
Directions: Sugar Pine Point State Park is located on the California side of Lake Tahoe. Take California Highway 89 (south from Interstate 80, north from US Highway 50). The park entrance is approximately one mile south of Tahoma. Trail maps are available at the park ranger station. The lighthouse site is located off the Edward F. Dolder Nature Trail. The trail loop is roughly one mile. The hike is considerably gentler than to Rubicon Point, but keep in mind that you are hiking at altitude.
Latitude: 39.04992
Longitude: -120.11504
Notes: This lighthouse was replaced by a solar-powered light on a pole.
Tower Height: 0
Description Tower: White, square, pyramidal wooden tower.
Operational: No/Maybe
Date Established: 1921
Current Use: Unknown.
Characteristic Range: Flashing white every 5 seconds, visible for 9 miles.
Height Focal Plane: 35
National Register: No
State: California
Country: United States
Date Deactivated: ?
Journal
This adventure was a return journey to the Truckee area. My last visit was the Rubicon lighthouse in DL Bliss. I ran short of time and I did not get to Sugar Pine. As a side note, my wife’s niece Ann had just relocated to a new house and I thought this would be a good time to pay her a visit. I set out early on Saturday morning; my mood was very placated as I headed north towards the Truckee/California region. The journey on the highways was not too exciting, the roads where not too busy and the weather on the mild side. I just listened to some random music from my iPod as I drove I planned my new adventure in the high country. What excitement lay before me I was not sure, but I was certainly looking forward to it. I wondered if I would see any wild animals.
Already the high trees, and the looming mountains where making their presence felt in my spirit. I pulled into a rest spot, had some water and took a few

freeway carried me deeper into rhapsody of color and fresh air.
It was approximately 1:00 pm when I arrived in Truckee, I was pulled over by the police, my registration

Getting to Thunderbird Lodge was not easy; it’s a number 5000 on highway 28, which my GPS did not take. I knew it was somewhere between Incline Village and the Junction of Hwy 50. I drove past until I reached Hwy 50, met another wedding group, photographer warned that turnoff was a little sign post about 2 miles back. Turned around missed it again, turned in to a State Park asked a trooper who said it was a mile from the park and take my time. This time I found only to discover that you call for a reservation tour and only between Mondays to Friday. I headed for Ann’s house; guess I knew where I was spending the night.


As I made way to the Sugar Pine Navigation, the trail became so peaceful and quiet. At times the views where breath taking. Along the way were the lone hiker and once a runner came between me and my thoughts. Finally I was there, at the beacon,

History
Sugar Pine Point is a forested peninsula on the west side of Lake Tahoe. According to the State Park brochure, it includes a 1¾ mile of Lake Frontage accompanied by several sandy beaches and a inimitable natural surroundings where the unscathed, ancient forest of Tahoe Basin slopes down to the water's on the sunny beaches. The Washoe Indians have lived in this scenic region for thousands of years, they spent their summers hunting and fishing here. Just south of General Creek we have a 19th century log cabin, and the elegant Ehrman Mansion.

1844 February, John C. Fremont, on expedition across the Sierra Nevada and into California, first sighted Lake Tahoe.
1860 spring, frontiers-man of "General" William Phipps (1813-1891). Staked a 160 acre homestead IN Sugar Pine Point. He was the first permanent resident, and soon afterwards he built a log cabin.
1860's Comstock boom and logging

1888, Phipps sold his property to W. W. "Billy" Lapham, who proceed to establish a Summer resort, the Bellevue.
1889, Property taken over by the bank ,
1890, Property has new owners and managers.
1893, Bellevue, known to be an elegant family resort when the main hotel was destroyed by fire.
1897, Isaias. W. Hellman pioneer west-coast banker from San Francisco began purchasing about 1,000 acres of property at Sugar Pine Point for personal use.
1897, Isaias. W. Hellman pioneer west-coast banker from San Francisco began purchasing about 1,000 acres of property at Sugar Pine Point for personal use.
1903, His grand summer home, Pine Lodge, was completed 

1921, business in the area lobbied that the light at Rubicon Point be relocated to Sugar Pine Point - The lighthouse was a white wood pyramidal tower, on the outer end of Sugar Pine Point,the light had to retain on its present characteristic and without other change. Sugar Pine has been described as "the world's highest working lighthouse"

1927 Electricity was made available. Steam Generators produced power before that. Water was obtained from General Creek and later pumped directly from the Lake.

1935, the light was discontinued - only to be relit the following year at a cost of $590.52. Today,

1965 the house and 1,975 acres of the

Reference
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