Then and now: Access to Angora Ridge improves
Getting to Angora Lakes wasn’t always as easy as it is today. Photo/Jim Hildinger
If you recognize Fallen Leaf Lake and distant Lake Tahoe in the above photo, then you recognize Angora Ridge before road construction started in 1924.
Longtime local Jim Hildinger writes in his booklet “Angora Lakes Resort (1917 to 2014)” that his
father’s “construction of the road began in 1924 and was finally completed in 1929. It was all done by hand — a pick and shovel and crowbar, a very small amount of dynamite and a very great amount of sweat.”
The fire lookout was constructed on the ridge in the 1920s by the U.S. Forest Service.. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
The structure remains today, although it was retired as a lookout in the 1970s with the advent of modern technology. Considerable growth of the trees has obstructed views.
The look sits idle today. Photo/Bill Kingman
The road was only rocks and dirt and very rough, steep driving. Jim Hildinger writes in his booklet, “… In 1963 the ridge was paved — then in 2005 the whole road was paved in order to satisfy water quality standards established by the TRPA.”
Quite a contrast to the ridge of 90 years ago.
Pavement makes it much easier to reach the lakes and resort of Angora today. Photo/Bill Kingman
— Bill Kingman
I love Angora Lakes!!!!! The first time I ever went there many years ago, I thought I might see Julie Andrews running over the mountain singing “Sound of Music”. What a wonderful, magical place!. I recently had a hip replacement – wonder if they have any kind of golf cart shuttle from the parking lot for handicapped visitors.
Angora Ridge, A beautiful place! It would be wonderful to spend a night there amongst the stars. Totally quite and serene with majestic views of the mountains.
Sign me up , as I’ll gladly spend a night or two in the old one room fire lookout!!!! Old Long Skiis
p.s the ride down the hill on a bike is quite a rush!
I remember my first trip to Angora with JIM HILDINGER in his pickup over the old road in the early 60’s. Jim was the High School music instructor and I was an Administrator there. Still not sure to this day whether he was trying to scare me to death, or if he always drove that road that way. BOB HENG
Thirty years ago Jim caught me and my friends smoking pot during the off season three different times. We knew he was out there in the woods but he caught us every time.
One time he caught me throwing rocks.
Wow….it has been far too long since I’ve been up to Angora Lakes….Mr. Hildinger (I can’t call him Jim!) was my Al Tahoe Elementary music teacher and started me out playing the cello…which I still play! My twin was just up at the Lakes with her husband….I really need to take my husband up there the next time we are up at Tahoe!
Nice memories…I used to go up there when I worked for Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit as a recreation technician (fancy title for picking up trash for the Forest Service!). I loved visiting the lookout (while getting their trash). There was a neat family who worked there in the late 1970s…wish I could remember their name! They staffed the fire lookout and lived in the other structure….had a couple kids, if I remember correctly…