Visit the Squaw Valley Olympic Museum site of the 1960 Winter Olympics with breathtaking views of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains and Squaw Valley Ski Resort; spend a day on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe and explore the historical and unique Thunderbird Lodge built in the early 1900’s by George Whittell, Jr., one of San Francisco’s wealthiest sons; and journey with us to Donner Memorial State Museum offering spectacular scenery around the Donner Lake area nestled in the Sierras and learn about the tragic story of the Donner Party expedition.
Monday, April 27TH
5:00 Tree Planting
5:30 Opening Ceremony and Reception
Tuesday, April 28th
8:30 Meet and Greet – Meet the other attendees – share history of Shady Ladies and Order of the Garter
11:30 Awards, join attendees for the presentation of our 2019 chapter awards followed by lunch
1:00 Afternoon Adventure: A SCENIC AERIAL TRAM RIDE WITH VIEWS OF LAKE TAHOE AND VISIT THE OLYMPIC MUSEUM – SQUAW VALLEY
Enjoy a breath-taking, panoramic 10-minute ride climbing over 2,000 feet on the Scenic Aerial Tram landing at High Camp located at 8,200; tour the renown Olympic Museum. The Olympic Museum provides a trip back in time showcasing the history and unique collection of artifacts and video from the memorable 1960 winter Olympics held at Squaw Valley
5:30 Trade Show Happy Hour with Outdoor Exhibits
Wednesday, April 29th
8:30 All day excursion: THUNDERBIRD LODGE TOUR (including lunch)
Discover the magic of Thunderbird Lodge—the history, the architecture, and the men and women of Lake Tahoe’s gilded age. Your tour will reveal the mystery and legacy of the enigmatic George Whittell Jr., the tycoon who purchased and protected nearly 45,000 acres of Lake Tahoe’s east shore.
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. In addition to the main house, there is a Card House, Caretaker’s Cottage, the Cook/Butler’s House, an elephant barn, the Admiral’s House, the Boathouse with adjoining 600′ tunnel, and Gatehouse. The Thunderbird Lodge is an example of an approach to architectural design that is intended to be in harmony with its setting. The siting, design and materials of the buildings, landscape features, walls, paths and driveway are a result of this design philosophy. Thunderbird Lodge represents a high level of expertise in building crafts, stone masonry, iron work and woodwork. Examples of this craftsmanship are evident in the buildings, tunnel, walls, steps and fountains. The Lodge is also an example of the work of Frederic J. DeLongchamps, who served as Nevada’s State Architect and was Nevada’s most prominent architect of his era. In 2000, the George Whittell Estate (Thunderbird Lodge) was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The land is forested with a heavy stand of mixed conifers that slopes to the shoreline and provides a panoramic view of the entire Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges, including the Desolation Wilderness and the Mount Rose Wilderness. Its shoreline and creek outlets are a mixture of sandy beaches and massive granite boulders.
4:00 Return to Hotel
6:00 Annual Banquet, Silent Auction, Officer Installation Ceremony
Thursday, April 30th
7:00 Women in Arboriculture Breakfast
8:30 Morning Adventure: DONNER MEMORIAL STATE MUSEUM, DONNER LAKE
Visitors are welcome year-round at the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center and at the Pioneer Monument, built to recognize the local Native Americans and commemorate those who emigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800’s. The Visitor Center features compelling new exhibits that tell the stories of the Emigrant Experience, the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad, and early motoring adventures over Donner Pass.
1:00 Optional Tour with Spouse/Partner – Tickets Required, bus departs from front of hotel – meet in lobby
Why is Tahoe so clear? One reason Lake Tahoe is so clear is that 40 percent of the precipitation falling onto the Lake’s watershed falls directly upon the Lake. The remaining precipitation drains through marshes and meadows, which are a good filtering system for water.
