about
Located across the street from the great blue lake, Pepper Tree Inn is conveniently located in central Tahoe City, just a hop, skip, and a jump from restaurants, shops, trails, museum, the beach, the slopes, and splendid view points. Our multi-story building offers exquisite lakefront views and a glimmer of Tahoe’s endless wonders and outdoor adventures.
The Story
Pepper Tree Inn, located at the heart of Tahoe City tells its own unique story…
The Gold Rush era witnessed an influx of settlers in the west. During the late 19th century, San Francisco’s population had grown significantly and many of its wealthier residents frequented the Tahoe area. One man, by the name of Robert Montgomery Watson, arrived in Tahoe City in 1929 with his wife and five children. They found a place to live and called it the “Tarpaper Shack”, undoubtedly for its derelict outer appearance. He also ran an inn called the Tahoe House and it was around this establishment that the city of Tahoe City began to sprout.
Watson became a beloved and influential resident. To the local youth, he was known simply as “Grandpa”. At the age of 52, he went on to become Tahoe City’s first constable and policed the city for over a decade. Watson has made numerous lasting community contributions to the city, including being a mountain guide, a conservationist, a trail blazer, constructing a granite monument near Emigrant Pass, and building Tahoe City’s first school. Today, his legacy is commemorated with a museum in Tahoe City that is in fact the very cabin he built with his son as a gift to his bride. It is a historical site that is still kept in its original foundation.
Eventually, Watson owned several houses on a piece of property just a few steps from the lake. After his passing, that property became the foundation on which Russell’n Pines Motel was built. In anticipation of the 1960 winter olympics, Russell’n Pines motel was constructed into a massive seven story dwelling to house the oncoming slew of spectators and athletes. The architect’s main objective was to encapsulate the area’s greatest attraction - Lake Tahoe itself. This high-rise, in the heart of Tahoe City, was to be the perfect getaway with its spectacular lake views, mountain decor, and cozy character. Years later, the motel was renamed the Pepper Tree Inn.
