EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) – No snow means no money for businesses along Highway 50.

Business owners say the unusually dry weather is keeping tourists away from the mountains and away from their stores.

The slowdown is forcing some stores and restaurants to close down during the week.

“There is just no one here,” said store clerk Sue Horton. “Last year from October to June, we had snow. You couldn’t get away from it.”

But this year’s dry weather means fewer people making the trek to Tahoe. And those who do make the drive are disappointed.

“I was taking pictures and posting it on Facebook saying ‘We’re here in Tahoe…where is the snow?’,” said Leena Kumar who spent four days in Tahoe with her family. “All the fun stuff they wanted to do…build a snowman. They had big plans when we said we were going to Tahoe, but none of that worked out.”

Store owners are hoping for a wet January and February to bring travelers back and sales up.

Ski resorts are making snow, but for some travelers that’s just not enough to make the trip up.