Aviation View | Volume 1, Issue 2

14 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT T he picturesque scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains set against the crystal clear water of the largest alpine lake in North America is what sets Lake Tahoe Airport apart from all others. “It’s in a stunning natural environment,” says Airport Manager Mark Gibbs, “and in a community where natural resources are the heartbeat of the economy. Those resources drive what is really a tourism-based economy.” Protecting and maintaining those natural resources poses a unique set of challenges. But the airport is thriving thanks to partnerships with local entities and environmentally conscious decisions. Lake Tahoe Airport was built in the city of South Lake Tahoe, California during the late 1950s to support transportation needs associated with the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in the neighboring Squaw Valley. The same architect who designed the Olympic Village also designed the facilities at the airport. It opened as a commercial airport and served as such until 2001. Today, it is classified as a regional P R O T E C T I N G T H E N A T U R A L B E A U T Y