are the first to ring when customers call the Lodge.
Our store stocks convenience items, groceries, souvenirs, apparel, fishing and camping gear, and tobacco/alcohol. Clerks will work unsupervised through much of the day, and are expected to recognize and complete the many tasks associated with organizing and tracking this level of inventory.
If you like busy days, multitasking, and small conversations with many different people, we urge you to apply today!
Store Clerk Basic Duties:
Requirements for all positions:
How to Apply
Please complete our online application form via the Apply button below.
Lake Alpine Lodge does not provide sponsorship for H2B visas
Contact Info
- Abbott Valenti
- info@lakealpinelodge.com
- (209) 753-6350
- lakealpinelodge.com
