Latest news with #Truckee
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hidden fortune: Could the Donner Party's legendary gold stash still be out there?
Back in May 1891, Truckee was abuzz with treasure fever. While on a fishing excursion near Donner Lake, Edward Reynolds uncovered a cache of coins near the shore, claiming that they had been buried by Elizabeth Cooper Graves of the ill-fated Donner Party. A Winnemucca newspaper reported that Reynolds found nearly 200 coins in all — both American coins and others from far-flung locales including France, Spain and South America. But later reporting by the Reno Evening Gazette cast doubt on the entire story, calling it "weird and sensational," and insinuating that the discovery was an effort to boost sales for a Donner Party history book written by someone with close ties to Reynolds. Whatever the source of the coins, there was general agreement that it wasn't the Donner Money — a legendary cache believed to be buried at yet another campsite for Donner Party survivors. Here's the story of life-changing and possibly history-changing treasures still missing in Nevada and the Sierra. George Donner, along with 24 other Donner Party members, were trapped by a snowstorm at Alder Creek Valley near Truckee in late 1846. Only 11 of them survived; George Donner himself died of gangrene in March 1847. Over the next few decades, tales of a buried cache — $10,000 in gold, according to most reports — had sparked the imaginations of treasure seekers. The Nevada State Journal in 1890 reported that one prospector, using an "electric mineral ball," had found the exact spot of the gold, and was waiting for the valley's floodwaters to subside before digging it up. Apparently, he had no luck. More than a century later, the Nevada Historical Society's Phillip I. Earl wrote that the gold's discovery had never been publicly announced, and that "there is good reason to believe that it was dug up and stolen after Donner's death." More: Exploring Donner Summit, California's most historically important square mile The first-ever train robbery west of the Rockies was a fairly elaborate operation involving accomplices in Nevada and California all working toward one goal: stealing the payroll for Gold Hill's Yellow Jacket Mine. A train carrying $41,800 in gold pieces and $8,800 in silver bars — worth well over $1 million in today's dollars — left Oakland for Ogden, Utah, on Nov. 4, 1870. A San Francisco-based accomplice sent a coded telegram to a gang of five robbers about the train's cargo, and the robbers blocked the track with rocks and railroad ties near Verdi. The gang boarded the train, grabbed the loot, divided it out and went their separate ways. One buried $20,000 near Virginia City. Two others buried $7,500 in a ravine near Peavine. The other three scattered, but were captured within the week, along with three accomplices. Nearly all of the fortune was recovered except for 150 gold coins, estimated to be worth about $70,000 today. Treasure hunters still think the missing coins could be found buried somewhere in northwestern Nevada. More: This California town was named one of the 10 best small towns in US. Hint: think Gold Rush The last robbery of a horse-drawn stage in the U.S. happened on Dec. 5, 1916, in northeastern Nevada near the Idaho border. Stage driver Fred Searcy was driving a two-horse mail stage alone on a snowy night between Three Creek, Idaho, and Jarbidge, Nevada, when he was robbed and murdered. A search party found the crime scene on the outskirts of Jarbidge, a gold-rush town of 1,500. They discovered that $3,000 was missing (a little over $80,000 in today's dollars). Ben Kuhl, a drifter with a criminal record, was tied to the murder and robbery thanks to a bloody palm print found on a torn letter at the crime was tried and convicted the following year, the first murderer in U.S. history to be convicted using palm-print evidence. Kuhl appealed the admissibility of the palm print as evidence to the Nevada Supreme Court, but failed; however, his death sentence was commuted to life in prison. He eventually confessed to the murder, but insisted that he didn't ambush Searcy — he said Searcy was an accomplice, and Kuhl shot him during an argument over how to split the booty. The money, however, was never recovered, and is believed to be buried somewhere in Jarbidge Canyon. More: These 7 California towns are 'bizarrely' named, says WorldAtlas. We can think of a few more The Washoe Tribe faced stark difficulties in the early 20th century. During the Paiute War of 1860, Captain Jim Henuheka, a prominent spokesman for the tribe, had encouraged the Washoe to surrender their firearms to ensure peace between the tribe and the white settlers in the area. But over the ensuing decades, they had little to show for their conciliatory approach — no tribal reservation, no hunting and fishing rights, and only scattered landholdings that had been left unclaimed by settlers. The tribe's population had dwindled to just 300. In 1913, famed Washoe basket weaver Sarah Jim Mayo created a special basket as a plea to President Woodrow Wilson to remind the U.S. government of its historic alliance with the Washoe. The basket's design included an eagle and arrows reminiscent of the presidential seal, and an image of her father handing over a rifle. The basket also included an inscription woven into the design: 'Nevada and California/ Sarah, I am his daughter/ Captain James, First Chief of Washoe tribe/ This basket is a special curio, 1913.'Accompanying the basket was a letter explaining the Washoe Tribe's plight. Wilson acknowledged receiving the basket and thanked Mayo for it; meanwhile, the U.S. Congress acted to send $5,000 in relief for sick and elderly tribal members and $10,000 to purchase homestead lands for the tribe. However, the fate of the basket itself remains a mystery. More: These California road trips are the best in the nation Legends of a secret underground river filled with gold nuggets, or possibly a fortune in oil, have circulated in Nevada for a century. According to one story, a prospector in 1927 claimed to have spent four days exploring the underground river, emerging with buckets of gold-laden sand — but he dynamited the entrance because he didn't own the land, and never found another way in. Then in 1992, scientist Wally Spencer claimed he found the river again from satellite photos, estimating a flow of 17 billion gallons a day. That would be 200 times as large as the Truckee River, and nearly six times what the entire state uses in a day — which would be enough to revolutionize the state's agriculture industry. But when Spencer approached the state about his find, state officials doubted his underlying claims, and wouldn't guarantee him a multimillion-dollar finder's fee for providing information on the river. He took his story to TV's 'Unsolved Mysteries,' claiming the state had bugged his phone and his house to learn the river's died in 2003. The Reno corporation he created to profit from the find dissolved in 2007. If any of his associates know where the alleged river is, they haven't spoken up about it yet. Nevada and UNLV may battle it out on the football field for the replica each fall, but in January 1844, Capt. John C. Fremont decided the original "Fremont Cannon" wasn't worth the effort. Fremont and 40 U.S. Army engineers left St. Louis the previous summer, hoping to find a less arduous route to the West Coast. They were lugging a last-minute addition to their supplies: a 12-pound howitzer. The expedition was unsuccessful, and after leaving the Oregon Territory they turned south to explore the Great Basin. In January, low on supplies and searching for a pass over the Sierra Nevada into California, the party decided to leave the cannon 1997 and 2001, volunteers with the U.S. Forest Service discovered pieces of what they believe to be the missing cannon; Nevada State Museum officials say they're confident it's the real deal. UNLV football coach Bill Ireland used the legend of the lost cannon as inspiration for a trophy to be held by the winner of the annual Nevada-UNLV football game. The replica cannon, college football's heaviest and most expensive trophy, has been passed back and forth between the two schools since 1970. Fremont's original cannon is now housed at the Nevada State Museum in Carson. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Lost treasures of the Sierra: $10,000 in Donner Party gold
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Multiple crashes along westbound I-80 in Truckee
( — The California Highway Patrol reported that traffic is being held on westbound Interstate-80 in Truckee near Kingvale after a solo big rig crash. Video Above: What to do if you witness a crash A FOX40 news team is in the area and said there are multiple crashes by the summit with bumper-to-bumper traffic as well. Only minor injuries were reported in the initial crash, CHP said. Officials ask drivers to slow down as crews are clearing up the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Girl athletes express fear over school district switching sports conferences to accommodate trans athletes
A public school district is in the process of transferring from Nevada's high school sports conference to California's so it can avoid Nevada's new policy that keeps biological males out of high school girls' competitions and locker rooms. The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) in Truckee, California, is leaving the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) to join the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The change will go into effect in Fall 2025 and comes after the NIAA voted to ban trans athletes from the girls' category during its April 2 Board of Control meeting. It was made in order to comply with President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. However, California has continued to defy the order and enable trans inclusion in girls' sports. Multiple TTUSD parents and girls' athletes pleaded with school officials not to make the switch to California's federation at the Truckee Unified school board meeting Wednesday night. Not only did they speak out the notion of letting trans athletes in girls' sports, but many speakers also pointed out that other details of the switch would affect the district's sports teams' ability to conduct their seasons, including travel and scheduling changes that would bring about potential weather complications for outdoor events. The current setup with Truckee competing in the NIAA allows its teams to travel east into Nevada for most of its away competition, as the town sits near the northern California-Nevada border. But with the coming change, the student athletes could soon have to travel west for most of their away competition. This means that students will often have to travel through California's Donner Pass, a 7,056-foot-high mountain pass. During winter, the pass is known for being dangerous due to extreme weather conditions like heavy snowfall, strong winds and icy roads. The high elevation and frequent storms contribute to treacherous travel conditions, including the potential for avalanches. Truckee high school girls' track and field athlete Ava Cochram expressed her fears of playing against trans athletes. "Men generally have more muscle mass, higher lung capacity and greater bone density that gives them greater advantages, physically, in sports, and I think that it's very unfair to watch all of our hard work as women to go down the drain," Cochram said. "I do not have anything against trans people, but I think this is a violation of our privacy." Truckee High School girls' soccer, track and basketball athlete Kenzie Zilstorf lamented the idea of changing with trans athletes in the same locker room, and having to increase the risk of travel with the change. "It's even more bad if a woman has to go in the locker room with a man and change with them. There's two genders, a man and a woman," Zilstorf said. "And I think it's unfair that we have to take a dangerous drive to risk our lives over the summit when there's snow, all because of a privacy rule. This is wrong." North Tahoe High School girls' soccer player Anna Holly said she isn't even going to be playing girls' soccer anymore because of the change. "It's sad for me, because this is the only time I get to play soccer in my life, and I really do enjoy it, but I'm choosing basketball over that," Holly said. "And biologically, boys are born with greater speed and strength than girls, and having to play against them, they do have an unfair advantage, and I would not feel safe with them. There's also safety concerns about how much stronger they are than us." TTUSD still defended its decision to switch to CIF in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "A recent Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) policy change made on April 2, 2025, directly conflicts with California state law, specifically the California Education Code's mandate against discrimination and protection of student privacy. Given the direct conflict between the NIAA's recent policy changes and the mandates of California state law, TTUSD viewed joining a California athletics association as a necessary action to ensure legal compliance," read a statement from the TTUSD to Fox News Digital. TTUSD also said it anticipates the new arrangements will lead to shorter travel times for its student athletes for away competitions, despite concerns over the Donner Pass. "TTUSD is working with CIF on details related to league assignment, schedules, and travel distances. We anticipate that the overall mileage student-athletes travel within the CIF will be less than our current travel schedules," the district's statement read. CIF is one of many high school sports conferences located in blue states to defy Trump's executive order since it was signed on Feb. 5. It is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for its defiance of the order, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon has warned Governor Gavin Newsom that his state could be subject to federal funding freezes if it continues to defy. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Travel Daily News
07-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe unveils property-wide transformation
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe completes major renovation, unveiling reimagined accommodations, dining, wellness spaces, and immersive amenities for year-round luxury stays. TRUCKEE, CA – The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, a luxury AAA Five Diamond Resort nestled in the heart of Tahoe's North Shore, emerges with new life following the completion of a two-year property transformation. Surrounded by towering ponderosa and sugar pine trees, magnificent wildlife and the neighboring Northstar California Resort, the renovated property provides a modern mountain escape, blending contemporary luxury with design rooted in Lake Tahoe's mountain-town charm. 'After an extensive two-year renovation, we're thrilled to welcome new and returning guests to a new era of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe,' said General Manager Colin Perry. 'Inspired by the natural beauty of the Sierra, this transformation not only enhances the stay experience but also deepens the connection between our guests and this marvelous land through purposeful design that reflects our magnificent surroundings.' The renovation, orchestrated by Premier Design and Johnson Studios, features an extensive redesign of the Living Room, now called the Living Room Lodge, dining and bar, reimagined guest rooms and suites, a new arrival experience with a beautiful upgrade to the welcome and registration areas, a renovation to the fitness center, new pool cabanas, a refresh to the property's signature restaurant Manzanita, two new Topgolf Swing Suites, the new Alpine Market offering upscale snacks, beverages and boutique items, and redesigned meeting spaces. Upgraded Guest Rooms and Suites The Resort was originally built in 2006 and has served as a haven for skiers, snowboarders and outdoor explorers since opening. The updated guest rooms and suites were designed with these travelers in mind, offering a comfortable and inviting respite to unwind after a day of exploring. The 170 upgraded rooms and suites reflect the local landscape with soothing earth tones inspired by pine forests and alpine vistas, natural textures, and panoramic windows that frame the forest, valley and slopeside of the mountain. In addition, the property offers Ritz-Carlton Residences with two, three and four-bedroom accommodations for friends and family gatherings, equipped with full kitchens, expansive living room, separate bedrooms, fireplaces, outdoor decks and more. Reimaged Dining Concepts The newly renovated slopeside dining destination, Manzanita, is where mountain elegance meets culinary craftsmanship. Inspired by the rugged beauty of Lake Tahoe, the space offers a rustic yet eminent atmosphere with exposed stone walls balanced with large wooden beams across the ceiling, a large stone fireplace in the center of the restaurant, and an oval bar offering a communal space where guests can sip and linger. Masterfully crafted by Chef de Cuisine Edgar Palau and Executive Chef Christopher Bean, Manzanita's menu captures the culinary spirit of California, incorporating organic, locally grown produce whenever possible. Menu highlights include the 32oz Dry Aged Côte de Boeuf, Fresh Ahi Tuna Tiradito, and Double Cut Heritage Pork Chop. The resort's setting for gathering and relaxing, the reimagined Living Room Lodge features plush furnishings, a large fireplace in the center of the room for collaborating and connecting, and panoramic views of the surrounding alpine forest for wildlife spotting and bird watching. The main addition that returning guests will notice and love is the expansive u-shaped bar with a sleek marble top and cool leather seating facing floor to ceiling windows with prime views of the mountain terrain. The center of the bar features an intricate cascade chandelier with suspended wildflowers pressed within drops of crystal that glisten in the sun and evening light. The seasonally rotating menu at the Living Room Lodge pays tribute to Northern California's rich culinary bounty from freshly caught trout to hand-picked mushrooms. Guests can enjoy an impressive beverage menu with wines from the nearby wine county and brews from local and regional distilleries in California, Oregon, and Utah. New Spaces for Gathering and Fun Offering new ways for guests and families to bond, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe recently launched two Topgolf Swing Suites with a private sports entertainment simulator for golf, baseball, soccer, dodgeball, and more. The suites feature a massive HDTV screen and equipment for the desired sport, a personal guest experience attendant, shuffleboard station, and a gameday-inspired food and beverage menu. The property also recently introduced the Alpine Exchange Boutique, which features a curated collection of apparel, accessories, and luxury travel essentials, curated for the discerning fashion enthusiast. Exclusive experiences are available to reserve just for you, including new private firepits and luxury cabanas. Both seats up to 6 people, each with special menus to select your favorites and enjoy the views and the company. Crafted with wellness travelers in mind, the fitness center has also undergone extensive renovations that allow for workouts of all styles and fitness levels. The fitness center now includes new top-of-the-line Technogym equipment with QR codes on the machines to download the Technogym app and track a workout, heart rate and other features. The refreshed space also features five Peloton Bikes, seven treadmills, four stairmasters, a Smith Machine, a leg room with six new machines, and a dedicated area for fitness classes, including strength & conditioning and yoga. Beyond the yoga studios lies an expansive deck with views up the majestic mountain for guests to take a moment to rest and reflect in comfortable rocking chairs. In addition to its ski-in-ski-out access, the property is an ideal year-round destination offering a variety of activities to enjoy during every season. Reopening in May for the summer season, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is home to the Lake Club, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, offering direct beach access to North Shore Lake Tahoe, complimentary kayaks and paddle boards, access to MasterCraft boat rentals, gourmet food and beverage offerings to enjoy lakeside, and complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the resort.
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
2 California high schools set to leave Nevada athletics org over trans athlete rules
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. Two California high schools will leave the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) over the state's decision to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports. Truckee and North Tahoe High Schools were the two schools set to leave the athletics association, the Reno Gazette Journal reported Friday. Both schools sit near the California-Nevada border. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Truckee Schools spokesperson Amber Burke told the newspaper that the move was made because the high schools need to follow California laws regarding sex discrimination. "We are a California school district, and so we must adhere to California state law," Burke said. "It is related to the recent NIAA policy changes regarding student-athlete eligibility based on biological sex. That conflicts with California laws." The Truckee Tahoe United School District sent a letter to parents, saying the Nevada rules "directly conflict with California laws protecting gender identity and expression, including AB 1955, which guarantees students' rights to privacy and protects them from discrimination," according to the Reno Gazette Journal. The NIAA voted in April to adopt a new gender eligibility policy that bans trans athletes from girls' sports. Only biological females can compete against girls in the state. The change marked a reversal from the state's previous policy that enabled trans athletes to compete in girls' and women's sports, which has resulted in multiple controversial incidents of it happening in recent years. MAINE ROCKED BY TRANS ATHLETE DOMINANCE AT GIRLS' TRACK MEET AMID ONGOING LEGAL CONFLICT WITH TRUMP The two schools will move to the California Interscholastic Federation. The state planned to keep its gender-eligibility policy to allow biological males to compete against females in sports, thumbing its nose at President Donald Trump's executive order. A bipartisan survey by the Public Policy Institute of California released in April found the majority of California residents oppose biological male trans athletes competing in women's sports. California Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted trans athletes competing in girls' sports is "deeply unfair" during an episode of his podcast last month but defended allowing it out of empathy for the transgender population. "The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has been notified that Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District is seeking to withdraw from the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association," NIAA Executive Director Tim Jackson said Monday, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "We are working with the district to guide them through the withdrawal process, ensuring a smooth and collaborative transition. Throughout this process, the NIAA remains committed to supporting all member schools and student-athletes." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "As we move forward, we will prioritize solidifying athletic schedules for the upcoming fall season and maintain clear, ongoing communication with all stakeholders to minimize disruptions and ensure clarity for all involved. We appreciate the longstanding partnership with Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District and are dedicated to supporting their transition while upholding the best interests of all our member schools." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .
