After visiting so many beaches, you can see why Lake Tahoe is such a popular summer destination. But, do you have any idea what turned Lake Tahoe into one of America’s most popular winter destinations?

Well, it was a singular event: The 1960 Winter Olympic Games, which were held just a few miles west of here. 

This was the first time the Olympics were televised nationwide. And other technologies, such Instant replay, which we take for granted today, debuted that year. And, Bet you’ll never guess who the pageantry chairman was! 

The one-and-only…Walt Disney! Turns out, he was a big fan of winter sports and wanted to create a one-of-a-kind spectacle for the TV audience.

But just as the cameras were ready to roll, one of Tahoe’s epic blizzards rolled in. As the snow piled higher, the organizers began to panic. With the world watching, they decided to delay the opening ceremonies. But the storm kept coming. Thousands of entertainers, pigeons and balloons shivered with anticipation.

It wasn’t looking good. But then, as if from a magical Disney fairy tale, the sun broke through the clouds, and the games were on!

While the athletes competed and the world marveled at the snowy spectacle, not everything was fun and games.

Ya see, the 1960 Winter Olympics were held on Indigenous land. Land that belonged to the Washoe people for thousands of years. The native tribe was in the middle of a decades-long lawsuit against the federal government, fighting for the return of 6 million acres of land, which included the Olympic grounds. They considered that land to be sacred, and wanted it to remain untouched.

But the games went ahead, and the Washoe never received any compensation from the government. To add insult to injury, the ski resort that hosted the games was named Squaw Valley. The word “Squaw” is actually demeaning to Native Americans, because it means “loose woman.” Understandably, the Washoe felt the resort name was disrespectful to their women and culture. It took 61 years for the resort to change its name, which it finally did in 2021. Today, it’s called “Palisades Tahoe,” also known as “Olympic Village.” 

And the Washoe continue their struggle to get their land back

If you wanna visit Olympic Village, it’s about a seven mile detour. Complicated history aside, I gotta say, it is pretty darn cool to see the Olympic signs, torches, and the beautiful valley where Olympic history took place. You can also ride the Aerial Tram up the mountain to an even bigger Olympic exhibit. Ok, you’ll have to decide soon whether or not you want to make the stop. The choice, as always, is yours! But if you do go, maybe take a moment to remember that the land you’re on was sacred to those who came before us.

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