Then and now: Al Tahoe area used to be hopping

The top of the 1960’s local map (courtesy of Theresa and Darrell Eymann) depicts a pier and breakwater extending zigzag on the lake from the end of Sacramento Avenue in Al Tahoe. This is where Frank Globin built an overwater chalet and dance pavilion in the summer of 1929 on the Lake Shore Park Pier (photo from Pomona Public Library Frasher Fotos Collection).

1929 was during a record-setting low water level, making construction easy on the dry shoreline.

Today people know this area as Regan Beach. Photo/Bill Kingman

Extending diagonally from the chalet and pavilion was a long breakwater and pier built by Al Sprague which served the Steamer Tahoe. Sprague was the land owner and developer who named “Al Tahoe” after himself.

The chalet and dance pavilion were razed in the early 1960s along with Globin’s historic Sacramento Avenue hotel which had been mostly destroyed by fire.

— Bill Kingman