Round Hill with Chris & Jan...

Our biggest goal for coming to Tahoe was to facetime, the old-fashioned way, with as many friends as possible. How lucky we are that our friends make time to see us when we roll into town!

Wanting to explore, Chris, Jan, Steve and I hit the trail to the historic Round Hill Pines Resort. I've written about this cool place several times and it continues to intrigue me, every time we visit.
All Postcards circa 1950s
The ownership of this property has a storied history, beginning in 1864.  By 1919, Norman DeVaux (automobile manufacturer from Oakland) bought the property and constructed several buildings as a summer residence and accommodations for guests. The Round Mountain Lodge, the first structure to be erected on the site, was completed in 1922, with three guest cabins, a garage, wash house, gate house, and other amenities completed during DeVaux's ownership.
In 1931, the Round Hill Pines property was purchased by Arthur K. Bourne, one of the heirs to the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The Bourne family resided on the property during the summer months. During his tenure on the land, Bourne purchased additional acreage at Lake Tahoe, eventually owning 800 acres in the basin. In 1951, he built a house one mile to the north and converted the summer place into a commercial resort.

This is The Lodge, the most stunning of the buildings, constructed of logs on a mortared stone foundation.
The Lodge's concrete terrace, facing Lake Tahoe, was also supported by a mortared stone retaining wall. And yes, we are standing on the terrace and it was pretty cool.
And how about this view from the terrace, 70 years prior? Breathtaking.
Arthur Bourne's Round Hill Pines Resort opened for the summer season in 1951, with amenities that included a beach terrace, heated pool, professional tennis court, badminton, tether ball, volleyball, fishing in Bourne Lake (east of the site), a driving range (in the meadow north of the site), a private beach and dock, and a boat slip rental. Motel units were constructed in 1956. By the summer of 1963, the resort had increased to 30 units, including housekeeping cottages, and operated from June 15 to September 15.

The resort continued in operation until 1969, when sewer improvements forced its closure. A casino development, proposed for the property, was denied. The Round Hill residential development then just closed. In 1984, the property was purchased by the Forest Service for $8,950,000. Since that time, only the beach area of the resort has been used, leased to a concessionaire for day use. Steve I returned with hopes of seeing some sort of preservation, but no. Round Hill Resort is slowing disappearing, yet we keep making memories here, while it is still around...
Snow
While falling it hides your passage
When finished it documents your path.
-Richard L. Ratliff

posted under |

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Get new Blog Posts to your inbox. Just enter name and email below.

 

We respect your email privacy

Blog Archive


Recent Comments