Then and now: Changes to Bijou
Occasionally I find additional interesting photos about sites previously visited on Then and Now. Here is more pictorial history of the Bijou Center and Conolley’s in South Lake Tahoe:
Young’ Bijou in the 1920s. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Bijou in the early 1900s included the Young Brothers’ Bijou Resort. Neighboring Conolley’s Resort was just to the west, also on the beach.
Four-wheel drive was not an option in the 1950s. Photo/Del Laine Collection, Lake Tahoe Historical Society
By 1951, Young’s included a market, fountain, and the Bijou Post Office. Adjacent was the historic Bal Bijou dance hall built in the 1930s.
The Conolley enclave was leveled more than 40 years ago. Photo/Del Laine Collection, Lake Tahoe Historical Society
The last of Conolley’s buildings later housed Nel’s Tahoe Supply before being razed in the early 1970s. Today that site is the Beach Retreat and Lodge (formerly Timber Cove).
The Bijou Center as it looks in 2015. Photo/Bill Kingman
What was the Young Brothers Resort is today’s Bijou Center. CVS now occupies most of what was Bal Bijou.
— Bill Kingman
Was the CVS building once a dance hall? I remember going to dances around there in the early 60’s (maybe 1962).
Irish:
I don’t remember any dances in Bijou in the late ’50’s or beyond, but they were held at Globin’s Pier in 1959-60, before the use of the much bigger-then-now American Legion Hall (Jim & Sara Burgett). . .Connelley’s was also known as Koenig’s Pier in the early ’60’s, as Linda Koenig was a classmate. . .
Easily half of the American Legion Hall collapsed (along with Meeks just across Highway 50) in the winter storm of 68-69, not mentioned in the ‘5 worst storms’ article. . . much worse than those mentioned. . .
The CVS building was also an Ink’s market, along with that at Tallac Avenue. . .
Winter of 67-68 had people going out 2nd story windows on Wildwood Ave.
The radio station was on the second floor in Harrah’s and “Tricky Dick in the closet,” said that he had good news and bad news. The snow would be clear…was the good news and clear up to your a** was the bad news. He was promptly cut off the air!
Bill Harrah tolerated NO blue material:)