Ghost Stories of Tahoe & Truckee

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Ghost stories

OF TAHOE & TRUCKEE

It’s that time of year. Pumpkin spice is queen of everything from cupcakes to queen of everything from cupcakes to lattes. e last long dog days of summer are nally behind us. And that brings us to Halloween, ranked just behind anksgiving and Christmas as the nation’s favorite holiday. Statistically more candy is sold during the last week of October than any other time of the year. ink of all those little trick-or-treaters in their scary costumes and you’ll know why this is.

Candy and pumpkin spice latte aside, Halloween is when ghosts claim the spotlight. But ghosts don’t suddenly start appearing in October. As any ghost research investigator will tell you, ghosts are with us every day and night. And they are everywhere. e Tahoe Truckee area is not immune to hauntings.

Some paranormal investigators have said that if you listen carefully, you may hear the cackling of the cold-blooded “Ma” Spinelli as she shouts orders to her gang.

THE TRAGIC DONNER PARTY

Our region’s best-known ghosts are probably those of the tragic Donner Party. Starving and stranded by heavy snowfall in the winter of 1846, they did the unthinkable — they resorted to cannibalism. e horror they endured may be the reason for ghost activity here. Sightings of Tamsen Donner and other members of the Donner Party, regularly occur at the site of their encampment at Donner Memorial State Park’s Emigrant Trail Museum. Over the years, many campers have reported seeing the ghostly Tamsen as she wanders through the darkness.

Described as glowing and shadowy, she vanishes as quickly as she appears. Naysayers can put this down to a trick of light or overworked imagination. And perhaps it is, but there is also the ghostly bewhiskered man who is sometimes seen in broad daylight or dusk in and around the museum. He appears to be so lifelike that some who’ve encountered him don’t realize he is a ghost until he walks through the wall.

THE BLIZZARD KING

It isn’t only humans that can be ghosts. e ghostly Samoyed Rex is said to roam an area around Truckee’s Cottonwood Restaurant, once known as Hilltop Lodge, where he was kenneled. Known as e Blizzard King, for his and his sled team’s help in rescuing stranded travelers, Rex prefers to make his appearances on snowy nights. He is with his beloved handler or

BY JANICE OBERDING

he is alone. Either way, you’ll know he’s nearby when you hear his ghostly barking.

Rex The Blizzard King leading the team. | Jim Cheskawich, “SNOWBOUND! Legendary Winters of the Tahoe Sierra”

MA SPINELLI

All is silent at Truckee’s Old Jail Museum during the day, but things change once the sun goes down. Juanita “Ma” Spinelli, the rst woman to be executed by the State of California, cooled her heels for a time here with other members of her gang. Some paranormal investigators have said that if you listen carefully, you may hear the cackling of the cold-blooded Spinelli as she shouts orders to her gang. Is she the shadowy dark gure seen in the jail? Odds are it’s Baby Face Nelson, who also spent cell time here.

George Whittell Jr. | Courtesy Thunderbird Tahoe

GEORGE WHITTELL JR.

In Incline Village, Nev., underbird Lodge stands as a testament to what an enormous bankroll can do for you. George Whittell Jr. had his summer home built on the lake’s shore in 1936. Although he died in 1969, he’s still here. e lodge has been investigated by ghost hunters’ numerous times; their conclusion is that the ghostly Whittell still oversees his former home.

A ghost hunter who spoke negatively about Whittell learned this the hard way when a ghostly hand gave her a shove. He’s always up for a good time. at oldtime music and raucous laughter are only Whittell and his ghostly cronies partying all night in the card house.

LITTLE GIRL LOST

e Hellman-Erhman Mansion Museum in Sugar Pine Point State Park in Tahoma was the home of a little girl who drowned in the lake while visiting the Hellmans many years ago. She appears on moonless nights when the sky is dark and star-strewn, a luminous, little girl forlornly wandering the shore. Call to her and she will disappear into the water. e lake has claimed the lives of many.

HERMIT OF EMERALD BAY

Another of its ghostly drowning victims is Captain Richard Barter, the hermit of Emerald Bay. Barter perished in a dreadful storm on a long-ago October night in 1873. His body was never recovered. is hasn’t stopped his ghost from rising out of the lake on fog-shrouded nights and strolling along the shoreline.

HAUNTING AT CAL NEVA

Do ghosts haunt several locations? Apparently, they do. e beautiful blonde actress Marilyn Monroe died mysteriously in Los Angeles 1962. Besides all the obvious places, Monroe haunts the old Cal Neva Lodge (currently closed for renovations) in Crystal Bay, Nev. According to those who’ve seen them, Monroe is there with singer Frank Sinatra, all glittery and glamourous and still partying in the showroom, decades after they died. And as they hoist one ghostly glass of bubbly after another, they’re probably wishing us all a happy Halloween. I’d bet my next bag of candy corn that it’s so. n

Janice Oberding, a resident of Reno, Nev., is the author of the new book “The Big Book of California Ghost Stories.” She’s also the author of “Haunted Nevada” and is one of only a few people who have spent an entire night at Alcatraz. She worked as consultant and historian for the Alcatraz episode of SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters.” | Janice Oberding on Facebook, globepequot.com

New terrain, lift for Mt. Rose

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has announced that plans are underway to expand the Lakeview area of the mountain to include additional ski terrain and a new high-speed chairlift for the 2022-23 season. Mt. Rose will open for the 2021-22 season on Nov. 12.

The new lift will be a key piece of Mt. Rose’s efforts to enhance the overall experience in the Lakeview mountain zone, which will include trail additions, existing trail improvements and new skier traffi c patterns. The expansion is estimated to cost upward of $7.5 million dollars and is expected to be complete ahead of the 2022-23 winter season, according to a press release.

“When completed, the Lakeview zone of the mountain will offer even greater access to beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain and help give skiers and riders of all ability levels more lift and terrain options to enjoy,” said marketing manager Mike Pierce in the release.

Preliminary work has already begun with the lift replacement process to begin at the end of the 2021-22 winter season. The new, beginner-rated Lakeside Trail will create another route from the top of the Lakeview lift to the Around the World ski trail, giving novice skiers and riders greater ability to enjoy lake views from Mt. Rose.

On-mountain improvements include an additional investment in snowmaking infrastructure on the Mine Train, Slide Bowl and Race Arena trails. Slope-grading work designed to reduce obstacles and allow for terrain opening on as little as 12 inches of packed snow is also in progress on Bruce’s Run. Preparation for the Lakeview expansion including Lakeside Trail developments and site preparation of the unload terminal occurred this summer. | skirose.com

Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge reopening facilities

Sugar Bowl Resort and Royal Gorge Cross Country have unveiled details about the upcoming ski and snowboard season in a press release, including plans to reopen The Hotel at Sugar Bowl and all lodges, bars and restaurants at both resorts. Sugar Bowl has also resumed selling season passes. Both ski areas are set to open on Nov. 26.

Face coverings will not be required outdoors, including in lift lines or while riding chairlifts and the base lodges and Belt Room Bar will be open this season. The Hotel at Sugar Bowl will reopen on Dec. 9.

Vaccinations will be mandatory for all Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge staff. “The resorts do not plan to require guests to show proof of vaccination in order to visit or participate in resort activities,” the release stated. | sugarbowl.com, royalgorge.com