Among the oldest and most popular hostelries on Lake Tahoe's north shore is Tamarack Lodge, located on the uphill side of the intersection of Highway 28 and Lower Lake Forest Road. Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Oppio (whose daughter Louise Fenech and her son Alan are still actively involved in the operation of the Lodge) were the original proprietors, opening their doors for business in 1927. As with almost all local businesses of the day, the operation was seasonal, opening about Memorial Day and closing soon after Labor Day.

In those early years, Lake Forest Road was actually a part of the highway, and above the roadway just west of where it bent down the slope toward the little community of Lake Forest, Mr. Oppio hung a sign, its perimeter illuminated by electric bulbs, proclaiming the existence of "TAMARACK." Travellers of the day could not help but notice the lodgings, especially since other structures were so scarce. The Oppio's establishment at that time adjoined Lake Forest's dairy, and wandering cows were among the pastoral views from the windows of its bungalows.

The modern availability of dinner houses is virtually limitless, and today it is considered unnecessary for local innkeepers to provide on-premises dining for their customers. Yet in 1927 the public dining rooms of the Tahoe Tavern (a grand lakeshore resort one mile south of Tahoe City) and the Tahoe Inn (on the bluff above Commons Beach - now Victoria Station) were practically the only places where dinners were served daily. The two or three miles to these establishments was a comparative trek at that time, and so it behooved Mr. and Mrs. Oppio to make a dining room and bar available to their guests and the public at large.

The restaurant building was connected to the northeast corner of the Lodge proper, and was built around three large pine trees. When heavy snows collapsed the structure, the Oppios elected not to rebuild -- by that time the selection of local eateries had grown to the extent that it seemed unnecessary. However, the pine trees and the stone fireplace which once lent atmosphere to diners at the Tamarack is still standing.

The Lodge's accommodations originally included five bungalows, built around a main lodge and restaurant, and in the early days these peripheral units were the scene of regular poker games. Avid suitors of Lady Luck would come from far and near to partake of this opportunity to gamble, while their female companions passed the time in the main lobby, comiserating amicably in the comfortable surroundings, beneath the same antique glass chandeliers which still grace the room's knotty pine ceiling.

Today, in spite of the addition of 12 modern units, the five original "Poker Rooms" continue to be specifically requested by many returning guests. Perhaps it is this romantic aspect of their past which makes them so eagerly sought-after, or the fact that several of Hollywood's biggest stars of the 1930s and 1940s were frequent inhabitants of the little cottages.

Celebrities appreciated the Lodge's charm, returning to savor the kind personalities as much as the comfy accommodations of the Tamarack. Clark Gable enjoyed the Oppio's generous hospitality and considered the retreat among his favorite trout fishing hideouts. Gary Cooper was another Tinsel Town refugee who found the Tamarack a pleasant home away from home. Wallace Beery occasionally visited the Lodge when on vacation from the cameras, and still another well-known personage chose to remain cloaked in anonymity, signing the guest book simply "Cash Register."

A whimsical touch was added to the construction of the Lodge by a foresighted carpenter (his name apparently lost to history) who installed a bottle of Jim Beam under every staircase on the property. One such well-aged surprise turned up during a recent bit of remodelling, recalling for Mrs. Fenech the discovery of similar "treasures" in years past.

Distilled spirits played another part in the Lodge's colorful history. In the days of the Volstead Act, several local entrepreneurs were engaged in the production of alcohol, one such operation conducted at the Tahoe Tavern. The reputation of Tamarack Lodge held it above suspicion by the "Feds," and in consequence it was chosen as the repository of the Tavern's illegally-produced beverage.

Today, the Tamarack Lodge continues its well-earned reputation as a comfortable, friendly retreat for the weary traveller. As ever, its rates are among the most reasonable on the lake. Friendly managers carry on the day-to-day work of operating the Lodge, while Louise Fenech, who with her late husband Al owned and managed the business for a generation, is still on hand to enhance the visits of interested guests with her charming stories of the Lodge's early days.