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Welcome Aboard
Kings Beach to Incline Village
By
Katherine E. Hill
 Kings Beach and Incline Village on the eastern end of the North
Shore are two of the youngest communities on Lake Tahoe.
What they lack in age, they make up for with their sense
of community, fantastic beaches, great eateries,
shopping and beautiful shorelines. Due to the Lake’s low
water level this year, there are no places in Kings
Beach to pull up your boat to go ashore, but it’s worth
taking a look on your next North Shore drive.
The
hamlet of Kings Beach has long been a haven for
locals. As popular local legend has it, Joe King won the
land that makes up much of present-day Kings Beach in a
poker game at the Thunderbird Lodge on the East Shore
with one of the Lake’s most eccentric millionaires –
George Whittell, who once owned 24 miles of the Lake’s
shoreline.
King’s plan was to develop the area for tourists. The
town of Kings Beach was born. Visitors – particularly
families – also enjoy the quaint atmosphere of the shops
and eateries in the community.
Kings Beach also boasts one of the largest public beaches on
Lake Tahoe – the Kings Beach State Recreation Area
– with lush, sandy beaches, public boat facilities,
concessionaries renting every manner of craft from
paddle boats to personal water craft, several
restaurants on the beach, a regional convention center
(also a great spot to get married) and a fabulous local
park. All situated in the heart of Kings Beach.
Entering Kings Beach from the west, the town is marked
by a long, wide stretch of beach at North Tahoe Beach,
home to a 9-foot tall, 6-foot wide stone sculpture on
the shore.
The
sculpture, done by California artist M.C. Carolyn,
features a cutout of Lake Tahoe with information on the
lake. The facilities also include a 540’ beach, three
sand volleyball courts, restrooms and a picnic area. You
also can find information on local activities at a kiosk
near the parking lot.
Across the street is Lanza’s Restaurant, which
has been voted No. 1 for Italian cuisine by locals for
many years. And, to the right of the Safeway is Blue
Onion at the Old Brockway Golf Course serving
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Another public beach – Secline Beach – is
situated close by. Following the shoreline along North
Tahoe Beach, you’ll pass a group of condos with Secline
Beach lying just beyond them.
Secline Beach, save for a small stretch of private
beach, links up to the Kings Beach State Recreation
Area. You’ll first come upon the North Tahoe Event
Center, which sits right on the beach. If you’re
planning a wedding in Kings Beach, the center hosts many
outdoor weddings on the beach, with reception facilities
available inside.
The
beach continues along Kings Beach shoreline all the way
to Brockway, where the shoreline becomes rocky. Along
the stretch of the state recreation area, you’ll find a
public boat and pier that are accessible when the lake’s
level is higher.
Across from the state recreation area are many local
eateries. Jason’s Beachside Grille sits next to
the Event Center offering indoor and outdoor dining,
along with one of the few salad bars on the North Shore.
To the east of Jason’s is Steamers, offering
great sandwiches, burgers and pizzas with outdoor
seating and an upstairs second bar with great lake
views. And, look for Java Juice for espresso.
Across the street, you’ll find Las Panchitas, a
great Mexican restaurant for the entire family, and
Brooke Avenue Grille & Gelato serving breakfast,
lunch and dinner along with espresso drinks and
fantastic garlic fries. Behind Brooke Avenue, is La
Mexicana inside the Mexican grocery, great for a
quick bite on the go.
A
short walk from the beach is the Char-Pit, a must
stop for burgers, the Brockway Bakery, and Log
Cabin, serving breakfast, lunch and ice cream.
Rounding the point at Brockway, you’ll see the
famous Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino high above
in Crystal Bay. The Cal Neva opened in 1926 and
has been host to many world-famous entertainers,
politicians and celebrities including Frank Sinatra, who
once owned the resort. Today, the Cal Neva still hosts
entertainers in the Frank Sinatra Room, offers lake view
dining, a spa and tours of the tunnels celebrities once
used to move about the grounds unseen. It’s even rumored
to be haunted. You can’t reach the Cal Neva by boat, but
it’s worth a trip to Crystal Bay to visit it and the
neighboring casinos.
Grand
estates dot the craggy shores of Lake Tahoe in Crystal
Bay and the beaches of Incline Village, a
community that was developed in 1960. The beaches and
launches of Incline Village are not open to the public,
but rather are reserved for residents and their guests.
So, please respect their privacy and do not head ashore.
The
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe on the eastern end of
Incline Village is where you’ll want to go. The Hyatt is
a haven for boaters, welcoming mariners on its pier with
a full bar ready to serve drinks. If you’re ready for a
fantastic meal in a superb setting, then the Lone
Eagle Grille just steps from the beach is perfect.
The Lone Eagle Grille serves Sunday brunch, lunch Monday
to Saturday and dinner nightly. They also offer
complimentary boat valet at the pier.
As
you pass the last home on the shore, you’ll pass the
first nude beach of the East Shore before coming to Sand
Harbor. But, I’ll save that for my East Shore column.
Katherine E. Hill may be reached at
editor@tahoethisweek.com or visit
www.tahoeboating.blogspot.com.
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