Then and now: Less clutter on roadways
Overhead wires existed until South Lake Tahoe incorporated. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Highway 50 in the 1960s had stoplight islands mounted in the center of the roadway, despite being in snow country.
The Flying A service station exists today as Tahoe Tom’s. Also, the large tree at still stands.
Streetlights are no longer in the middle of the road. Photo/Bill Kingman
All overhead wires and power poles were removed after the city of South Lake Tahoe incorporated in 1965. The city also did not permit flashing or animated signage.
Harveys was the only highrise at Stateline until the Sahara Tahoe opened in 1965. The Harrah’s and MontBleu (originally Park Tahoe) hotels opened in the mid-1970s
— Bill Kingman
do you really think that the Marriot looks better?
there may be issues with stateline redevelopment, but you are kidding right? I think 95/100 people would resoundingly say yes.
Bill ,good photo of what once was. My folks last motel is in that shot. We bought it as the Wonderland in 72′. Changed the name to the Rocking R and cleaned the place up, built up the business and sold it a few years later.
As much as I miss “Old Tahoe”, things are looking better compared to the clutter of all those old motels jammed together.
Miss Cecil’s, a friend worked the deli in the back years ago and had some great sandwhiches there, (maybe because they were free!).
Take Care, OLS
Less clutter due to the removal of local businesses which have been replaced mostly by chains. I agree it looks better but I do wonder at the cost to our neighbors who used to own businesses along this corridor and have been replaced by Corporate interests that give less back in terms of our community and livable jobs.
I hope the pit can be fully returned to usable commercial space and some of the businesses that were removed given a legitimate chance to return (not the opportunity to move back to an over-priced lease with little chance of surviving).
My Two Cents!
Bill you forgot to mention that $130,000,000.00 was borrowed to buy out those properties.
the $9,000,000.00 per year loan payment is why the City is broke and cannot fix the roads.
so all the locals are going to pay every time old Hal and the Team makes another bad decision.
slow roller the city does not pay for that loan, it is paid for by a 2% redevelopement tax that is paid for by the visitors that stay at marriott plus there was a huge increase in regular tot taxes due to the higher room rates and occupancy. there are also higher sales taxes collected there as well as much higher real estate taxes. The city recieved a big jump in income because of this development without any costs to thier general fund.
Old Long Skiis
I remember the Wonderland Motel as it was located directly across the street from my parents Donut Shop. Did your family purchase that property from the Ryan family?
Fifty year resident, Yes It was from the Ryan family that we bought the Wonderland. The dads name was Jerry and the kid Mike’ was a friend of mine back in Bijou Elementary days. Small town eh? OLS
OLS
I remember Mike Ryan from Bijou Elementary school as well. I went over to the Bijou Elementary School last week a lot of improvements have been made in the last couple of years. Nice changes.
Thanks Bill for reminding us of our history as it brings back a lot of old memories.
Relo the Melo-ruse tax falls short 4-5 million for the first 15 years of redevelopment.
that is why the City increased the half cent sales tax to help make up the short fall.
so every one pays every time they go shopping.
All those cars had carburetors and burned leaded gas. I remember the smell.
I have a hard time with all the doomers claiming things are getting worse. Great progress has been made.
The Tahoe Tom’s property is owned by a high-school contemporary of mine, Tom Erickson, who lives in Oregon
Harrah’s Hotel opened in 1973 as a 5-Star hotel (a full 10 years after Harvey’s, due to Harrah’s loyalty to the local CA lodging industry), with both drink dispensers & TV’s in the bathrooms (not to miss a thing in sports events !) – my boss then was Jim Smith, V.P. of Public Relations [he succeeded the great John Gianotti] – his sister, Jody Smith, did all the interior design for the hotel, using a 4-Season theme of dividing the number of rooms by 4 and making them all coincide with one season or the other. . .when Holiday Inns (a “family” motel chain) bought Harrah’s, it was never a 5-Star again. . .and has not been since.
Heavenly Village is an improvement but the clientele is different, due to the ‘time-share’ nature, as most of those people never venture far away from the Village while here. . .they get as far as the intersection @ Pioneer and turn around, as they are mostly not very adventurous – Tahoe is a waystation for reunions, weddings, & those who certainly create their own memories while here. . .but are a decidedly different breed as clientele. . .
As timesharers, they have their choice each year as to where they may go, & quite often go elsewhere, making Tahoe a waystation for other adventures. . .
‘Clutter’ is gone, but can also be thought of as customers, which there are less of. . .as vitality is still a missing ingredient
Tahoe Tom’s was owned by Tom Erickson a long time local who moved to Oregon and was previously a (Flying A Station) and was owned by Toms father Art Erickson. That business was in the Erickson family for many years