Gorgeous California mountain towns say they're being held hostage by selfish tourists who come to play in their snow
Locals are being 'held hostage' by tourists visiting their humble winter wonderland in California as they disregard laws and run rampant across the community.
Alpine County is littered with trash, broken sleds, and even human waste after every snowfall, as visitors come in droves, trespassing on private property and blocking roadways to get their share of playtime in the snow.
Residents of the rural community, just south of Lake Tahoe, told the San Francisco Chronicle that they've had enough.
'We have to do something about it,' Alpine County Supervisor Terry Woodrow said during a meeting last month after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
The area's locals have assigned the term 'snowplayers' to tourists wreaking havoc inside the community.
'A lot of these "snowplayers" just come into the village, don't respect our property, trespass on county and private property, leave garbage and trash.'
Woodrow said the unwanted guests trespass on private property and refuse to leave. The chaos of visitors during the holiday weekend was eye-opening to officials who deal with this persistent issue.
She added how the snow-chasers are making the 1,200 residents of her small county feel 'held hostage.'
Alpine County residents are tired of 'snowplayers' coming to their community and leaving it littered with trash, broken sleds, and even human waste. Snowplayers are how the locals refer to tourists who are wreaking havoc on their community (Round-Valley Sno-Park pictured in 2025)
The visitors cause traffic for residents and at time hurt themselves in one instance a person died and in another someone was paralyzed (Stock Image)
Californians have few options for finding a place to live legally, safely, and affordably, the outlet noted.
There are only 18 state-managed snow parks, which become overcrowded on the weekends, causing sledders and those seeking low-level recreation in the snow to look elsewhere.
However, the snow sites quickly become chaotic, Ruth Loehr, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol's South Lake Tahoe Area, told the Chronicle.
'It's a lot of lawlessness,' Loehr said. 'If nobody is watching, nobody's going to follow the rules or do what they're supposed to do.'
On top of all the issues brought by the out-of-towners, they sometimes become victims themselves.
Loehr said that unofficial sledding hills have caused serious injuries and even a fatality; another person was also paralyzed.
During MLK weekend, traffic jams plagued the area due to visitors illegally parking along Highway 4.
California only has 18 state-managed snow parks which become overcrowded on the weekends causing sledders and those seeking low-level recreation in the snow to look elsewhere
Visitors are required to purchase a $15 Sno-Park permit before arriving at designated stores or online
A tow truck arrived to remove one of the illegally parked vehicles, and another driver was waiting patiently to pull into the now-free space, said Woodrow.
Visitors are required to purchase a $15 Sno-Park permit before arriving at designated stores or online.
She recently noted in her Board of Supervisors address that the snow players have been a constant issue.
'I say this every year, but you've got to take it seriously,' she told the board, according to the outlet.
County staffers believe that more law enforcement, higher parking citation fees, resident-only parking permits, and metered parking are among the few ways to combat unruly guests.
Additionally, officials added that fines for bad behavior could deter the snowplayers.
'$2,000 admission fee for that might change that behavior pretty quick, and I would definitely be in favor of a $2,000 fine for something like that,' suggested one supervisor at the meeting.
