Meeks Bay is a very special place for Steve. It is where he, as young as two years of age, fell in love with Tahoe.

Almost every summer was spent frolicking on the West Shore.
When we read that there were going to be more changes to this unique Tahoe Treasure, we gathered equally curious Margaret and Lee and headed to Meeks.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) hosted a public tour, to announce the proposed action and public comment period for the Meeks Bay Restoration Project.
Before the actual tour began, Steve took his own tour down Memory Lane.


We were eager to hear the "Purpose and Need for Action" for this extensive project.
According to the website: "The deteriorating condition of the existing marina infrastructure, concerns over aquatic invasive species, and concerns over degraded habitat for native species have prompted the need for action in Meeks Bay. The purpose of this project is to move the Meeks Creek stream channel and wetland/lagoon below State Route 89 (SR89) to a more natural condition where geomorphic and hydrologic processes support a functioning ecosystem while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities."
"There is a need to improve water quality in Meeks Creek; restore degraded aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitats and barrier beaches; provide high quality habitat that is resilient to a changing climate; improve fish passage through the SR 89 stream crossing; control or eradicate current populations of terrestrial and aquatic invasive plant species; maintain and enhance access to Lake Tahoe and National Forest System lands; provide sustainable recreation opportunities consistent with a functioning ecosystem; enhance educational and interpretive opportunities; enhance species of value to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California; and promote the Federally protected species Tahoe yellowcress (Rorippa subumbellata) and Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi)."



Most of the people on the tour were 'old timers' who remember Meeks Bay in its heyday. According to author Carol Van Etten, "Meeks Bay Resort, developed by the Kehlet family beginning in 1920, was a self-contained destination resort before the term was coined. Accommodations included a campground, a hotel and over 100 rustic cabins. No need to leave the Resort for food. Its lakefront dining room, two beach snack bars and a sandwich shop with full fountain provided the necessary nuances of nourishment. Campers and local residents could avail themselves of a grocery store and meat market on the premises, and a barber shop and beauty parlor kept vacationers looking their best.

To wile away the sunny days, a stables, pleasure pier and fleet of ride boats from kayaks to speedboats offered alternatives to the beach. Ping Pong and horseshoes were among other favorite amusements, and a brace of determined correspondents could always be found in the Lodge, scribbling “Wish You Were Here” on countless picture postcards.

At night, the Resort provided entertainment for (almost) every taste: first-run movies were the rule at the Meeks Bay Theater, and the beach-front Dancehall was the perfect setting for every budding summer romance. Gamblers didn’t need to “head for the line” to enjoy their games of chance. The Bingo (aka Tango) Room, with Freddie and Darel in charge, was always a lively spot,  and if all else failed there were always the Bay’s natural amenities to admire."

Meeks' heyday has long been over but after this two hour long informational tour, we hope that the powers that be will remember the good old days and try to keep some of the historic and nostalgic aspects of this magical place intact. I'm hopeful.