Then and now: Developing Kahle Drive
Kahle Drive in 1963. Photos/Bill Kingman
Kahle Drive in 2013.
“Kelmont East” was a grey tri-level apartment complex in 1963 on Kahle Drive at Stateline between Highway 50 and the lake.
Over the years, the Kahle Drive intersection at Highway 50 (behind camera) included the Stateline Medical Center, a small casino, and a local favorite watering hole and dancing spot called The Glass Crutch. Across the state line, there was a Kelmont West (or “Kelmont Arms”) apartments on Ski Run Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe, which was the scene of a shooting and multi-hours police stand-off in the 1970s.
Kahle Drive today on the left side of this photo has several side-streets and is mostly residential, cornering the Lakeside Inn and bordering the 4-H Club complex. On the right side is U.S. Forest Service land including the popular Lam Watah Trail crossing Rabe Meadow and taking you to Nevada Beach. Rabe Meadow once was the site of an airport, and in the 1970s very nearly became another huge casino/hotel.
Even some concrete foundations (not quite as extensive as today’s “hole”) had progressed.
An easy walk along the trail today (new parking lot near the stoplight) includes several pictorial reader boards which detail the history of the meadow, its Washoe heritage, the airport, the casino, and how it was rescued.
Kahle (pronounced “kail”) was land-owner Oliver Kahle. The Douglas County services building (courtroom, jail, DMV, etc/) and Kahle Community Center and Park of today occupy the area of his historic Oliver’s Club Casino which was razed in the 1960s.
— Bill Kingman
After I became a permanent resident in 1972 (my first visit to S. Lake Tahoe was in January 1952,,,gads, what a month for snow!), I spent a fair amount of time riding around and getting the feel of South Shore in general. COOTER JONES was the steepled-building on Kayle, where many a party was held, including the Freakers Ball. I did some sound system repairs there, and even acted occasionally as the DJ. I still have some of the open-reel tapes I made for them.
btw…I still have photos of the old airport at the meadow just to the North of Kayle Dr.
Snowbum, feeling way too old at the moment!
Bob- Any way you could post the photos of the old airport?
Coooter Jones is what we call the building now. Thanks, Art
There was an old wooden barn or shack on Rabe meadow that as I recall was of some historical significance. It was close to the hi-way and it was moved to either the Historical Society property or out to the then new Sierra House Elementary property. I could be wrong about that so maybe someone in the know could set me straight.
Cooter Jones was a happening hot spot for a short while as was the bar / mini casino up on the corner of 50 and Kahle that eventualy became the stateline medical center.
That old dirt runway has long since been overgrown by the meadow. There may be a few old timers still around who remember flying out of there. Knox Johnson? Springmeyer? Amundsen? Borges? Ledbetter?… just a shot, doesn’t hurt to ask. As always Bill, another good one!
Take Care ,Old Long Skiis
According to the late Helen Hubbard, who lived at Zephyr Point from the late 40’s to early 70’s (and who made it her business to know everything going on in that area), the Rabe Meadow barn was dismantled and a lot of the barnwood was “appropriated” (usually late at night) by Lucky and his pals for the ceiling and walls of the original Midnight Mine in Roundhill Mall. When they gutted the second Midnight Mine in the “new” Roundhill Square, a salvager took the wood to Virginia City to refurbish an old bar up there. BTW: Some on the fencing and the cattle loading ramp are still there in the meadow near the highway, next to a healthy stand of Aspens.
Gary’s Casino was on the corner of 50 and Kahle, and Jenning’s Casino was planned (foundation work actually began in the earl 70s) on the southeast side of Rabe Meadow. Lakeside Inn used to have a nice photo of the old airport in their downstairs area. Not sure if it’s still there.
Where have some of you been? Dr Dave Borges gave a wonderful power point showing on the airplanes, airports last week at Camp Richardson.. visit the Museum (3058 LT Blvd) to learn more!
In the early 60s, my mother, after divorcing my father, move to South Lake Tahoe and met the man who would eventually become my stepfather. Fast foward 45 years. After Mom passed, ‘Dad’ was visting us (Gardnerville) and we took him for a drive up Kingsbury to his old stomping grounds. He told me of days tending bar at Oliver’s Club, and late night poker games between the likes of Bill Harrah and Harvey Gross and others. Then he showed me the place where he used to work for Oliver (confusing because it wasn’t the location for Oliver’s Club. He had me turn on Kahle and just down about 100 yards on the left sat this old run-down building, fenced in and looking ready for the wrecking ball. He said that was the place for the poker games. name of the place anyone? It’s still there. Gross eventually stole him away to work at Harvey’s Wagonwheel, where he met my mother. They eventually were married in Virginia City at the Silver Stope Saloon (now a gift store).