History of Incline Village
Once upon a time , there was a lovely azure blue lake , surrounded by a lush forest . When Mark Twain first saw Lake Tahoe he remarked that “ surely this is the finest view the world affords .” Lake Tahoe ’ s first residents were the Washoe and Paiute Indians who lived and fished along its shores . As time passed and civilization moved West , settlers paused in passes to the North and South to marvel at the color and clarity of this magnificent body of water . 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 .
In the mid 1800 ’ s lumber interests discovered the Nevada North Shore as an excellent source of lumber for the Washoe Mines and at this point began methodically logging . By 1897 Incline had been left a sea of stumps , with a maze of crumbling flumes and rotting log chutes .
In the early 1900 ’ s visitors to Lake Tahoe spent glorious summer holidays in the vacation paradises of Glenbrook and Tallac to the south . A one lane road connected the North and South shores and in the 1930 ’ s summer homes were built in the area of Incline Beach . Incline was little more than a wide spot in the road during the 30 ’ s , 40 ’ s and 50 ’ s , with only summer homes and a trailer park to distinguish it . Year round residents were few and those who remain today tell stories of wild winters , food shortages and isolation .
In the late 1950 ’ s , Crystal Bay Development Company acquired 9,000 acres in Incline Valley and immediately began plans for a new Incline Village , a modern , carefully designed residential and resort community on Lake Tahoe . By 1964 , a new elementary school was under construction and several years later the community cut the ribbon at Incline High School . Incline was on it ’ s way . And that brings us to the Incline Village we have today , with signs of a healthy future in evidence around every corner .