Then and now: Office space once was motel-apartments
Today’s building.
The Lake Front Building today.
The four-story Villa Del Mar Motel & Apartments from the 1960s was perched on the beach at 3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd., directly across from the Bank of America in South Lake 
Tahoe.
The former motel investors purchased the
Fire destroys the building.
property in 1973 and renovated it as the Lakefront Professional Building.
The old motel.
In 1999, however, a late night fire gutted all floors, and the entire site had to be cleared.
Today’s replacement Lakefront building features several modern architectural improvements over its predecessor, including an elevator.
(Photo credits: The Villa Del Mar sign is from a “Congrats to Class of ’69” ad in the 1969 South Tahoe High School yearbook. It is courtesy of Bob Rockwell. All other photos by Bill Kingman.)
— Bill Kingman
I can remember the radio station weather reports from an actual person looking directly at the Lake… Thanks for the memories!
Bill Kingman, Ah yes, the old Villa del Mar. Quite a place. After the fire and it got turned into the Lakeside Professional Building I was getting my haircuts there. Although I haven’t seen a barber in quite some time now, I still remember the view from the big picture window facing the lake as the barber was a snippin’ away at my locks!
Glad to see the place still stands. Another good one Bill! As always, Take care , Old Long Skiis
I’ve always been disappointed, especially after the fire, that no one tried to build something more oriented to the Lake view from that beautiful piece of property. Office buildings can go anywhere; a first class lakeside restaurant with outside and inside seating would have been perfect for that site. There aren’t nearly enough restaurants or lounges in South Lake Tahoe that offer locals and their guests the most beautiful view in California.
I agree with Copper. Drives me nuts to see the restaurants across the highway.
Yes indeed this location housed my first hair salon experience at the lake around 1979 called the Hole in the Wall. It was a wonderful place to view the lake by having those big sliders open to a balcony deck and the beach below. Back then Timbercove Pier was the site of July 4th fireworks so there could be no better spot for a party. The inside walls were like artwork with hand cut wood spiraling and flowing thru the place. Yes it was the 70s. Paul and Karen Munteen were the owners of Hole in the Wall and I was set to buy the business but the owners decided not to renew the lease.
So 35 years later I still enjoy a lake view from Sessions Salon just a couple blocks away and many clients from then still come to me! Very greatfull am I!