TAHOE CITY, Calif. – On May 23, a beautiful Saturday on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe flaunted a picture-perfect 65 degrees and sunny, idyllic conditions to host a grand reopening of one of North Tahoe’s most cherished pieces of history – the Watson Cabin.

Building of the Watson Cabin began in 1908. Originally a wedding present to Robert Howard Watson and his wife, Stella Tong from Robert’s father, Robert Montgomery Watson, the first sheriff of Tahoe City, the charming log cabin sits nestled just above the shores of Lake Tahoe. Dubbed the “Honeymoon Cabin”, the couple lived there until 1947. 

Through its century-long existence, the cabin was purchased by the Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) and leased to North Lake Tahoe Historical Society (NLTHS), operators of the Gatekeepers Museum. Together, TCPUD and NTLHS worked to restore the Watson Cabin through several phases, including its interior and exterior over the span of two years. 

“Over the past 100 years, this cabin has seen an incredible amount of history. It survived the legendary winter of 1952, snowfall so extreme that supplies had to be dropped from airplanes so the community could survive,” said Susan Winter, Director of NLTHS, in her opening speech. “Through all those decades, through changing times and changing generations, this cabin has remained here – a quiet witness to Tahoe City’s history.”

Along with recognizing NHLTS’s partnership with TCPUD, Winter gave thanks to members, donors and supporters, including Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Jennings Construction and Just Some Guy Painting, Inc. 

“The biggest ‘thank you’ of all goes to the North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA) and the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work Program,” Winter said as she invited Tony Karwowski, President and CEO of NTCA, to come up and say a few words.

Karwowski noted that NTCA is “The voice of the tourism industry.” He said, “When Susan talks about the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work Program, we are an organization that executes a grant framework to support things like community vitality, economic health and environmental stewardship in our community. Where do those dollars come from? They come directly from the tourism industry here.” 

The TOT-TBID Dollars At Work grant towards the Watson Cabin restoration totaled approximately $280,000. “What you’re seeing here to today is a result of that reinvestment,” Karwowski said. 

Construction of the cabin included a full restoration of the chimney and new flooring. The north and east logs were also replaced in the front of the building. 

“Replacing what was falling apart is what we tried to do, and keep everything else as true to the time as we could,” Winter told the Tribune.

Spirits were high as folks gathered to admire the hard work and final results of the cabin’s revitalization while live music from Old Souls swirled through the air, bringing joy to all who attended.

“The Watson Cabin is a pillar of our history. I think it brings the community together, and people look at it with nostalgia,” said Winter. “It means something to them, and certainly when none of us are here anymore, this building is still going to be standing.”

To learn more about the Watson Cabin, stop by Wednesdays through Mondays between the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to observe decades-old relics of Tahoe’s history. Also inside is a shop where you can purchase trinkets and souvenirs. The view alone from the cabin’s back room is worth the trip.

While the cabin is open through September 6, it will host its annual Watson Cabin Haunted House on Halloween as well as a SNOWFEST Exhibit exploring the origins of freestyle snowboarding in Lake Tahoe during North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST.

You can find more information about the Gatekeepers Museum by visiting https://www.gatekeepersmuseum.org/. 

The Watson Cabin is located at 560 N Lake Blvd in Tahoe City, Calif.