Lake Tahoe California
Attractions | Lake Tahoe CA Cabins | Events | Restaurants
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake located on the border of California and Nevada. This lake is the largest alpine lake in the country and at being 1600 feet deep it is the second deepest. Lake Tahoe has become a major vacation destination because it has ski resorts, summer recreations and casinos.
History
In it’s early years Lake Tahoe was home to the Washoe Indians. It was the central location for all of the Washoe people. In 1844 John C Fremont journeyed to the area and became the first white man to the area. Soon after him was an explorer named John Calhoun Johnson. Johnson named the lake Fallen Leaf Lake after his guide for the area. He eventually renamed the lake after the California’s Governor and called it Lake Bigler. In 1862 the US Department of the Interior decided to call it Lake Tahoe but it wasn’t official until 1945.
Lake Tahoe CA
Gold was discovered near Lake Tahoe in 1848. Many people moved to the area in hopes of finding gold and having a new life. In 1858 Comstock lode was discovered 15 miles from Lake Tahoe. From that point until 1890 logging became popular to the area as well. Much of the forests were cut down to keep up with the demand in the area and for the Comstock mines. In 1864 a resort was founded and named Tahoe City which sparked the interest to turn the area into a resort destination.
During the 1910’s recognition for Tahoe grew quickly. Congress tried to declare it as a national park but it failed to be dedicated 3 times. Lake Tahoe began to get a lot more attention and vacation homes began to be built. After WWII more people started moving to the area and many homes, casinos and interstates began to be built. The population for Tahoe was at 10,000 in 1960 and had reached 90,000 by 1980.
Lake Tahoe has continued to attract people who are looking for relaxing vacation. Several homes have been built in the area including a few elaborate mansions. Although the developments in the area have slowed due to land protections.
Weather
Not only is Lake Tahoe a popular ski destination in the winter months it’s also quite popular for summer. The weather exhibits very distinct seasons. In the summer the weather can get up to 80 degrees. Storms are rare but high winds can frequent the area. In the winter the temperature can drop to 15 degrees and snowfall can reach 500 inches!
Tourist Attractions
A vast majority of the land around Lake Tahoe is dedicated to the tourism industry. There are restaurants, ski slopes, casinos and water sports.
In the winter skiing is a very popular activity. Literally thousands of people visit the area to try out the skiing and some hope to see a blizzard. There are many ski areas in and around Lake Tahoe. They are mainly at the north side of the lake. Private resorts are also available for those who choose to use them. At some of the resorts snow tubing is available as well as snowmobile riding and snowshoeing.
Starting in the spring and extending until the fall many people visit Lake Tahoe for water sports and the beach. Many people bring their boats for sailboat racing, cruising and for spending time on the lake with loved ones. There area many lake front restaurants on Lake Tahoe that have docks that you can float up to and go eat.
Hiking, biking and gambling are also popular amongst tourists. There are hundreds of trails to hike and ride on. Some take you through the woods and others keep around the lake. Gambling is legal on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe and many offer slot machines and game tables.