What to See in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - Top Sights and Attractions

Cal Neva Resort & Casino, previously known as the Calneva Resort and Cal-Neva Lodge, is a resort and casino straddling the border between Nevada and California on the shores of Lake Tahoe. The original building was constructed in 1926, and became famous when the national media picked up a story about actress Clara Bow cancelling checks she owed to the Cal-Neva worth $13,000 in 1930. After burning down in a fire in 1937, the structure was rebuilt in only 30 days. In 1960, entertainer Frank Sinatra purchased the resort with several others, including singer Dean Martin and Chicago mobster Sam Giancana.

Under Sinatra, the Celebrity Room was added alongside a helipad and it opened year round. His ownership gradually increased over the following two years until he owned 50 percent outright. But Giancana's attendance at the property first provoked a rift between Sinatra and share holder Hank Sanicola, and later resulted in Sinatra's gambling license being suspended by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Sinatra initially leased the property to Jack L. Warner and later in 1968 to a group of investors. It passed through the hands of a series of investment groups until 1976 when it was bought by Kirk Kerkorian. The property closed for renovations in 2013 and has not reopened since. Larry Ellison purchased the property out of bankruptcy in 2018.^[3]

Lake in California. The Angora Lakes are two small freshwater lakes in the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe Watershed ~1,200 ft in elevation above Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. It is the location of the Angora Lakes Resort, a small summer outdoor recreation location. The lakes were named for a herd of Angora goats that used to graze in the area.

To reach Angora Lakes from Hwy 89, take the Fallen Leaf Lake Rd. turnoff for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km). (Alternate route: Lake Tahoe Blvd. to Tahoe Mountain Rd.) Turn left and climb to the top of the one-lane road and look for the dirt road and a sign reading "1214". From there an at times steep and at times paved road leads to fantastic vistas and ends in the Angora Lakes trailhead parking lot. There is a 1-mile (1.6 km) uphill hike to Angora Lake.^[4]

Mountain in California. Mount Tallac is a mountain peak southwest of Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, California. The peak lies within the Desolation Wilderness in the Eldorado National Forest. It is quite visible from State Routes 89 and 28, and U.S. Route 50. A "cross of snow" is clearly visible on the mountain's face during the winter, spring, and early summer months.

The mountain is shown on maps of the Whitney Survey as Chrystal Peak. In 1877, the Wheeler Survey named the peak "Tallac", after the Washo word "daláʔak", meaning 'big mountain'.

An estimated 10,000 climb the peak each year via routes approaching the summit from Desolation Wilderness to the west, Fallen Leaf Lake to the East, and access roads from the north. Wilderness permits are required to hike Mount Tallac. But for day hiking, permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. There is a quota for overnight hikes on Mount Tallac (and throughout Desolation Wilderness), but there is no quota for day hiking.

The opening sequence of the TV series Bonanza was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow, with Mount Tallac in the background.^[5]

Reservoir in California. Lake Aloha is a large shallow backcountry reservoir located at an elevation of 8,116 feet in the Sierra Nevada Range, west of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, in eastern California.

The reservoir is located in Desolation Valley, within the federally protected Desolation Wilderness area. The shortest and easiest approach is from Echo Lake by the Pacific Crest Trail. Alternately, it can be reached by the Glen Alpine Springs Trailhead, near the city of South Lake Tahoe. There is a moderate gain in elevation as you head west. From the south, Lake Aloha can be reached by the Ralston Peak Trail or cross country through Horsetail Falls and Desolation Valley. To reach the base of Price and Pyramid Peaks, in the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada, you have to traverse the Lake Aloha area.

The primary outflow from Lake Aloha is Pyramid Creek, which flows south for roughly four miles before it empties into the South Fork American River near Twin Bridges.

Pyramid Creek was first dammed to create Lake Aloha in 1875, creating a year-round water source for grazing cattle and inundating a collection of natural lakes known as the Medley Lakes. The dam was later raised and several auxiliary dams were constructed up to 1955.^[8]