Sunday, July 27, 2008

Taking a step back in time…


We decided to do that yesterday at Ehrman Mansion Open House at Sugar Pine Point State park at Lake Tahoe. This magnificent mansion and beautiful grounds on the West shore of the lake, once owned by a wealthy banking family from San Francisco, are now maintained by the California State Parks, Sierra District. The mansion is open to the public just one day a year during Living History Day. The highlight of our day was the casual tour of the mansion, where visitors experience the house as it was in the 1930’s. Costumed interpreters are everywhere to answer any of your questions.

The grounds are breathtaking. The property shoreline is about 1-1/2 miles long. Two boathouses --separated by about 1/4 mile of beautiful beach -- house elegant watercraft preserved since the 30’s. Parked on an expanse of lawn near the mansion were vintage vehicles owned by Tahoe Collectors -automobiles of the type in which wealthy visitors used to make the trek from San Francisco in the 1930’s.

So why just a photo of a tree here? I guess it’s just a summary statement of the feeling one gets visiting this beautiful place and setting one’s mind back to that time when only the very wealthy could walk these grounds.

Thanks to my friend Joss, I discovered something I hadn’t known about in the 10+ years living in this area. For a closer look into this place, visit http://www.laketahoelivinghistory.com/.

4 comments:

Four peas in a pod said...

Wow, it sounds amazing! Do you know why it's only open one day a year?

Love
Jana

johnna said...

Sugar Pine Point State Park is open all year. The mansion and other structures such as the boathouses are open only on "Living History Day" which requires hundreds of volunteers in period dress to organize and run -a big undertaking which, understandably, is held just once a year (for planning purposes: the last saturday in July).

3dingsandadog said...

Sounds fun :)

johnna said...

Life is good ^..^