LIVE. WORK. PLAY. Spring 2024

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INCLINE VILLAGE CRYSTAL BAY COMMUNITY & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SPRING 2024 Kids Activities this Summer P. 26-27 Places to Shop for Mothers Day P. 16-17 Business Profiles IPM Incline Property Management P. 6 Grocery Outlet P. 8 The Incline Lodge P. 28-29 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377 Incline Village Crystal Bay Association 885 Tahoe Boulevard Incline Village, NV 89451

STAFF

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, IVCBA.ORG, COMMUNITY EVENTS: Julie Malkin-Manning Sugar Pine Events & Marketing julie@ivcba.org

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: Kristin Derrin kristin@ivcba.org

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON: Jonathon Gardner Jonathon@IVCBA.org

BUSINESS INTERN: Drew Monson, UNR@Lake Tahoe Drew@IVCBA.org

FREELANCE WRITERS:

Kayla Anderson

BOARD MEMBERS

CHAIR: Mike Young

TREASURER/FINANCE: Mike Young

Sheila Leijon

Stephen Porten

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: John Crockett

INCLINE SCHOOLS: Mary Danahey

TREASURER/PRO-BONO CPA: Craig Iverson

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. PUBLISHER: Kathy Slocum

PRO-BONO ATTORNEY: Alan Tiras

PAST CHAIR: Linda Offerdahl

COMMUNITY LIAISONS

ENVIRONMENT: Amy Berry

INCLINE VILLAGE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: Louis Ward/Karli Epstein

INCLINE JUSTICE COURT: The Honorable Judge Alan Tiras

INCLINE VILLAGE REALTORS: Kendra Murray

NLTFPD: Ryan Sommers/Tia Rancourt

PARASOL TAHOE: Laura Roche/Claudia Andersen

UNR AT LAKE TAHOE: Doug Boyle

TAHOE PROSPERITY CENTER: Heidi Hill-Drum

TRAVEL NORTH TAHOE NEVADA: Andy

Chapman

WASHOE COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Alexis Hill

WASHOE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE: Sheriff Darin Balaam

CONTRIBUTORS

Richard Miner

Kayla Anderson

Mary Danahey

FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Please contact Kathy Slocum at (775) 846-5656 kathy@justimaginemktg.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: Chris Talbot

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. DESIGNER: J. Lewis Falconer

PUBLISHING DISCLOSURE NOTICE

LIVE. WORK. PLAY. is the official publication of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Association (IVCBA). Cost to produce and distribute this publication is offset by advertising revenues and budgeted funds. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by IVCBA or its Board of Directors of the projects, services or views contained therein.

COVER PHOTO:

Tim Kelly

Photographer: Chris Talbot

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 2 | SPRING 2024 26-27 8 INCLINE VILLAGE CRYSTAL COMMUNITY& BUSINESSASSOCIATION SPRING 2024 Kids Activities this SummerP. 26-27 Places to Shop for Mothers Day 16-17 Business Profiles IPM Incline ManagementProperty P. 6 Grocery Outlet P. 8 The Incline Lodge P. 28-29 STD U.S. DENVER, 5377 InclineVillageCrystalBayAssociation Tahoe Village, 89451 Executive Director’s Letter 5 BUSINESS PROFILE: IPM Incline Property Management 6 Grocery Outlet 8 The Incline Lodge 28-29 EDUCATION: Two Incline High School Academic Teams off to National Competitions 11 Impactful, Engaging Learning Middle School Exploratories 12-13 Turning STEM into STEAM at Incline Elementary School (IES) 14 FAMILY HEALTH: Snowboarding & Wrist Injuries 22 Local Places to Shop for Mom for Mother’s Day 16-17 Kayla’s East Shore Picks 18-19 Unlocking Local Tahoe Language 20 Beloved Incline “Star Follies” Returns to the Stage 23 The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival 25 New Interesting Kids Activities in Incline Village 26-27 HISTORY: Planning Incline Village 30-31 LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 2 | 2024
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Linda Offerdahl linda@ivcba.org
Photo by Lora Wagener Co.
LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 4 | SPRING 2024 907 Tahoe Blvd. #20B, Incline Village, NV CA #1766612 | NV BS.0145569 475 North Lake Blvd Unit 102 | Tahoe City, CA 96145 WE BRING LUXURY TO NEW HEIGHTS MIKE YOUNG 775.771.2391 MIKE.YOUNG@SIR.COM NV BS.29150 | CA 00784148 YOUR LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE ADVISOR At IPM, we go beyond simply managing HOAs. Contact us today at 775.832.0284 info@ipm-tahoe.com • www.ipm-tahoe.com From comprehensive house checks to meticulous house cleanings, landscape maintenance to skilled building repairs, we've got all your needs covered. Make IPM your trusted solution for addressing your home improvements. Incline Property Management is your full service management company. HOA Management • House Check Services Long Term Rentals • Commercial Rentals Cleaning Services • Landscape Maintenance Building Maintenance • Snow Removal Light Construction • Pool & Spa Maintenance

incline village crystal bay

GREETINGS!

As IVCBA enters its 4th year as the community and business association for Incline Village and Crystal Bay, we hope you will enjoy this spring issue that is chockful of features on our businesses and residents. I want to highlight events coming up this spring…

BUSINESS EVENTS

Incline Village Crystal Bay Restaurant Week: April 15-21

This is a great way to explore Washoe Tahoe’s culinary offerings…and support small businesses in the shoulder season.

IVCBA Business and Financial Services Mixer: May 1 Meet Umpqua bankers and other professionals in the field!

SPRING FUNDRAISERS

April 25: Crystal Cabaret “Noir Et Blanc” fundraiser for Tahoe Family Solutions

May 3-4: Incline Star Follies fundraiser for public schools

May: Crystal Ball fundraiser for Lake Tahoe School

June 1: Fur Ball “Scotch & Whiskers” fundraiser for Pet Network Humane Society

June 8: “Wine on the Water” fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club North Lake Tahoe

June 17: “Thank a Vet” golf tournament benefits PTSD Now! Sponsored by Incline Village Crystal Bay Veterans Club and Military Officers of America Association.

ANNUAL COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS

These events offer “meet and greet opportunities” for agencies and nonprofits to engage with the community

June 1 Incline Library Block Party, Village Clean-up, and BBQ

July 2-4 Local Heroes 4th of July Celebration

September 28 Annual WCSO Sheriff’s Picnic

December 7 Northern Lights Celebration and annual community Candy Cane Village

COMEBACKS

These two popular events were curtailed during COVID. They are back in 2024!

May 3-4: Incline Star Follies, the lip-syncing variety show fundraiser for Incline schools

July 4: Tahoe Red White and Blue Fireworks on Incline Beach

Learn more about these events and others via our hyperlocal events calendar at www.ivcba.org.

ABOUT IVCBA

MISSION: “to grow cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, NV.”

VISION: “a thriving community that supports and is supported by its agencies, businesses, nonprofits and residents.”

We are a membership-based community and business association that works on behalf of the entire community. In addition to this seasonal magazine, we have a community website, IVCBA.org, and a weekly SnapShot newsletter. We educate and convene the community on various beneficial initiatives.

INVESTORS

Kern

John

IVCBA.ORG | 5 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
& Patty Jansen
Dr. Jonathan Smith
Schumacher Commissioner Alexis Hill

IPM

Anyone who has been in Incline Village for an extended period has likely seen the Incline Property Management (IPM) trucks driving around town. Working with homeowners in the Reno, Carson, and East Shore Lake Tahoe region since 1979, IPM is all about helping people maintain the integrity of their homes so that they remain stress-free vacation spots, especially at a time when the construction of many of these homes are reaching the end of their useful lives.

Celebrating its 45th year in business, Larry Wodarski is the third owner of IPM. The story goes that the founder saw a need for providing services for the onslaught of homeowners’ associations that were being built in Incline, and he started IPM with a focus in property management and helping the new HOAs with their financial statements. As Incline’s number of homeowners grew over the years, IPM’s services expanded with it, and they evolved to include grounds maintenance, housecleaning, home inspections, customized concierge services, and management of long-term rentals.

“The uniqueness of the Village allowed this company to seize these opportunities,” Wodarski says, and they were in an advantageous position to offer these services considering that the availability of contractors and handyman services are so limited here.

“Most HOA companies simply provide management to their clients but in our case we do much more than that,” Wodarski reiterates. Out of the 132 HOAs in Incline Village, IPM manages 50 of them, ranging from small four-unit properties to 250-unit complexes. IPM also keeps an office in Carson City and has 70 employees between the two (most of them work in Incline Village).

Wodarski admits that his favorite part of being involved with IPM is “working with our people and making things happen.” There is one employee who has been there for 30 years, another for 26 years, and a handful of others who’ve been there for 14-16 years. “There’s a culture in this company that we all take pride in,” he says, explaining that a lot of it comes from feeling continuously grateful to work in a place like Incline.

When asked what the most popular people utilize IPM service is, Wodarski says it’s definitely the community managementworking closely with HOA boards on financial statements and bill pay. Next is the grounds maintenance and housekeeping. A small faction of IPM is managing long-term rentals, something that IPM would like to do more of.

“We deal with zero short-term rentals; the associations don’t interchange them,” Wodarski says. He recognizes that the STR discussion is a controversial issue with the lack of workforce housing available, but he is working with other local entities and officials to try to be part of the solution.

“We look for the owners of condos that we manage… we

know them well and have seen their lives change. When we start to see them less frequently, we try to encourage those owners to do long-term rentals.” He explains that not only would second homeowners be getting a more consistent income but they would not have to worry so much about maintenance issues, and when they come up during a holiday period then they can use their rent money to stay at the Hyatt and enjoy their vacation, all while helping the local economy.

For instance, Wodarski says that frozen pipes are an issue every single winter and when the pipes burst, and their place gets flooded-- those end up being very expensive insurance claims. (However, home inspections are a service that IPM offers.)

IPM provides a great benefit to Incline, but Wodarski understands what the village has given back, and tries to act accordingly. For instance, IPM donates time every spring to clean up the 431 roundabout and it sets up and tears down for the Shakespeare Festival every year as well as give a generous in-kind donation.

Most of their business comes from word-of-mouth and from people coming in and saying, “We see your trucks running around the Village so you must be doing something right.”

IPM is doing something right, and it shows.

“We all feel a sense of pride and responsibility; we’re out there every day making things happen,” Wodarski says.

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 6 | SPRING 2024
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Grocery Outlet

THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROCER

On a chilly snowy day in Incline Village, the new Grocery Outlet in Incline Village is bustling with activity and owner Ryan Parrish is stocking shelves in a dry goods section. The Incline Village Grocery Outlet has only been open since November 2023 and has been met with a warm reception; it is now known as the place to go to get quality food at an affordable price.

It all started when Ryan and Shannon Parrish opened the Truckee Grocery Outlet in June of 2020. They both had a background in corporate grocery management and left the corporate world to open their own Grocery Outlet independent operator store. They owned Grocery Outlets in San Diego and San Luis Obispo when they heard about the one being built in Truckee.

Originally from Bellingham, Washington, Ryan has had the same friends since the third grade and one of them had been living in Truckee for the past 30 years. Therefore, when they caught wind of the Truckee Grocery Outlet needing an operator, it was the perfect time for the couple to move.

“Truckee reminds me of Bellingham,” Ryan smiles. Then in 2023, his son moved to Incline Village. “I think that he likes Incline Village because it’s a lot closer to Lake Tahoe and there is a stronger sense of community here.”

The opening of the Incline store went hand in hand with when their son moved to Incline. “Village Market was still here, but when they closed, we were on top of it. It took us 18 months to open it [as a Grocery Outlet],” Ryan says, adding that it’s the best decision they ever made as they are way ahead of their projected revenues.

Operating Grocery Outlets in the Truckee/Tahoe area also aligns more with their values. They felt that their experience at the corporate level became too impersonal, having previously worked at the store level, managing around 400 employees. He and Shannon started talking about how to bring a neighborhood grocer back, and Grocery Outlet seems to fit that model.

When asked what his favorite thing to buy at Grocery Outlet is, Ryan responds at once, “The Black Forest organic gummy bears. Everyone has their candy, and that is mine.” Considering they’re right next to the register, it’s hard to not grab a bag. His second favorite item is anything in the NOSH [Natural Organic Specialty Healthy] line, but primarily the grass-fed tri-tip.

“We love interacting with customers, and our employees are like family,” Ryan says about being in Incline. “We’re really happy being here, how it worked out, and the reception has been phenomenal,” he adds.

For more information about the Incline Village Grocery Outlet, visit www.groceryoutlet.com.

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© CHRIS TALBOT
BUSINESS PROFILE
IVCBA.ORG | 9 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY. 775-831-5828 www.laketahoeschool.org Premier Education Within Reach. Inquire About Lake Tahoe School Today. PreK-8th Grade Independent School $1M+ Annual Tuition Assistance Granted 96% of Graduates Advance to Honors Classes Small School. Big Education. I am here to assist you before, during and after every transaction. h Learn more about Pam and search for properties at: TahoePam.com – 11 –PamF ernandez Broker-Salesman, GRI / NV Lic BS.20002 / 775 742 3096 / TahoePam@Gmail.com h Pam is an excellent real estate agent who has proven to be thoroughly professional, kind and trustworthy. We originally found Pam on Zillow and decided to work with her to find a property in Incline Village. Pam was very knowledgeable about the housing market in Incline Village and immediately responded to our emails and phone calls with candid and insightful answers. This was particularly helpful for us, as we were shopping for properties remotely from the San Francisco Bay Area. Pam is patient and a great listener and she honed in on exactly what we wanted. Working with Pam was a very pleasant experience - she’s a straight shooter and one of the best real estate agents we’ve ever worked with! Broker-Salesman Lakeshore Realty~across from Incline Beach Mobile 775-742-3096 NV License #20002 North Tahoe Resident since 1974 Selling Incline Village since 1988

Two Incline High School Academic Teams off to National Competitions

Incline High School’s AP US Government Class, also known as “We The People,” (WTP) has made it back to the National Competition this April. The nonpartisan Center for Civic Education has sponsored this event since 1988 to support civics education in schools around the country. The competitions take the form of simulated congressional hearings before a panel of judges, and are held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia, and in congressional hearing rooms at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Only 48 teams from across the country are invited to attend.

As renowned IHS teacher Milton Hyams states, “during this time of polarization in our nation, We The People is an essential tool that trains students to participate in reasoned, civil discourse”. Through this program, students cultivate critical and creative thinking skills, foster collaboration, and learn how to articulate their perspective with clarity and conviction.

This marks the 15th year that Incline High School teacher Milton Hyams has sent a team to the national competition.

Not to be outdone, the Engineering students at Incline High School have recently been honored with a prestigious Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam® grant in recognition for their technological solution to a real-world problem. IHS was one of only eight grants awarded to high schools nationwide this year.

The IHS students have been invited to showcase their prototype at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s EurekaFest® held in Boston this coming June.

Inspired by the record-breaking snowstorms that the Tahoe area experienced last winter, the IHS students are creating a device which can determine when snow accumulation begins

to compromise the structural integrity of a home. This device has the potential to provide invaluable early warnings to homeowners.

The grant provides $7500 and year-long support of a LemelsonMIT Teaching Fellow to create a prototype for their invention. The team is actively engaged in refining their invention and aims to file a provisional patent this spring.

BOTH teams are fundraising to cover travel costs to their events. Donate at www. inclineeducationfund.org or this QR code:

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 10 | SPRING 2024

For info on rates please call Kathy Hess-Slocum at 775-846-5656 or email

Helping

Shahri Masters grew up at Lake Tahoe, staying on for the beauty, the lifestyle, and the people. As a third-generation real estate broker, she followed the family path of real estate and construction. Shahri will bring to you a historical perspective as well as in-depth knowledge of the area, of TRPA and development, and of course –The Real Estate Market.

775-831-8888

masters@inclineliving.com

www.inclineliving.com

IVCBA.ORG | 11 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY. Advertise in LIVE. WORK. PLAY.
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Impactful, Engaging Learning Middle School Exploratories

Incline Middle School Introduces Innovative Exploratory Program

In the wake of the pandemic’s disruptive impact on education, then Principal Kari Michael, embarked on a mission to rejuvenate student enthusiasm for learning at Incline Middle School (IMS). Recognizing the need for a novel approach, she came up with the idea of an “Exploratory Program”, a groundbreaking initiative designed to captivate students’ interest and foster their personal and academic growth.

Now in its second year, the IMS Exploratory Program represents a departure from traditional teaching methods. It serves as a platform for students to explore potential career pathways, engage with the local Incline community, and build real-world skills.

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At its core, the goal of this weekly 1:40-minute class is to give students an opportunity to explore areas of personal interest and gain insights into real-world careers so that they will be better equipped to make informed decisions about their future academic and professional pursuits.

One of the program’s distinguishing features is its emphasis on experiential learning beyond the confines of the classroom. Students are afforded the opportunity to venture into the community, expand their horizons, build meaningful connections with local organizations and professionals, and learn by doing. By engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflection, they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to realworld situations.

On-campus offerings have spanned a wide spectrum of rotating options, including robotics, jazz music, video production, podcasting, needlework, culinary, finance, leadership/student council, college/career planning, drama/

STUDENTS LEARN THEY CAN MAKE AN IMPACT

Off-campus classes encompass a myriad of enriching experiences like swim lessons at the local rec center, mountain biking with A Singletrack Mind, cross-country skiing with Nevada Nordic and Tahoe Multisport, learning about veterinary care at the Pet Network or entrepreneurship at Incline Bowl. Each option immerses students in hands-on learning adventures that ignite their curiosity and give them insight into potential careers.

Now under the guidance of Principal Dan Lediard, the IMS Exploratory Program represents a paradigm shift in education—a testament to Principal Michael’s and now Lediard’s, unwavering dedication to fostering a dynamic learning environment. By embracing innovation and prioritizing student-centered learning, Incline Middle School is not only preparing students for academic success but also instilling in them the tools and mindset to thrive in an everevolving world.

After collecting over 500 pounds of trash through the Trash to Treasure initiative (in collaboration with the Incline Education Fund and the Tahoe Fund), IMS students realized that they could have a direct impact in the future health of Lake Tahoe. This newfound awareness spurred student interest in the Video Production Exploratory class where they are leveraging their STEM talents (critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration) to craft an impactful environmental awareness campaign. The campaign involves designing logos and community signage, filming a PSA and even composing and recording a rap song. Students in the Trash to Treasure Exploratory are now channeling their creative efforts by creating a public mural encouraging residents and visitors to “Love Our Lake / Stop Trashing Tahoe.

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musical theater, computing, academic support, and art.

Turning STEM into STEAM at Incline Elementary School (IES)

While the importance of STEM programs is now known to be extremely important in early education, (like IES’s successful Makerspace program), the value of art in elementary schools is often underestimated. Research has shown, however, that adding art to an elementary curriculum helps to solidify the basic STEM tenets of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.

Encouraging students to develop both their creative and analytical thinking skills plays an important role in children’s cognitive development, reinforcing connections between both “sides” of the brain. Engaging in art projects means designing and creating a tangible product through problemsolving, reasoning, planning, building, and adapting. Studies have proven a strong correlation between school art programs and individual student success. Students with access to art programs score better on standardized tests, report watching less television, feel less bored in school and have higher high school graduation rates.

That is why Incline Education Fund (IEF) is funding a dedicated art program at Incline Elementary School. Much like the IES Makerspace program, this is a weekly enrichment class for every K-5th grade student. The program teaches

art concepts, introduces students to famous artists and their techniques, and delves into both real-world careers that employ art and those where art and other disciplines intersect. The program is designed to follow an interdisciplinary learning model that goes hand-in-hand with the STEM curriculum.

Blending art and science – How it works

While studying a natural disasters unit in science class, IES 4th graders also studied Katsushika Hokusai’s block print of The Great Wave (1831) in their art class. Then, in their makerspace class, students worked together to use Legos to create their own relief block print of a “great wave”, which they then used to make their own wave print in art class.

For more information: www.inclineeduationfund.org or scan the QR code here:

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2024 SponsorED By learn more I V C B A I S E X C I T E D T O P R E S E N T T H E I N A U G U R A L I N C L I N E V I L L A G E C R Y S T A L B A Y R E S T A U R A N T W E E K , A N I M M E R S I V E A N D C E L E B R A T O R Y E V E N T D E S I G N E D T O S H O W C A S E T H E U N I Q U E F O O D A N D B E V E R A G E P R O V I D E R S I N O U R C O M M U N I T Y .
April 15 - 21,

Local Places to Shop for Mom for Mother’s Day

Show mom you love her by giving her something special right here in Incline Village/Crystal Bay. From sparkling jewelry to specially curated “Mountain Mama” gift baskets, these shops offer a little bit of everything for the number one lady in your life:

In the Raley’s Shopping Center: The Potlatch

Celebrating more than 50 years in business, The Potlatch is usually hopping during gift-giving season. Along with children’s items, books, home décor, Lake Tahoe sweatshirts, and cozy socks, The Potlatch is the place to go for any turquoise jewelry and its signature Lake Tahoe-inspired necklaces. www.potlatchlaketahoe.com

Panache

Carrying the best in women’s fashion, activewear, children’s apparel, and home goods, Panache has the entire family covered and cozy for any season. Consider getting your mom a unique handbag, hat, candleholder, vase, or hardcover coffee table book. And don’t forget the greeting card. www.tahoeboutique.com

Forever Rox

Since 2008, Forever Rox has been a family-owned business that specializes in sourcing sparkling high-end diamonds and colored gemstones and then turning them into one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that truly last a lifetime. Full time jeweler and owner John Roxburgh does jewelry repairs, stone setting, and custom fabrication, using all the best materials and his skills. Diamond hoop earrings, available in many sizes and styles, are a favorite amongst moms. www.foreverrox.com.

New Stores with Mom Gifts in Christmas Tree Village: Tahoe Gifting Co.

Due to the demand, the woman and veteran-owned Tahoe Gifting Co. has finally opened a brick-and-mortar store in Christmas Tree Village to highlight its custom gifting services. Combining their love of the mountains and Lake Tahoe with their graphic design skills, owners Darya Shahvaran and Matthew Rattio have built a business curating handcrafted, small-batch quality gift items made by local artisans and putting them into thoughtful baskets that are known to leave an impression. Some of the more popular boxes to celebrate mom include the curated Mountain Mama box (with Coffeebar tea, chocolate truffles, a coffee mug, and bath product) as well as the Welcome Baby basket with a sippy cup, Dorinda’s chocolates, sea salt bath rocks, a Lake Tahoe onesie, and Tahoe ABC book that’s written and illustrated by local artists. tahoegiftingco.com

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Lisa Douglas Designs

Right next to Tahoe Gifting Co. is Lisa Douglas Designs, a design studio that specializes in cool vintage items at an affordable price. Some of her collections include weathered hardbound books, ashtrays that can double as serving trays, plush blankets, pillows, coasters, wooden Liberty puzzles, original artwork, furniture, lamps, and salt & pepper shaker sets in all different shapes, animals, and themes. Every item in there is one-ofa-kind—meaning that once they’re gone, they’re gone—but fortunately Lisa Douglas is a master at finding similar items and has the resources and expertise to give customers incredible deals. Some of the best gifts to give for Mother’s Day from Lisa Douglas Designs include the mother of pearl shell spoon sets, a vase, or copper angel ornaments made by a Reno artist (“Since we’re in the Christmas Tree Village we have to have ornaments year-round,” she says.) lisadouglasdesigns.com

Happy Tiers Bakery

If you want to really spoil mom, walk her down to Happy Tiers Bakery for a mouthwatering baked good. Expert cakemaker Andrea Jurss has her own cakemaking studio in the center of the café, and all around it are places to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, a cinnamon roll, custard cup, lemon-blueberry scone, or one of the other delectable treats in its massive selection. Happy Tiers tends to do special sugar cookie designs, cake slices, and cupcake specials around Mother’s Day and other holidays, making this the place to (sweet) treat your mom. Its cookie decorating kits are also a fantastic way to get the kids involved. www.happytiersbakery.com

Notable Mentions:

Glasses Wine Bar in the Village Shopping Center

After spending the morning and afternoon at the Raley’s Shopping Center and Christmas Tree Village, take your mom to Glasses Wine Bar to relax with a glass of vino. Along with the wraparound bar and 16 different wine dispensers along the wall that allow you to pour your own drink, Incline’s only wine bar also has nice seating areas inside and out, perfect for reading and relaxing. Glasses also have fun gifts including wine-inspired apparel, tea towels, greeting cards, wine stoppers, wine glasses, and reading glasses. It’s worth joining their email list, too, since they often have live music, happy hour deals, and special events. glasseswinebar.com

Bridget Giroux Design

This mother/daughter interior design team hosts unique events and workshops throughout the year and Mother’s Day is a perfect reason to celebrate (especially now that a new Bridget has joined the family). Bridget Giroux Design is holding a couple of workshops this spring, including a Spring Wreath Workshop on March 22nd and a Mother’s Day Flowering Bulb Workshop on Friday, May 10th from 5pm-8pm. At this special workshop, Catalina of Believe in Recess will help attendees create living arrangements with flowering bulbs. Participants choose from a beautiful and colorful collection of pre-sprouted spring bulbs such as hyacinth, tulips, crocus, and daffodils to plant and arrange in a gorgeous ceramic platter as a living garden centerpiece. Then after taking home the custom-made “garden”, you’ll get to watch it open up and transplant it outdoors if you wish. The cost is $135/person and includes all materials, wine, and charcuterie.

If your mom can’t make the workshop, then consider buying a Bridget Giroux hand poured Incline Village-inspired candle that burns for over 80 hours (available in Hidden Beach, Incline Creek, and Sierra Snow scents). Cashmere shawls that were created in a high-end Italian artisan mill exclusive to Bridget Giroux Design are also available, and the silk, cashmere, and sable blend will make mom feel wrapped in luxury. Order from Bridget Giroux Design’s online shop for local pickup, and your mom present will be complimentary gift-wrapped with a Mother’s Day card. www.bridgetgiroux.com

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KAYLA’S EAST SHORE PICKS FROM NEW MOON GUIDES’ NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS

In September of 2023, Moon Guides published the second edition of Northern California Road Trips co-authored by yours truly. And while I’m aware of Incline Village, Crystal Bay, and the rest of the East Shore not being in California, it’s still worth a mention of some of the best places to visit or revisit while exploring Lake Tahoe on a Northern California road trip.

Recreation

Diamond Peak Ski Resort

Owned by the Incline Village General Improvement District, Diamond Peak has a little more than 600 acres of terrain to ski and slide around on and I think it’s perfect for beginners and families because all runs filter down to the base area. When they built Crystal Express in the late 1980s, it opened more terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders, hence the name change from “Ski Incline” to “Diamond Peak”.

Tahoe East Shore Trail

To give people better access to the lake (and a place to safely park your car), the Tahoe Fund spearheaded the construction of the Tahoe East Shore Trail, which is a nice, paved path that starts in front of Tunnel Creek Lodge and ends at Sand Harbor State Park. Even in the winter, people frequent this trail to get the best lake views.

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Entertainment

Crystal Bay Club

As a longtime staple on the northern side of Tahoe on the California/ Nevada state line, Crystal Bay Club is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a casino and entertainment venue. Its casino has blackjack tables, roulette, a William Hill sportsbook, and a variety of slot machines. Popular live musical acts tend to play on either the Red Room stage or the bigger one in the Crown Room, making this the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.

Jim Kelley’s Tahoe Nugget

Next to the Crystal Bay Club, the Tahoe Nugget also has a slew of slot machines, a bar with a decent beer selection, and an outdoor patio/snack bar that serves delicious lunch items. While there are a few other Nugget casinos in Northern Nevada, this one was the originator of the famous Awful Awful burger.

Incline Village Cinema

Incline Village Cinema is a single screen theatre showing first release films. Family owned. Movie theaters struggled during the pandemic when people weren’t allowed to go out and streaming services grabbed a foothold in the movie industry, but the Incline Village Cinema was able to weather through the storm and sell movie popcorn to go. Thankfully, the idea of going to the movies is back, and the Incline Village Cinema still has the best popcorn on the East Shore.

Food Crosby’s

Featuring a wraparound bar with pokey slots below big screen TVs, tables, booth seating, and a dog-friendly outdoor patio available when the weather allows, Crosby’s has been a longtime local favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its award-winning pork green chili is to die for, along with the gyro or Crosby’s signature hot wings. I mention this as a highlight in the book as a place to stop and grab a bite around your 72-mile drive around the lake.

Le Bistro

T’s Rotisserie

It’s common to see a line out the door during lunchtime at T’s because their Mexican food is just so good. Its slow-cooked chicken turning on the spit and/or savory carne asada served in a tostada, burrito, or plate and paired with rice, beans, lettuce, and one-of-a-kind salsa selections is worth every penny. I also love to see Incline Village born-and-raised owner Jamie Swing working the line alongside his staff, like a boss.

For those who are a fan of Anthony Bourdain-style fine dining, then Le Bistro in Incline Village is a must-visit. Specializing in classic French cuisine with an Asian flair made by local renowned chef David Blair, Le Bistro creates artistic delicious dishes using organic, seasonal, fresh ingredients. This is the place to go for a special occasion, to impress your date, or if you simply like the taste of the finer things in life.

What’s Changed in IV/CB Since Northern California Road Trips 2nd Edition Came Out

In relation to the newest edition of Northern California Road Trips, there have been a couple of amendments to businesses listed in the book from the time I wrote it last summer to when it was published this past September. Some of the main ones are:

• Fredrick’s Fusion Bistro closed: Unfortunately, after 20 years of service Fredrick’s closed its doors at the end of August. Many of us miss their delicious beignets and surf & turf. If you’re in the mood for

that kind of upscale casual fare, check out the new Rosewood Tahoe.

• Parkside Inn is now The Incline Lodge: In 2021, the Warner family bought Parkside Inn and did a full renovation reopening under the name The Incline Lodge in July of 2023.

Moon Northern California Road Trips is sold at stores including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Or buy directly online through www.moon.com.

IVCBA.ORG | 19 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY.

UNLOCKING LOCAL TAHOE LANGUAGE: A GUIDE TO DECODING LOCAL ACRONYMS

Venturing into a new community is like embarking on a journey to a linguistic wonderland. Inhabitants of every locality seem to have concocted their own secret code, a blend of shorthand that baffles newcomers and unites the initiated.

And to add to it, the Tahoe Basin spans two states: California & Nevada and five counties: Placer County, CA (41%) El Dorado County, CA (29%) Douglas County, NV (13%) Washoe County, NV (11%), Carson City, NV (6%)

We hope this list will help you decode the abbreviations and acronyms that pepper conversations, signs, and social media posts in Tahoe.

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BMP Best Management Practices

Cal Fire California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Caltrans California Department of Transportation

CSLT or City City of South Lake Tahoe

CTC California Tahoe Conservancy

Douglas Douglas County

EIP Environmental Improvement Agency

ELDO El Dorado County

IVCBA Incline Village Crystal Bay Community & Business Association

IVGID Incline Village General Improvement District

LTBMU United States Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

LTCC Lake Tahoe Community College

LTET Lake Tahoe Water Trail

NDOT Nevada Department of Transportation

NDOT Nevada Department of Transportation

NDOW Nevada Department of Fish and Wildlife

NLTFD North Lake Tahoe Fire District

NTBA North Tahoe Business Association

NTCA North Tahoe Community Alliance

NTCD Nevada Tahoe Conservation District

NTFPD North Tahoe Fire Protection District –Incline Village

NTPUD North Tahoe Public Utility District

NVSP Nevada Division of State Parks

STPUD South Tahoe Public Utility District

TART Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit

TCBA Tahoe City Business Association

TDFPD Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District

TERC Tahoe Environmental Research Center (UC Davis)

TNT/TMA Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association

TNTN Travel North Lake Tahoe Nevada

TRPA Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

TTC Tahoe Transportation Commission

TTD Tahoe Transportation District

UNR University of Nevada Reno (@Lake Tahoe Campus in Incline Village)

Washoe Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

WCSO Washoe County Sheriff Office

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 20 | SPRING 2024

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IVCBA.ORG | 21 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY.

Snowboarding & Wrist Injuries

Snowboarding is one of Tahoe’s greatest draws and thousands of snowboarders spend fun-filled days on its slopes each year. The sport offers excellent cardiovascular benefits, tones muscles, and burns calories, however, snowboarding is not without risk, especially when learning or progressing in the sport.

Due to equipment differences and rider stance, snowboarders use their arms, rather than poles like skiers, to maintain their balance. Accordingly, many snowboardingrelated injuries come after a forward or backward fall broken by a rider’s outstretched arms, resulting in wrist sprains and fractures.

And while all snowboarders are at risk of wrist injuries, until a beginning rider feels more comfortable maintaining their balance, they are at increased risk, largely due to frequent falls.

Wrist sprains are an overstretching or tearing of a ligament causing pain, swelling, bruising, and weakness. Mild sprains can be treated with RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Occasionally a sprain will be severe enough to require surgical repair.

The complex structure of the hand, wrist, and forearm present many possible places for fracture from a fall. Fractures will typically cause swelling, bruising, and pain and are treated with immobilization (casting) or surgery.

It can be difficult to differentiate between a wrist sprain and fracture — a visit to an urgent care, emergency department, or orthopedic specialist for an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment may be required.

There are a few things riders can do to help prevent wrist injuries while snowboarding:

• Maintain your equipment — get a pre-season tune-up and frequently check for inoperative or damaged gear.

• Warm up and stretch — make sure your body is ready for the physical demands of snowboarding.

• Wear protective gear — wearing wrist guards can help prevent wrist fractures and all snowboarders should wear a helmet.

• Learn to fall correctly — as soon as you feel like you’re losing control, get ready to fall by getting low to the ground with bent knees and try to keep your arms bent and close to your body.

• Say no to reckless behavior — snowboarding while intoxicated places yourself, as well as others on the mountain, at a much greater risk.

• If you’re headed into the backcountry — always venture out with a buddy, check avalanche reports (sierraavalanchecenter.org is a good local resource), create a plan with your crew (and stick to it), and always carry the proper safety equipment including beacon, avalanche shovel, and probe, along with a first aid kit.

Snowboarding can be an incredibly rewarding way to spend time outdoors. Consider these tips to prevent injuries and preserve your wrist health before strapping in.

Katie Gollotto, DO is a board-certified sports and physical medicine specialist offering non-surgical orthopedics and sports medicine solutions to the active Lake Tahoe community. Dr. Katie sees patients at Stateline Medical Center. To learn more about Barton’s Sports and Physical Medicine services, call 775.589.8915 or visit BartonHealth.org.

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Beloved Incline “Star Follies” Returns to the Stage

The Incline Follies Mission

The Incline Star Follies creates joyful and inspiring community dance performances that cultivate confidence, character and creativity among local students and adults while building the foundation for a resilient, interconnected community.

What – The Incline Star Follies: a creative, joyful dance performance benefiting Incline schools

When – Friday May 3rd & Saturday May 4th, times TBD. Online tickets sales open in April

Where – The Duffield Theater at Incline High School

Who – Performers include Incline students, teachers and community members

Why – To build a healthy, thriving Incline Village that invests in the development of our youth and fosters deep community connections

How – With your help! Reach out to inclinestarfollies@gmail.com

Incline’s favorite community event and local tradition for over two decades, is coming back for a return engagement! The Incline Star Follies takes the Duffield Theater stage for five exciting performances on May 3 & 4, 2024. This village-wide extravaganza is an unforgettable blend of entertainment and philanthropy. Proceeds from the event directly benefit Incline schools through the Incline Education Fund.

Long-time locals lovingly know “The Follies” as a campy cabaret of choreography, costume & comedy. Community members, teachers and students get an opportunity to flaunt their dancing and showmanship skills for friends and family. Performances include 22 songs in two acts over 90 minutes. The planning, choreography and rehearsals take 6 months, but the memories and friendships created last a lifetime. “Follies cultivates confidence in our students and provides a creative outlet for adult cast members” says our own Doyen of dance, Follies leader and President Kathie Goldberg.

Since its founding in 1999, Incline Star Follies has sold 24,000 tickets and raised over $1 million for local schools. Memorable Follies performances include Austin Powers, Car Wash, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Bohemian

Rhapsody, Kiss, Vogue, and my favorite, The Olympic Swim Team. Past performance themes have included Star Wars, The Greatest Show on Earth, and No Business, like Show Business. This year’s theme is top-secretyou’ll have to volunteer or attend to find out!

Inaugural Follies performer and IVCBA Founder, Linda Offerdahl, knows how important the Follies are to Incline and its schools: “The Incline Star Follies was the first fundraiser to bring wide-scale community support in both donations and attendance for all the public schools. This is a critical time to rally support; the Follies is the perfect vehicle.”

Re-starting the Follies after a 4-year pandemic-induced hiatus is an exciting prospect. The entire community is invited to join in this modern barn-raising: the Incline Star Follies is where seasoned and new Incliners meet and make new friends, build memories, create culture and community, and share effort and joy. Follies performer and former IVGID trustee Kendra Wong put it best - “Incline always shows up for community, kids and education. Whether it be performing, volunteering, donating, or coming to the show, everyone supports Follies. If you’re new to the community, come enjoy the show...and next year, you may be on stage with us!”

According to Mary Danahey, Executive Director of the Incline Education Fund, the Follies present a unique and affordable targeted marketing opportunity for local businesses to reach engaged residents and demonstrate community support. Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available for both businesses and community members interested in advancing our mission of supporting our schools.”

For more information: go to www.inclinestarfollies.org

25 Years of Fun Follies Facts:

• First show: 1999. Last show: 2019 Next Show: May, 2024

• $1 million raised for Schools

• 24,000 tickets sold

• 2,500 false eyelashes used

• 832 cast members

• 14 students returned as adults

• 1 Follies Wedding Engagement

IVCBA.ORG | 23 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY.

Join the Summer Arts Workshops at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe as we celebrate 40 years of creating art in the mountains.

For more information, please contact us!

Rick Parsons and Molly Allen Fine Arts Program

UNRLTFineArts@unr.edu

775-682-5130

Scan the QR code or visit the web for registration dates, on-campus housing options, artist’s personal websites and more info, or visit the web at unr.edu/tahoe-summer-arts

University of Nevada, Reno student are invited to earn their Sustainability Certificate in one semester living at the Wayne L. Prim campus in Incline Village.

Learn about this program and other ways the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe is committed to a sustainable future.

unr.edu/lake-tahoe

Phyllis Schafer Plein Air Landscape Oil Painting Workshop April Felipe Small Works, Big Impact Randy Brodnax and Don Ellis Fast Fire Pottree Randy Brodnax and Don Ellis Soda-Fired Pottree
Giselle Hicks Finding Form: Coil-Built Vessels
Lorna Meaden The Ergonomic Pouring Pot Melissa
Melero-Moose Abstracting Landscape with Mixed Media Painting
Mary Kenny Prints, Patterns and Place: Relief Printmaking
Natural
Week
Week
Week 04 June
July
July 15-19 July 22-26
Jim Baker Photographing the
Landscape Week 01
02
03
24-28
8-12
TAHOE SUMMER ARTS WORKSHOPS

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare’s Festival

Entertainment, family, friends, and refreshments will converge once again under the stars on the scenic shore of Lake Tahoe this summer as Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (LTSF) launches its 52nd season in 2024. Featuring live entertainment seven nights a week during its run, June 28-August 25, 2024 at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, LTSF’s 2024 season is headlined by mainstage productions of productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare’s uproarious battle of the sexes, and Always…Patsy Cline, the musical celebration of a country legend.

The Merry Wives of Windsor and Always…Patsy Cline will run Tuesdays (select) through Sundays

at 7:30 p.m. The Merry Wives of Windsor will be directed by LTSF Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee. Always…Patsy Cline will be helmed by director, Victoria Bussert. Always… Patsy Cline (created and originally directed by Ted Swindley) is licensed by the Estate of Patsy Cline. All Rights Reserved.

The Merry Wives of Windsor features the rotund rascal Sir John Falstaff and the wise wives of Windsor in one of Shakespeare’s most raucous comedies. With an ego as big as his voracious appetite, Falstaff conspires to woo the two wealthiest married ladies in town and pocket their riches. However, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page devise a scheme of their own to teach him a well-deserved lesson in Wooing

101 which results in a hilariously magnificent treat of monogamously artful deceit.

Always…Patsy Cline tells the touching true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with a fan, Louise Seger, which started in 1961 and continued until the premature death of the renowned country star. Told through Cline’s music, this humorous and heartfelt tribute features 27 songs and many of her unforgettable hits such as “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Walking After Midnight.

More information and tickets available at www. laketahoeshakespeare.com.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare’s Festival’s 2024 lineup features productions of Shakespeare’s comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and the musical ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE.

NEW INTERESTING KIDS ACTIVITIES IN INCLINE VILLAGE

As we get into spring and summer camp season, there is a myriad of sports that kids can get involved in. Many of us already know about the common sports like baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, and swimming, but there are some new unique activities that have come onto the scene for kids…here are fun new local programs to keep an eye on for kids in coming months:

LAKE TAHOE KARATE

Using the power of play to instill values such as confidence, friendship, and character building through martial arts, Lake Tahoe Karate in the Raley’s Shopping Center makes it clear that they offer “more than kicks” for kids and adults ages four and up.

The owner and founder of Lake Tahoe Karate, Peter Rulon-Miller, became an aficionado of martial arts at the age of nine and the discipline and skills he learned carried him through to adulthood. He became an assistant instructor when he was just 13 years old, and now that he’s in Incline he runs a martial arts studio of his own offering a full curriculum of classes in jiu-jitsu, karate, boxing/kickboxing, modern self-defense, and verbal martial arts.

“This is a new school, and we have a full schedule with lots of classes,” Rulon-Miller says. Visit https:// laketahoekarate.com/ or call (775) 835-2154 to book a class; new students get a free introduction session.

LAKE TAHOE DANCE COLLECTIVE

Believing that all disciplines of movement should be enjoyed by all, the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective (LTDC) has built an atmosphere of trust and respect where anyone who wants to challenge themselves and explore their creativity in movement is welcome to join, utilizing the AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum.

LTDC was originally based in Tahoe City, but it has an Incline Village studio as well where it offers Creative Dance/Pre-Ballet (for ages 3-4) and Ballet 1 (for ages 5-7), Ballet 2, and Ballet 3 (for ages 10 and up) depending on ability. Visit https://www.laketahoedancecollective. org/ for information about its Spring 2024 session.

DPSEF MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM

The Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation (DPSEF) is well known for their wintertime ski team programs, but we all know that kids need something to do in the summer as well. Fortunately, last summer DPSEF launched a Mountain Bike Team. Taught by coaches certified through USA Cycling, the Mountain Bike Team is an advanced training program open to riders of all abilities ages 6 and older.

In its supportive and inclusive environment, coaches help its members develop their skills, foster a passion for the sport, and can compete in races if they want to. Two flexible summer sessions are offered (either a six-week or seven-week program), with options for afternoononly or half-day sessions.

“Last summer we spent a lot of time on trails close to town including the Incline Flume Trail, Tyrolean Downhill, the pump track near the Rec Center, and a few times we went around Kings Beach and Tahoe City,” says Mountain Bike Team Head Coach Anastasia SeatorBraun.

“This season we’ve had more time to prepare and are excited to have three different groups, Mini-Shreds (for ages 5-8), Cross Country Team (ages 9 +), and our Downhill Team (ages 11 +). With these groups we hope to explore new trails around the basin, especially focusing on Northstar for our Downhill Team,” she adds.

Additionally, the team hosts community-based events like trail clean-up days and bike tech nights. For more information, visit www.dpsef.org/programs/mountainbike-team.

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 26 | SPRING 2024

ROWTAHOE’S NEW TAHOE CREW

In what began as a Masters (adult) rowing club in 2021 founded by Wyatt Nordstrom has since expanded to include the Tahoe Crew—a new youth rowing part of RowTahoe open to those in the 8th-12th grades. Tahoe Crew students how to row with good technique, work on physical conditioning, discipline, and teamwork in rowing both sweep and sculling boats, and can earn the opportunity to compete in regattas.

RowTahoe has access to a private beach in Incline Village where it keeps its two “fours” long boats, two doubles, and five single boats. It also partners with IVGID, keeping its eight rowing machines at the Recreation Center.

“Rowing and cross-country skiing are the most physiologically demanding sports, but they’re low impact

so kids who’ve been injured in other sports can still do this and stay competitive and fit. I’ve personally been rowing since I was 13 years old and it changed my life,” Nordstrom says.

RowTahoe is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, for more information visit tahoecrew.org. It also puts on the annual North Tahoe Regatta, which will be held on August 4, 2024.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTH LAKE TAHOE’S GREAT FUTURES PRODUCTIONS

Have an aspiring actor or singer in your brood? The Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe’s Great Futures Productions gives the perfect opportunity for kids to get involved with a local theatre company and help them unleash the power of their curiosity, imagination, and empathy while encouraging self-confidence, individual expression, and teamwork.

Great Futures produces five musicals a year (in a partnership with Incline High School) and one play. The current theatre troupe is made up of 20 students ranging from grades 5th-12th and has won regional talent competitions in the past few years. Great Futures Productions also offers singing, acting, and dancing classes all year long. For more information, visit www. bgcnlt.org/great-futures-productions .

IVCBA.ORG | 27 | LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
AMENITIES “Best hotel in North Lake Tahoe Excellent service, gorgeous rooms, beautiful & convenient location Very helpful staff, a welcoming lobby, great coffee, very comfortable bedding I highly recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a true Lake Tahoe experience ” - TripAdvisor comBook Today At www theinclinelodge com Heated Indoor Pool Local & Seasonal Discounts Available Lobby Bar Lounge Daily Wine Reception Newly Renovated Rooms Contactless Stay

THE INCLINE LODGE

The hotel on the corner of Country Club Boulevard and Highway 28, formerly known as The Parkside Inn, has been completely revamped and reintroduced as The Incline Lodge. The 38-room boutique hotel includes a combination of three different room types (a mix of king beds, queen beds and suites) along with a standalone building that’s perfect for bigger groups.

Opening at the end of June 2023 just in time for the Fourth of July holiday, the total transformation of the hotel includes rooms with all new furnishings, enhanced acoustical treatments, custom design finishes, and more. Walking into one of the standard rooms, it smells fresh. It’s cozy, clean, and feels bigger thanks to the vaulted ceilings. There’s a 55” flatscreen TV in the room with 60 channels. The bathroom has a sleek sliding barn door, opening to reveal a sink, toilet, and a glassenclosed shower with polished pebble/ stone flooring.

The technology systems at The Incline Lodge are also next level, which include contactless check-in, new POS systems, and a QR code in the room that guests can use to access adds on, activities, and hotel information.

“You can be lying in bed the night before planning out what you’re going to do the next day,” says General Manager Andrew Gauthier. Everything being streamlined gives staff more time to focus on the guests and concierge experience. “You

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BUSINESS PROFILE
© CHRIS TALBOT

legitimately don’t need to talk to anyone here, but we’re always here to help,” he adds.

A few of the rooms towards the back of the hotel have forestfacing balconies and bigger bathrooms (some with two vanity sinks). The one we dip into has a king bed, requested rollaway bed (complete with newly washed pillowy linen sheets), and a full seating area in front of a flatscreen TV. The forest behind the property is quiet, and bears can often be seen roaming in that area. The Incline Lodge is designed in a mountain modern architecture aesthetic, casual yet upscale and comfortable. Its new thousandsquare-foot lobby offers beer, wine, coffee, and elevated grab & go food now with daily hot breakfast burritos provided by Tunnel Creek Café and muffins from Happy Tiers.

Downstairs, the newly renovated and sophisticated lounge and pool area seems like an entirely new place than what it was before – the astroturf and ball pit that used to be there has been replaced with a sleek polished granite top bar, velvet green couches and new chairs, soft modern lighting, a few shelves of books, and a fireplace. It is here where The Incline Lodge hosts its daily wine reception, where guests can enjoy one complimentary glass of wine, talk about what they got up to that day, and mingle with the

residents. The affordable wine prices (for both the glass and the bottle) make it an attractive hangout spot for locals-- The Incline Lodge staff welcomes everyone.

“We treat this as an amenity not a profit center so that we can keep affordable prices,” Gauthier says. In looking at its menu, it is one of Incline’s better places to post up and share a bottle with friends or guests.

These other spaces stocked with amenities make The Incline Lodge perfect for parties, corporate retreats, or group gatherings. Gauthier says that they love group business, provide local discounts, and even host special events/wine tastings for the community around the holidays.

“We want to be a resource for the community and provide accommodations for friends and family as well as the event space. If you live in the area and need a quick getaway, we’re here at the heart of it.

“We offer an elevated product at a good, reasonable rate. It’s important to us that people leave here happy and that they got what they paid for and more,” Gauthier says.

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PLANNING INCLINE VILLAGE: THEN VS. NOW

I came across the photograph below recently and forwarded both it and the map that accompanies this article to my go- to source for most things involving the layout of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, Paul Franklin. I profiled Paul in the Holiday 2022 edition of LIVE.WORK.PLAY. along with his father Jack Franklin. The senior Franklin, later in partnership with son Paul, built some 70 houses and other structures in Kings Beach, Incline Village and elsewhere on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in the period between 1950 and 2015. I asked Paul about the unusual grouping that appeared in the bottom center of the photo positioned in the curl of what appeared to be an under construction termination of the then New Mount Rose Highway—labeled as SR 27 on maps of the 1960’s. Paul said, “Why that’s the now infamous Orbit Gas Station although the alignment of the roads around it is totally different now.” Paul agreed to accompany me for a closer look.

At first glance, the photograph seemed to have been taken in the winter, with white snow showing along plowed black asphalt streets. The caption on the photo I saw suggested the aerial photo had been taken of Incline in the 1950’s but the fact that the streets had been laid out and what was obviously at least a partly constructed new Mount Rose Highway were conclusive evidence that post 1960 was the bare minimum date. The new SR27 as it was numbered at the time was completed on an expedited basis by the predecessor to NDOT as a result of the widely unexpected decision of the International Olympic Committee in June of 1955 to award the 1960 Winter Olympics to Alex Cushing’s consortium

for the relatively unknown Squaw Valley Ski Resort. Cushing, et. al. had designated the Reno Ski Bowl (now known as the Slide Mountain side of the Mount Rose Ski Resort) as the alternate venue for the Men’s Downhill races should Squaw not have enough snow for that event—and in fact that almost came to pass. But that’s another story.

Up until the New Mount Rose Highway was opened for travel on May 14, 1960, all traffic on the Incline side of the mountain over to Reno went via a mostly dirt or gravel road that was not plowed in the winter, and somewhat impassible many other times of the year as well. The new highway improvements extended from the Tahoe Tavern ski resort above Reno over the Mount Rose summit and down a mostly all new grade into what was soon to become Incline Village along the present course of what is now numbered SR431.

Previous to May of 1960, travelers from the Incline area to Reno drove up a short stretch of gravel road on what is now Country Club Avenue, turned right up what is now Fairview Blvd to just below the new orientation of SR431, doubled back to the south and after crossing the new highway traveled up a still visible but narrow and at times steep road--now a hiking and mountain biking trail--all the way to Tahoe Meadows, crossing over where the new road runs about midway up the mountain and finishing in the Meadows itself. The road then crossed the meadows and up a slight canyon past the current (seasonal) campgrounds then over the summit and down towards the Mount Rose Ski Resort on the right side of the mountain on a still unpaved road which exists even today behind a locked gate just off the current highway.

So now let us return to the Lake Tahoe end of SR431 (old SR27)

From both the photograph and the map, one can see that the mapping nomenclature had the New Mount Rose Highway designation continuing on past its juncture with what was to become Village Boulevard (at the new traffic circle) and dead ending into Lakeshore Boulevard just below the still existing but defunct Orbit gas station. Prior to the platting of Incline Village by Crystal Bay Development Company in 1961-63, SR 28 followed the course of Lakeshore Boulevard from Crystal Bay along the shoreline and on out towards Sand Harbor. The SR28 designation still shows on the 1969 map but that designation was

LIVE.WORK.PLAY. | 30 | SPRING 2024 HISTORY

subsequently moved to Tahoe Boulevard. The black and white photograph of the area shows a number of historical features, several of which are still present if one knows where to look.

First of all, in June 1960 the juncture of the new Mount Rose Highway T’s directly into SR28, what we now know as Shoreline Blvd. The new highway wraps closely around the Orbit property creating a steep berm between itself and the station and enclosing a group of tall pine trees which exist to this day. The berm is still very much evident to viewers from the little park just above Shoreline Blvd.. Second; the current alignment of SR28 no longer follows the course laid out in 1960 at the opening of the then new SR27. The current designation of SR431 (old SR27) ends at the traffic circle and the new alignment of SR28 follows a path more to the mountain side of the right of way. Third; the old path of Lakeshore Drive is still visible if one stands below the Orbit station on Lakeshore and looks towards Crystal Bay. A gate on the left at the current uphill swing of Lakeshore to where it now joins SR28 shows the vacant route beyond which used to be the continuation of Lakeshore on towards Crystal Bay, merging with SR28 further along as shown on both the old photograph and map.

Also of interest is the fact that several areas of shoreline property were not part of the purchase of Incline by Crystal Bay Development Company. Most prominently at the time was the very large King estate, so named for its owner Joe King who according to Tahoe historian and weather guru, Mark McLaughlin, won the money to buy the property as a result of playing high stakes poker with Robert P. Sherman, then owner of the Cal-Neva Lodge and much of the land between present day Kings Beach

and Tahoe Vista. Continuing on Lakeshore past the site of the old King estate are the extensive properties of Incline philanthropists David and Cheryl Duffield. Their property fronts the long, white sand beach viewed on the photograph just past the former King estate. Also faintly visible on the photograph is a thin white line immediately lake side of Lakeshore Blvd in the area of the Duffield holdings which Paul suggests was the then still evident path of the old logging railroad that ran from the Incline sawmill along the beach towards Crystal Bay in the1890’s. One also notes the presence of the water tank shown both on the photograph and indicated on the map in the area as yet undeveloped to the right of the Ponderosa subdivision in the area above the Orbit station location. The tank was constructed in the 1960’s but the neighborhood surrounding it not until some years later. The Lariat Circle neighborhood now surrounds this tank which supplies water to hundreds of homes to this day some 60 years later. A final look locates the open space across the new Mount Rose Highway well to the right of the water tank mentioned above. It’s the site of the then yet to be built Preston Field, the site of hundreds of baseball games over the years and a great spot for a picnic on a warm summer’s day as well.

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