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Lake Tahoe: Playground in Paradise
By Byron Ligget
Majestic, royal blue Lake Tahoe, reigns over the High Sierras of northern California and northern Nevada. The largest and deepest alpine lake in North America, Tahoe is draped in an ermine cape of snow-capped mountains. It's an American paradise.
Native Americans, who originally lived along the shores of the lake, considered it their spiritual home, their Garden of Eden. Captain John C. Fremont, credited with being the first Anglo to explore the area in 1844, called Tahoe the "Lake of the Sky."
The first settlement at Lake Tahoe was a small trading post in 1851. Mark Twain passed through the area, like thousands of others, enroute to Virginia City and the mines of the Comstock Lode in the early 1860s. He described Lake Tahoe as the "most beautiful jewel in all the world!"
Despite its spectacular natural beauty, the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 and the decline in mining, slowed traffic to a trickle by the '80s. Eventually, Lake Tahoe faded from the scene. It remained remote until the end of World War II; neither skiing nor gaming was of any real significance.
North Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe, or "North Shore", became an exclusive, luxury resort patronized by the rich, famous and powerful long before South Tahoe became a year-round hotel/casino vacation destination.
The Cal Neva Lodge, originally a handsome log cabin built for a wealthy San Francisco businessman in 1927, became an exclusive resort during Prohibition that was frequented by well-known gangsters "Pretty Boy" Floyd and "Baby Face" Nelson.
The Lodge burned to the ground in 1937 and was quickly rebuilt, including the addition of the famous Indian Room lounge. The centerpiece was a massive, 60-foot fireplace constructed with huge granite boulders. Wildcats and mountain lions were perched on the rocks; deer, elk and bear trophies adorned the natural wood walls and large beams, much like is still done today.
The Cal Neva sits directly over the California/Nevada boundary. The state line runs directly through the middle of the fireplace. It was in the Indian Lounge that Pearl Bailey and Spike Jones launched their show business careers. During the 1950s and '60s, North Lake Tahoe was where the rich, famous and powerful played.
Frank Sinatra bought the property in 1960 and had it extensively remodeled adding the Celebrity Showroom. It was during the Sinatra years, 1960 - '67, that the Cal Neva gained widespread fame and notoriety. Sinatra brought in famous stars like Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Prima, The Maguire Sisters, Jimmy Durante, and many others.
Joe Kennedy loved the Lodge. When his son John Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency, the entire Kennedy clan frequently relaxed at the Cal Neva.
Today, the Cal Neva has been restored and redeveloped as a complete resort featuring lake view rooms, cabins, and chalets. A European health spa and beauty salon are also available.
Weddings are paramount at the Cal Neva Resort. Perched on Crystal Point high above Lake Tahoe, it's an unforgettably romantic location. The outdoor "Gazebo" and intimate "Lakeview Chapel" offer spectacular views and backdrops. In addition, there are full-service wedding and honeymoon facilities, including a photography studio, florist, banquet rooms, and planning and coordination counselors.
In Incline Village the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino has undergone a $47 million renovation in the classic style of the 1920's alpine "Grand Lodge." The property has been transformed into a unique, rugged, yet warm and inviting mountain lodge. All renovations and appointments complement the natural environment.
Nestled in the pines high above Lake Tahoe, the Hyatt Regency is a family playground for all seasons. In the spring and summer, there is sailing, swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and a number of world-class golf courses. In winter, it is a haven for skiers and snowboarders.
The Hyatt emphasizes family orientation. For example, "Camp Hyatt," features supervised, organized activities for kids ages 3-12 throughout the year. In winter, it operates Fridays and Saturdays. In the summer, the camp is run seven days a week, 9am to 10pm.
Two other popular North Shore attractions, the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino and Crystal Bay Club, offer first class dining and gaming. Nestled in the pines high above the Lake, both properties provide precious views of the natural wonder that is Tahoe.
South Tahoe
It wasn't until after World War II that South Tahoe became a famous playground. In 1944, Harvey Gross and his wife, Llewellyn, opened Harvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon & Gambling Hall-a small wood-frame building located immediately inside Nevada at the California state line, in South Lake Tahoe. A casino executive with Harvey almost from the beginning recalled, "In the early days, the only money we made was in the summer. Every winter, Harvey and Llewellyn had to borrow money just to meet the payroll."
With the 1960 Winter Olympics at nearby Squaw Valley, winter recreation in the Lake Tahoe area became a principal industry. The Tahoe basin, which averages an unequaled 480 inches of snowfall per year, offers America's largest, most versatile skiing and snowboarding opportunity.
Today, Tahoe area ski resorts are among the most highly regarded in the world. There may be no finer example than Heavenly Valley, appropriately named for it's serene, pristine, and breathtaking scenery of Lake Tahoe and the High Sierras. Other world-class ski resorts include:
Alpine Meadows
Boreal Ski Area
Diamond Peak
Donner Ski Ranch
Homewood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood
Mt. Rose Ski Area
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Soda Springs
Squaw Valley USA
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Tahoe Donner Downhill
In addition to sailing, swimming and hiking, golf has emerged as a major activity in the Tahoe basin. The famous Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is located 6,200 feet above sea level. Because of the high elevation, players get 6 to 10 percent more distance on their balls.
Set along the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Edgewood is considered one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. Since opening in 1968, it has played host to some of the game's biggest events. In recent years, Edgewood has been home to the Celebrity Golf Championships featuring the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Nearby, Glenbrook Golf Course is rated as one of the top nine-hole courses in the world!
Northstar's par 72, 18-hole golf course is another well-known favorite and Incline Village is served by two courses: the par 72 "Championship Course" and the par 58 "Mountain Course". In fact, there are more than thirty courses, including desert courses, alpine courses, executive courses, and finesse courses with lots of rock and water, within a short distance of the lake.
The Tahoe region is a vacationer's heaven-on-earth; where a person can ski, golf, and enjoy casino entertainment-all in the same day!
South Shore's hotel/casino business has kept pace with Lake Tahoe's growing winter and summer recreation industries. During the 1960s, Harvey's underwent a major expansion and Del Webb built the Sahara Tahoe (now called the Horizon Hotel/Casino). Elvis Presley gave some of his most memorable Nevada concerts at the Sahara Tahoe in the '70s. Caesars Tahoe, a luxury resort featuring superstar entertainment, opened in1980.
In recent years, Harvey's Resort has been expanded and redesigned, making it the largest property at the Lake. Besides a full complement of table games, keno and poker, there are more than 2,300 slot and video gaming machines, including an exclusive high limit slot pavilion. What's more, the casino has been voted to have the "Best Sports Book at Lake Tahoe" by readers of the local Tahoe Tribune newspaper for the last six years!
Harrah's Lake Tahoe Hotel/Casino finished an extensive remodeling last summer. Winner of the Hospitality Design Gold Key Award for Excellence, Harrah's Tahoe features such luxuries as a dome-covered swimming pool, special events center, a 70,000 sq. ft. casino, world famous dining and entertainment. With over 1,600 slot, video and progressive machines, Harrah's Tahoe pays out more than $1 billion annually!
Caesars Tahoe is synonymous with luxury and taste. In addition to its lavish hotel/casino, the Galleria of Shops is a variety of fine stores "offering gifts from around the world." For an unforgettable experience, guests can cruise America's deepest lake aboard Caesars' 58-foot private luxury yacht, The Odyssey.
Not as large as its neighbors, the Lakeside Inn & Casino, with a full-service casino and 24-hour restaurant, is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. According to Mike Bradford, who calls himself "president of the whole damn place," the Lakeside Inn features friendly fun.
Bill's Casino is part of the Harrah's group. Named after gaming industry pioneer Bill Harrah himself, it is a unique, classy, popular place to play. Casino games include a large selection of the newest slot and video machines, as well as roulette, blackjack and craps.
South Tahoe's most recent major development is the new gondola at Heavenly Valley. The gondola takes visitors on a twelve-minute ride up the mountain high above the lake. The views are movingly majestic! Plans call for the base of the gondola to be developed as a new "pedestrian village". It will include retail stores, restaurants and entertainment.
Year-round, the M.S. Dixie Paddlewheeler offers unique, spectacular sightseeing tours of the lake. A variety of cruises, including special champagne brunch, dinner and sunset cruises, leave daily from Zephyr Cove, in South Tahoe.
No visit to Lake Tahoe would be complete without a stop at the Ponderosa Ranch, where "Bonanza", the most popular television western of all time, was filmed. Discover an entire old west town, including live gunfights! The Cartwrights' Ranch House has been perfectly preserved and guided tours of the ranch set are given throughout the day.
High in the Sierras separating northern California and northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe is an azure blue gem of uncommon depth and clarity. During the winter, it's wrapped in a mantle of white; in summer, dark green forests protect the lake, and throughout much of the year, sunshine dances off its waters.
Lake Tahoe's rare natural beauty, year-round outdoor recreation, first class accommodations, gaming, dining and entertainment, make it a "land of plenty" for anyone seeking fun in the sun... or snow. Clearly, Lake Tahoe is an American playground in paradise.
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