LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nevada – When Paul Nelson first explored the abandoned grounds of the Brockway Hot Springs Hotel in 1968, he realized decades later that he was reliving Lake Tahoe’s lost golden-era grand resort. I never imagined that I would become a chronicler.
His new book, Old Lake Tahoe’s Lost Grand Resort, will be released on November 12th. This book reveals a glorious era when railroad magnates and silver magnates turned pristine wilderness into a playground for America’s elite. Available for pre-order now.
“They were fascinating people who created elegant tourism out of the wilderness,” said Nelson, whose personal connection to the lake spans more than 50 years. “They started gambling in casinos and a whole world of second homes started that became what is now Lake Tahoe.”
The story begins in the 1880s at Lucky Baldwin’s legendary Tallac House, which Nelson describes as “the grandest hotel in the world on the South Shore.” For 30 years, the Comstock and Lawrence families operated this first-class hospitality hotel, serving the needs of wealthy California gold and Nevada silver prospectors as well as San Francisco’s high society.
But it was Lucky Baldwin’s death in 1909 that began an unexpected chain of events. His wealthy daughter’s lack of interest in the hotel led to a significant shift north, with the Comstock family converting the Brockway Hot Springs Hotel into a more upscale, club-like resort.
Competition for luxury goods intensified when lumber magnate Duane Bliss unveiled his Tahoe Tavern masterpiece in Tahoe City. Nelson’s research reveals the epic scale of this enterprise. “It had hundreds of rooms, a theater, a bowling alley, and later became California’s first ski resort.”
The hotel also boasted its own railroad line and the famous SS Tahoe steamboat, setting a new standard for lakeside luxury.
As a former attorney who represented ski resorts around Lake Tahoe for 25 years, Nelson brings unique insight to his research.
“My work championing great old-school ski resort operators in the Sierra Mountains prior to corporate consolidation gave me a real foundation in the arduous business of attracting and serving tourists on the lake. ” he explained.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter of the book focuses on the evolution of Cal Neva Lodge. What started out as a humble real estate office in the Cala Neva district soon grew into a legendary establishment, entwined with celebrities and gangsters. Nelson revealed Harry Comstock’s connections to what would become America’s first gambling casino.
This 226-page book features more than 100 rare historical photographs and illustrations and was born out of Nelson’s personal quest to understand the history of his region.
In 1987, Nelson and his wife, Mary, purchased a home adjacent to the site of the old Brockway Hotel. There they raised their sons on five acres of undeveloped woodland dotted with architecture from the resort’s heyday.
“What began as a personal quest to learn the history of the place that has become my home has evolved into something much larger and broader, revealing interesting historical stories of Tahoe that have been lost to time. “I grew up,” Nelson said.
One of the author’s favorite discoveries concerns Frank Brockway Alverson, the namesake of Brockway Resort.
“It was a complete surprise. He turned out to be a much more important figure in Lake Tahoe history than I expected,” Nelson said.
The full story of Albertson’s interactions with the Comstocks at Tallac House is just one of many stories never told in this book.
The book, which Nelson describes as “an understated but comfortable writing style,” is presented as if sharing historical revelations over a glass of wine or coffee. This approachable narrative style makes the complex interconnections of history accessible to history buffs and casual readers alike.
“Old Lake Tahoe’s Lost Grand Resort” is published as part of History Press’ “Lost” series on significant historical places. Nelson hints that this may not be the last word on the subject, as he discusses specialized books on both Tallac House and Cal Neva Lodge, adding, “There are stories and histories about each that we couldn’t publish.” There are many more photos.” This book. ”
For those interested in the rich history of America’s grand hotel era, Nelson’s book explores a vanished world of elegance and adventure, where the great outdoors and luxury combined to create the enduring legacy that shaped today’s Lake Tahoe. provides a window into.
A signed first edition of “Lost Grand Resorts of Old Lake Tahoe” is available by emailing PaulNelsonLaw@gmail.com. General sale is scheduled for November 12th online.
