Discovering Truckee California
Old Railroad Town Showcases Specialty Shops, History of U.S. West
Oct 5, 2007
Most travelers have heard of Lake Tahoe. Less well known is the nearby town of Truckee, a destination in its own right just off U. S. Highway 80, 30 miles west of Reno, Nevada and about 12 miles north of the lake.
An old lumber and railroad town, Truckee began to attract attention in the 1960s and ‘70s when a handful of merchants and restaurateurs smartened up the buildings along Donner Pass Road and went into business. Today, the Historic District’s main street and buildings on the roads close by are an attractive destination for travelers who enjoy an upscale ambience.
Tour Guides
History aficionados should stop first at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in the turn-of-the-century Central Pacific Railroad depot at 10065 Donner Pass Road (open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) for copies of their “Truckee Historic Walking Tour,” brochures. The guides work equally well for drive-around tours.
Historic Buildings
Sierra winters and seven fires between 1868 and 1891 destroyed most of Truckee, including its Chinatown. Most of those buildings still standing are brick structures on Donner Pass Road, which was known in the old days as Main Street. Among the survivors, the oldest commercial building , the I. O. O. F. (Oddfellows) Hall (10068 Donner Pass Road) was built in 1871. Constructed a year later, the building next door started life as William Hurd’s Saloon and Hall, but was later occupied by the Piper Opera Company and after that housed the County Court.
On adjacent Bridge Street, the American Hotel, built in 1868, burned to the ground in 1909, but was rebuilt on the same site. Now called Moody’s Bistro and Lounge, it’s the place to go for jazz, with live jazz shows four nights a week and special concerts throughout the year.
Outstanding Stores
While historians will admire the architecture, shoppers can step inside most of the buildings for an eclectic array of opportunities to use their credit cards. White Buffalo (10116 Donner Pass Road) specializes in Southwestern/Native American jewelry, art and home décor and is one of the finest stores of its kind in the United States. Among works for sale include those by Navajo silversmith Tommy Singer, sculptor John Gutierrez; the intricately hand-painted pottery by Diane Lewis of Acoma Pueblo (near Albuquerque), and Hopi artisan Jocelyn Honani Vote’s hand-carved Kachinas.
The Cooking Gallery (10084) carries top-drawer merchandise, such as Le Creuset cookware and J. A. Hinkel knives as well as whimsical cookie jars, a wide selection of napkin rings, and gadgets like crab crackers. Bob Robert’s Jewelers (10056) features Robert’s own creations incorporating tiny human figures. Called "People Jewelry", each figure is individually sculpted. Frank Rossbach’s Glasforms (10072) showcases the work of Rossbach, who has been blowing glass for more than 25 years (his family has been in glassblowing business for about 300 years). And so it goes down the road, with candy and clothing shops, an old-time variety store and gift shops predominating.
Dining Choices
On the culinary bill of fare, you’ll find sushi, pizza, ethnic dishes, take-out food and sit-down dining. Restaurants generally are casual. Take the Squeeze Inn, for example. An 11- by 60-foot space with one table for two on the brick walkway outside, “The Squeeze” advertises “Best Omelettes on the Planet” and lists 62 different varieties on the menu.
Additional information on accomodations and dining can be found at www.truckee.com.
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