Martis Camp Buyer's Guide: Amenities, Ski Access & Homesites
Martis Camp is a private, gated club community in the Martis Valley near Northstar California, and it is the most amenity-rich of the Tahoe-Truckee private club communities. What sets it apart is the combination of an extensive family-recreation program — anchored by its well-known Family Barn concept — and a private, members-only ski connection to Northstar via the Martis Camp Express. It is inland, not on Lake Tahoe, and it appeals above all to families who want the fullest amenity set and genuine ski access on large, forested homesites.
What defines Martis Camp?
Martis Camp is defined by breadth of amenities and privacy. Set in the Martis Valley between Truckee and Northstar, it is a designed, low-density community of large homesites and custom homes woven through the forest. Where some club communities center on a single amenity — usually golf — Martis Camp is built around a whole ecosystem of recreation, from its golf course to family, sports, fitness, and gathering facilities. The result feels less like a golf club with homes attached and more like a self-contained mountain community.
What is the Family Barn and the amenity concept?
The Family Barn is the amenity Martis Camp is best known for, and it captures the community’s philosophy: recreation organized around families and gathering, not just golf. Alongside the golf course, the community is known for an unusually deep program of family activities, sports and fitness facilities, dining, and social spaces designed to keep multiple generations engaged year-round. Because specific facilities and programming evolve over time, the current amenity list should be confirmed directly with the community — but the through-line is consistent: Martis Camp aims to be a place where children and grandparents are equally at home.
How does ski access to Northstar work?
One of Martis Camp’s signature features is its private ski connection to Northstar California via the Martis Camp Express, a members’ link between the community and Northstar’s slopes. For ski-focused families, this is often the deciding factor: it delivers meaningful mountain access without owning directly on the resort. As with all club features, the current terms, hours, and membership requirements for ski access should be confirmed with the community, since these details are managed privately and can change.
Homesites vs. finished homes — which should you buy?
Buyers at Martis Camp generally choose between a homesite to build on and a finished custom home. Each path has trade-offs:
| Consideration | Homesite (build) | Finished home (buy) |
|---|---|---|
| Customization | Full — design to your needs | Limited to what exists or remodeling |
| Timeline | Longer — design, approvals, construction | Immediate use |
| Process | Community design review & build management | Standard purchase |
| Best for | Buyers with a specific vision and patience | Buyers who want to use the home now |
Building lets you tailor the home to your family and site, but it requires navigating community design review and a construction timeline. Buying finished gets you into the community immediately. Which is right depends on your timeline, appetite for a build, and what inventory is available when you’re ready.
Who does Martis Camp suit?
Martis Camp is a strong fit for families who want the deepest amenity program in the region, for skiers who value the private Northstar connection, and for buyers who prize space and privacy on large forested homesites. It is less suited to buyers whose priority is lake frontage — Martis Camp is inland, and a water-first search belongs in the lakefront guide. Buyers weighing Martis Camp often also consider its Martis Valley neighbor, Schaffer’s Mill, and the established golf community Lahontan.
A word on cost: Martis Camp involves both the real estate and a club membership. Because the initiation, dues, categories, and transfer terms are private and change over time, confirm the current figures with the club rather than relying on published numbers — the membership structure guide explains how the model works.
Buying at Martis Camp
Trinkie Watson of Chase International — 40+ years in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee market, 100+ lakefront transactions, and licensed in both California and Nevada — can guide you through Martis Camp, from comparing homesites and finished homes to coordinating the club-membership questions and weighing it against nearby communities and lakefront. See the Martis Camp / Schaffer’s Mill / Lahontan community page, read the private club communities overview, or get in touch.