Lake Tahoe History

Wylder Hotel Hope Valley, formerly Sorensons Resort, continues its Eastern Sierra history series with a slide show presentation, Reflections of Lake Tahoe.

The Thunderbird Lodge is a bizarre piece of Lake Tahoe history, from the early days of the 40s when rich high society types out of San Fransisco came to develop properties and build their lavish summer estates.

The Lodge, however, stands far above the rest, due to its eccentric owner, his bizarre life, and the strange underground labyrinth he built.

Author David C. Antonucci will speak on his book "Fairest Picture: Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe" at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 12, 10 a.m. In 1861, Samuel Clemens, the man who would become Mark Twain, hiked to Lake Tahoe to stake a claim for a timber ranch.

He spent many blissful days on the Lake but carelessly allowed his campfire to escape, creating a spectacular wildfire. He later wrote about his experiences in his 1872 memoir, Roughing It.

The nomination period for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards ended on Friday, Oct. 10. TahoeChamber’s prestigious awards program that recognizes exceptional South Shore businesses received over 175 nominations for eight separate award categories. The finalists and winners will be announced at the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards dinner and ceremony on November 13 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Tickets for the awards ceremony are now available for purchase at www.tahoechamber.org.

Congratulations to the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards nominees:

David C. Antonucci, author, historian and regional expert on Lake Tahoe, Mark Twain, and the Olympic Games at the Lake, will speak on “Fairest Picture – Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe”, the first and only book devoted solely to chronicling Mark Twain’s experiences in the Lake Tahoe region to the Carson City Leisure Hour Club on Wednesday, May 21.

From Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra to teamsters and tourism, the history of Lake Tahoe recorded in a new book by Michael J. Makley brings the region’s many dimensions to life. The noted local author is the featured speaker at the February Frances Humphrey lecture series from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, where he will explore the geology and natural history of Lake Tahoe and the people who shaped its history.

Value-added skiing and boarding has been passed down to three Lake Tahoe area resorts. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort season passholders can now enjoy free skiing or riding at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows from opening day until December 21, 2012, as well as from April 15, 2013 until closing day.