MYTHS AND LEGENDS ABOUT LAKE TAHOE

There are a variety of myths and legends of Lake Tahoe. They range from Tahoe Tessie, a large lake monster to mobsters dumping bodies into the lake, being fully preserved in their suits due to the cold temperatures of the lake. Take what you want from them, they at least make interesting stories that can be told while out on a boat or around a fire.

Washoe Natives

When the Native Americans that inhabited the area they had suspicions of odd things happening in the lake. One story was that in Meeks Bay, there was a singing fish.  They also believed that there was a bird that lived at the bottom of the lake and would scoop up tribe members. Natives thought it was taboo to swim in the lake, this kept their children from going in the water and drowning.

Tahoe Tessie

 

Tahoe Tessie is a prehistoric fish that is said to live at the bottom of the Lake. The legend believes that the fish is to be female, a plesiosaurs, or a prehistoric fish. Tessie originated from the Washoe and Paiute Indian tribes who told white settlers about the monster that lived in the lake. Modern sightings of of Tahoe Tessie have been dated back to early as 1972. Keep an eye out while on the clear water for Tessie.

Elephant

Millionaire George Whittell was known for being very extravagant person in Tahoe. The loved exotic animals. He had lions, tigers, zebras, an elephant, and many other animals. It has been said that Whittell brought up his elephant, Mingo up to Lake Tahoe. Mingo was not comfortable with the altitude and missing its zebra friend. Whittell hired a seaplane to carry Mingo over the lake. The plane crashed during a test flight. That is why it is believed that Mingo got dumped into the lake because she was such a  large animal and couldn’t do anything else  with it.

 

The Mob

In the 1920s and 1930s the mob ran the Tahoe area. It is said to believe that mob member would dump bodies into the lake. This is one of the biggest legends of the lake. It is said that the members would fill the dead boies shoes with cement to help sink them to the bottom of the lake. The lake temperatures are very cold, with the cold temperatures it is to believe that the bodies that were dumped into the lake are fully preserved in their suits.

Jacques Cousteau

Jacques Cousteau, a famous oceanographer may or may not have found some scary information about the lake in the 1970’s. He is famous for saying “The world isn’t ready for what was down there.” He never has released any photos of what he saw when he did his deep water dive in Lake Tahoe. There are many ideas of what he saw but no one knows what he saw. Could it have been Tahoe Tessie, an elephant, or bodies from the mob?

Haunted Houses

The Tahoe Biltmore is said to have a ghost of a showgirl still haunting the casino after over 50 years of her death.  At the Cal-Neva is said to be taunted by Marilyn Monroe. People say that she will turn the hall lights on and off. Also room 101 on the first floor is always cold, even in the summer months.

 

 

 

Top 10 Cheap Things To Do Around The Lake In The Summer

 

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  1. Hike Mt. Rose – When in North Shore head up to Mt. Rose and hit the trail. There are a few trail on Mt.Rose to try with amazing views of the lake. It is the third highest peak in the Lake Tahoe area at 10,778 ft.
  2. Donner Memorial State Park– The Donner Party, who suffered a winter in the area and resorted to cannibalism to survive. This beautiful place in the land of Sierra Nevada range offers a wealth of warm- and cold-weather possibilities, including camping, fishing, hiking, boating, skiing, and more. In the Donner Memorial State Park there is an onsite museum charts local history and geology, and a memorial to the Donner party documents the conditions through which the survivors lived. Donner Park’s beach is small, but the sand is really nice and the swimming area.
  3. Taylor Creek Visitor Center – The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. It is free to enter and offers both adult and children an up-close view of the local flora and fauna. The paved trails and bridges throughout the marshlands are stroller friendly and there are both guided and self guided interpretive trails, an underground “aquarium” area where you can see an actual part of Taylor Creek.
  4. Desolation Wilderness -Desolation Wilderness is the most heavily used wilderness area in the country. Desolation Wilderness is 12.5 miles long and 8 miles. Day Hikers fill out registration forms at the head, but overnighters must pay a fee and register ahead of time. You will find magnificent views from all over, specifically one atop a granite slope that overlooks Emerald Bay, where you cannot find a better place for a picnic
  5. Emerald Bay – Emerald Bay State Park on the southwest area of Lake Tahoe is home to park is home to Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm, a 38-room mansion that is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. The park contains the only island in Lake Tahoe, Fannette Island where a small teahouse was built by the owner of the Vikingsholm Castle.
  6. Flume Trail –  This is is one of the most beautiful mountain bike rides in the Lake Tahoe area. The beginning of this section of the Flume Trail is at 8700 on Mt. Rose Highway above Incline Village. It is a 14 mile one way trail. Don’t be afraid of highest , this trail will give you a good steep ride.
  7. Jetski and  boat on the Lake – The lake is a beautiful place to take the watercraft out on a nice sunny day. Don’t forget to wear the sunblock. All motor crafts that go on the lake must be a four stroke motor and go under inspection before launching it into the lake.
  8. scuba dive – There are many different companies on the lake that teach scuba diving and places to rent equipment. The clear lake is the perfect place to go dive and see what the lake has to offer from a different perspective.
  9. Sand Harbor Beach –  There are 55 acres of long sandy beaches, rocky coves, shady forested areas and panoramic lake views. Sand Harbor is three miles south of Incline Village on State route 28. It is home to the Shakespeare festival during July and August.
  10. Kayak and paddle board the lake – You can do no wrong by renting a kayak or paddle board and adventure out on the lake on a nice sunny day you can jump from beach to beach on you non motorized watercraft.