South Lake Tahoe’s Hot Spot Studio Turns Vacations into Keepsakes

While on vacation, a family walked in for a little pottery painting to entertain the kids before dinner in South Lake Tahoe. Four hours later, they were still at their table, now filled with mugs, bowls, and brushes. The next day, they came back again. When the family packed up to leave Tahoe, they sent a text to the studio’s owner, Tenaya, “This was the best part of our whole trip.”

It’s a sentiment she hears often at The Hot Spot Studios – South Lake Tahoe; her creative outpost, steps from Heavenly Village. Between the buzz of casinos, and the traffic of vacationers strolling the sidewalks, Tenaya’s studio offers something different; a chance to sit down together, dip into colorful paints, and create something that goes home with you.

“People tell me it was the best experience of their whole trip to Tahoe,” Tenaya said. The online reviews echo it. Families write about returning again, groups share photos of mosaics and pottery from their visit, and locals stop in often enough that Tenaya remembers many by name, and even by the projects they previously finished in her studio. What they take home isn’t just a glazed dish or a handmade candle. It’s a story: We made this at The Hot Spot Studios in South Lake Tahoe. 

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Why a Creative Stop Belongs in South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe has a reputation: it’s the big, busy side of the lake. There are the slopes of Mt. Heavenly, buzzing casinos, clusters of hotels, and a constant flow of people looking for entertainment. I call it the Vegas of Tahoe,” she said. “It’s still a mountain town. There are bears all over, there’s forest all around, and the lake is right there…but it’s also casinos and shops and crowds of people.”

It’s that combination of wild beauty and big energy that makes the town such a natural fit for her to open her Hot Spot Studio. Where visitors expect speed and spectacle, The Hot Spot offers a counterbalance: relaxed creativity that slows the day down. “There was nothing like this here,” Tenaya reflects. “There’s no crafty business at all. So it would be one of its kind.”

And she was right. Within weeks of opening, the tables were filling up with vacationers who had spent the morning outdoors, then wanted something calmer. Families spread out pottery pieces to paint; customized their keepsakes; grandparents wandered in with grandkids and left with painted mugs, mosaics, and more.

South Lake’s size also gives the studio reach far beyond walk-ins. Hotels and concierges stock her flyers; visitor centers promote the shop; travelers planning their trip find her on Yelp and Trip Advisor before they even arrive. In a town where everyone is looking for things to do, Tenaya’s studio has become that unexpected find…a place to catch your breath, laugh together, and leave with something you made yourself.

Tenaya’s Path To Ownership

For Tenaya Durfy, owning a Hot Spot Studio wasn’t a random leap into franchising. It was the natural continuation of a friendship, a love of art, and years of customer service experience.

She first connected with the brand through Olivia Franks, one of her closest friends, and founder of the fast growing paint-your-own-pottery franchise, now with almost 40 locations nationwide. “Olivia has been one of my really good friends for the last 11 years,” Tenaya explained. Her Hot Spot Studio is the second location near Lake Tahoe; another resides on the north end, in Tahoe City, where Tenaya was formerly employed.

Those early days in the shop planted the seed. At the time, Olivia encouraged her to consider opening her own location in a nearby town, but Tenaya had a newborn and couldn’t imagine taking on the financial hurdles. Life then pulled her family to Washington state for a few years, but Tahoe kept calling.

When she returned, the brand had started franchising, and suddenly the path was clear. “I realized that I could open a store,” she said. “I don’t know if I just matured or what, but I had become a bookkeeper in Washington. I knew business management, and I’d already worked in the store; I just felt ready.”

Her background made her uniquely suited for the role. She grew up in a Waldorf school, surrounded by art and creativity. “I was going to get an art degree, but switched to natural science because I love nature so much,” she recalled. “Then I also started a business management degree. I like business, I like structure, but at the same time, I’m artistic. So this ended up being the perfect fit.”

The Leap: Finding The Perfect Fit In South Lake

When it came time to choose a location, Tenaya followed her instincts, which led her to South Lake Tahoe. Nestled beside Heavenly Village, surrounded by hotels, shops, and restaurants, the area checked every box for visibility, accessibility, and appeal. “It’s the heart of Tahoe,” she said. “You’ve got people here from all over the world, skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and looking for fun experiences in between. It’s exactly where I wanted to be.”

The process moved remarkably fast, thanks to a clear vision, a strong franchise support system, and years of familiarity with the brand. With some additional help from her husband, building interior shelving and fixtures, the studio came together in record time. “It all just fell into place,” Tenaya said. “Once I found the spot, everything aligned. I felt like it was meant to happen.”

By spring, The Hot Spot Studios – South Lake opened its doors – a bright, inviting space that perfectly captured Tahoe’s blend of natural beauty and creative energy. Positioned near Heavenly’s ski lifts and the lakefront’s walking paths, it became an instant magnet for visitors.

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Seasons of Creativity

Life in a resort town runs on a rhythm all its own, summer sun, winter snow, and the vibrant flow of travelers who come to experience it all. For Tenaya, that rhythm became an advantage. “Tahoe has these amazing natural cycles,” she said. “Every season brings a new crowd, families in summer, skiers in winter, weddings in spring and fall. There’s always something happening.”

During peak months, the studio hums with energy, tables full, and walls lined with colorful finished pieces waiting to be picked up. When things slow down, Tenaya focuses on community-building programs that keep the creativity flowing: homeschool classes, kids’ workshops, art nights, and partnerships with local hotels and event planners. “That’s what I love about being here,” she said. “It’s never the same, twice. The people change, the projects change, and every season brings a new reason to create.” In South Lake Tahoe, the changing seasons aren’t an obstacle; they’re part of the magic. They ensure there’s always a new wave of inspiration, a new story being painted, and a new memory waiting to be made.

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Hospitality as a Craft

Tenaya doesn’t just run a studio; she hosts an experience. Years of customer service taught her how to read people quickly, and in South Lake, she puts that skill to work every day. “I can tell if someone wants to talk, if they don’t want to talk, or if I should joke to get them to open up,” she explained. It’s that intuition that makes guests feel seen. Even in a town brimming with activities, many visitors walk away saying their time in the studio was different. “They’ll text me after they leave, and it makes me tear up”, she explains.

That sense of hospitality has turned one-time visitors into repeat customers. Locals come back often enough that she knows them by name, and tourists promise to return on their next vacation. For many, the memory of Tahoe isn’t just the lake or the slopes, but the afternoon they sat around a table, painted pottery or crafts, and took home a keepsake they made in her studio.

What People Make

Walk into The Hot Spot Studios – South Lake and the tables tell the story. Some are covered in mugs and plates waiting for glaze, others with bright tile mosaics, candles poured with wax cooling into personalized scents. “Pottery is probably the most popular,” Tenaya said. “But mosaics really surprise people; they love it. And candles are great too, especially if someone wants a quicker project.”

She pays close attention to how groups choose their crafts. “I’ll guide groups so they pick things that take about the same amount of time,” she explained. “That way nobody is done in 15 minutes while their friends are still painting for two hours.”

Pottery remains the centerpiece – a kiln in the back glazes and fires the final touch of the finished pieces families pick up later. Mosaics draw in both kids and adults, satisfying the urge to piece something together and see it shine. Candles, with their warm scents and fast turnaround, add a sensory layer to the mix. “It’s a souvenir with a story”, Tenaya said. “You made it in Tahoe, and you’ll always remember that afternoon.”

Beyond the Studio: Camps, Parties, & Events

The creative spark at The Hot Spot doesn’t stop at the studio’s door. Tenaya has quickly discovered that Tahoe’s groups – from summer camps to wedding parties, are eager to bring the experience into their own spaces. “We did maybe 200 pieces of pottery over the summer just from off-site camps,” she said. “They wanted a day that felt different, so we came in with pottery and the kids loved it.” The response opened her eyes to just how versatile the Hot Spot Studios model can be.

Birthday parties, fundraisers, even corporate groups are finding ways to incorporate hands-on creativity into their schedules. “Every time someone books a party, it seems to spark the next idea,” Tenaya explained. “They’ll say, this would be perfect for our book club, or our moms’ night out, or our team retreat.” She’s also getting inquiries from wedding planners, who see pottery and candle stations as a unique way for guests to celebrate. “Couples have asked if we can set up at receptions so people can paint something or make a candle as a keepsake,” she said. “It’s such a fun way to give guests a memory to take home.”

Tenaya created a polished photo portfolio with flyers for fundraising, team-building, and group offerings; a professional touch she hand-delivers to hotels and businesses across South Lake. Whether it’s dozens of kids painting at camp, bridal parties personalizing keepsakes, or coworkers bonding over mosaics, the result is the same…shared experiences that turn into tangible memories.

Reflections & Advice

For Tenaya, the leap from employee to owner has been transformative. “It’s like my fourth child,” she said with a smile. “Something I care about and grew.” Owning the studio has also deepened her connection with customers. When people walk in and ask if it’s her store, she loves being able to answer with confidence. “It feels powerful to say, yes, this is mine,” she explained. “I’ve been doing customer service for 25 years, and it’s amazing to finally have something that’s my own.”

When asked what she might tell someone considering opening a Hot Spot of their own, her advice came quickly. “Stay on task, but don’t rush,” she said. “And don’t forget to take care of yourself. Your business can’t succeed if you can’t give it what it needs.” Her balance between determination and patience, ambition and self-care, is something she’s still practicing herself. But as she reflects on her first months in South Lake, the joy of ownership outweighs every challenge.

Looking Ahead

Tenaya’s vision for her Hot Spot Studio is focused on growing awareness in South Lake, strengthening partnerships with hotels and visitor centers, and expanding offerings like homeschool classes, child-centric events, and wedding collaborations. Each step brings the studio closer to becoming a staple of the town.

For Tenaya, success isn’t just measured in sales or foot traffic, but includes the messages from customers who tell her that painting pottery or making a candle was the highlight of their trip. It’s in the kids who come back with their parents, eager to create again. It’s in the knowledge that every piece leaving her shop carries with it a memory of Tahoe. “It’s amazing to hear people say this was the best part of their vacation,” she said. “That’s what I want, for them to take something home that they made here, and remember it forever.”

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about owning a Hot Spot Studios franchise, contact The Hot Spot Studios franchising team to get started on your journey toward ownership.