Tahoe Sky Harbor Airport...

Today's history lesson was found on the Lam Watah Historic Trail in Rabe Meadow.

Being on this trail is one of the easiest and quickest ways to be immersed in Tahoe's nature. In addition, through the actions of the USFS, one gets history lessons from the numerous informative interpretive signs/kiosks found along the path.

This intrigued. In 1946, Burke Creek was relocated to the western portion of Rabe Meadow was filled to develop the first airport in the Tahoe Basin- Tahoe Sky Harbor Airport.

For just a few years, the meadow was used by Tahoe Sky Harbor Airport & Resort to fly its wealthy patrons in from San Francisco to spend money in the local casinos that were clustered around the California/Nevada stateline.

Can't you just envision this? "A pilot would fly from the mountain side toward and over the lake to alert the cattle to move, then land flying from over the lake toward the mountain and the Sky Harbor Casino building."

The airport consisted of a dirt landing strip and “gaming” airport terminal where pilots could test their luck. The Sky Harbor Airport was poorly engineered and its only runway was on too steep of an incline to meet aerodrome standards of the day. Unfortunately, the airport was short lived, closing in 1950. The Lake Tahoe Basin would be without an airfield until 1958.