Communities : Incline Village

Incline Village History

"Incline Village slept through the Lake's early development, as the centers of activity in the early days sprang up at South Lake Tahoe, Glenbrook and Tahoe City." -- Barbara and Hugh MacArthur, The History of Incline Village, Nevada

The Nevada North Shore of Lake Tahoe was basically discovered in the mid-1800s, when it was found to be an excellent source of lumber. In those days, the area was named "Incline," because of the narrow gauge tramline that carried the logs almost straight up to the V-flume that ran along the mountain top. The tramline was located in the area of Incline now known as the Mill Creek Subdivision.

Incline was first considered to be "on the map" in 1884, when it was declared both an election precinct and a fourth-class post office. By 1897 Incline had been left a "sea of stumps" from all the logging and was considered the "ugly duckling" of the Lake Tahoe area. It was basically left to "recuperate" until the 1930s when summer homes were built in the area of Incline Beach (south from the Hyatt Regency Hotel along Lakeshore Blvd.) By this time, the lumber interests had sold most of the Nevada North Shore to a multi-millionaire real estate magnate, George Whittell. "Captain" Whittell, as he was known, built his stone castle on a point south of Sand Harbor (just south of Incline). The Whittell castle, better known as the Thunderbird Lodge, is now a National Register Historic District. The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the last and best examples of a great residential estate on Lake Tahoe from the period in which prominent San Francisco society built homes on the lake. During the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, Incline consisted of only a few summer homes and a trailer park (where Incline Beach now is).

In the late 1950s, Crystal Bay Development Company purchased the 9,000 acres, which is now Incline Village, from George Whittell. Crystal Bay Development had a plan for the community, and in the 1960s roads were cut, a ski area designed, beaches were developed, and Robert Trent Jones was contracted to plan a beautiful golf course. The main highway during that time was what is now Lakeshore Boulevard, and private homes and condominiums were under construction there. A small shopping center was built, consisting of a market and a post office, and in 1964 the elementary school was constructed. In 1968, Crystal Bay Development sold its remaining interests in Incline to Boise Cascade Corporation, and then more new development began. A second golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and several large condominium projects were built, many with a variety of amenities.

Incline Village Community

Today, the planned Incline Village housing market consists of 3,200 homes and approximately 4,000 condominiums. Future development opportunities are limited to only a few homes, and. no additional condominiums may be built. Consequently, Incline Village remains a unique and exclusive community that is highly sought after. Incline Village has wonderful amenities and recreational facilities available exclusively for residents, including 3 private beaches, championship golf courses designed by by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., Diamond Peak Ski Resort, a boat launch, several baseball fields, as well as a tennis facility with 11 courts and a pro shop, a 35,000 square foot community center featuring an indoor pool, gym, steam room, meeting rooms, concession stand, and life-cycle equipment.