Spooner Lake construction begins

With construction underway on Spooner Lake’s future visitor center and amphitheater, officials, private donors, and stakeholders gathered at the site to celebrate the project on Monday.

The Spooner Lake and Backcountry Management Area of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park offers diverse and highly sought-after recreational opportunities for both local residents and visitors from around the world. Established in 1981, Spooner Lake is a four-season destination for hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, equestrian users, snowshoers and cross-country skiers, and a wide variety of nature lovers.

In 2018, Nevada State Parks teamed up with partners from the Nevada Division of State Lands, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, the Washoe Tribe and the Tahoe Fund to reimagine Spooner Lake. With more than 150,000 visitors a year, 60 miles of trails and 13,000 acres of wilderness to explore, the goal was to create a trailhead facility that matched the splendor of Spooner’s beautiful backcountry. The one-of-a-kind facilities at Spooner Lake will provide a magical environmental education venue for people of all ages.

The new visitor center and amphitheater will serve as the heart of Spooner's natural and cultural history programs and ranger-led hikes and tours, as well as provide an immersive environmental education and science venue for students. The project will also serve as a major portal to the expansive and spectacular non-motorized primitive wilderness within the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said the new project was a historic milestone reflecting the state’s outdoor heritage.

“It will provide all Nevadans, families and visitors with accessible, affordable, and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities for generations to come,” he said. “In addition to providing new opportunities for the public to connect with nature and explore the beautiful backcountry around Spooner Lake, these projects will solidify the entire east shore of Lake Tahoe as a world-class recreation destination.”

Donors to the Tahoe Fund provided $300,000 in private matching funding for the project, according to Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry.

“Congratulations to Nevada State Parks and all the partners for breaking ground on these much-needed improvements that will support the users and the natural environment.”