Beginning this winter, Lake Tahoe can call itself the home of the largest ski resort in the United States.

That distinction comes after Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Valley USA announced a merger with the nearby Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows resort earlier this week.

In time for the 2011-12 ski season, the two resorts will be linked by a shuttle bus with all passes and lift tickets interchangeable at both resorts.

In announcing the merger, the resorts hope to become less reliant on day trips and rebrand Lake Tahoe as a vacation destination for powder pushers.

The two combined resorts will cover nearly 6,000 acres, easily making the new mega-resort the largest in the country.

Source: USA Today