Echo Chalet is a high-Sierra, summer-only, resort located approximately 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe and 49 miles east of Placerville off U.S. Highway 50. The resort was established in 1939, and is operated under permit of the United States Forest Service-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
Tom and Kathleen ("Kat") Fashinell have owned and managed the Chalet since 1984. The resort operates (weather permitting) from Memorial Day through the Labor Day weekend. Our rental cabins ("Chaletlees") are usually ready for occupancy by mid-June.
The Chalet as viewed from Echo Lakes Road - Lake Tahoe in the background (North)
ECHO LAKES ROAD IS NOW OPEN AND OUR CREW IS IN THE
PROCESS OF GETTING THE CHALET READY FOR THE SUMMER SEASON.
We will be opening Friday the 25th. The boat taxis should be in
service by Saturday the 26th (possibly late afternoon on the 25th).
CONTACT INFORMATION:
- Telephone: 530-659-7207 (8 am to 6 pm PST summer only)
- After hours: emergency calls only (please)
- Fax: Please request number through Chalet Office (we are trying to eliminate those 3 AM, auto-dialed, solicitations that that also ring at our home).
- Postal address:
- 9900 Echo Lakes Road, Echo Lake, CA 95721
- Electronic mail:
- General Information: echochalet-since1939@earthlink.net
- Please Note: Although we check our e-mail frequently, there are times in the off-season when it may not be viewed for a few days. During the summer season, if your subject has any type of time constraint, please call us.
- Directions to Echo Chalet
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SIR DUKE OF ECHO ON CHALET PIER 6-15-2011:
BY REQUEST - ECHO LAKE PATCHES
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March 15th: Winter patrols have not revealed any significant damage or vandalism
August 2007: We now have three taxis rigged as fire boats!
What happens to all the aluminum cans we collect each summer?
BOMBARDIER - EVINRUDE - E-TEC - JOHNSON - KLAMATH BOATS
Great article on Evinrude E-Tec engines from BOATING WORLD
ECHO PEAK SNOWPACK - U.S. GOVERNMENT SITE
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES:
Because of the very real threat of Nuisance plants and mussels entering Echo from Tahoe (plants) and elsewhere (Quagga or Zebra mussels from Colorado and Southern California), we are required to inspect all watercraft, motorized and non-motorized, and control access to the lake. We have therefore installed a locked gate and, throughout our operating season it will be necessary to allow lake access only during normal business hours.
In anticipation of the restricted hours of operation, we respectfully ask you to time your travel to coincide with these operating hours.
If you have any doubts about the seriousness of the threat, or just want to explore the issue further - including a great video entitled 'Don't move a mussel" - visit the 100th Meridian website.
For those of you who have a hard time visualizing Project 184, here is a topographical display:
United States Forest Service LAKE TAHOE BASIN MANAGEMENT UNIT
Historical Note: Memorial Day Weekend 2010
Over a three day period preceding the Memorial Day weekend, we had a snow-blower and a loader working to clear Echo Lakes Road into the Chalet. The snow pack was extensive and the road was single-lane in some portions ( especially around the lower curve - see photo below) requiring occasional back-ups to the nearest wide spot / turn-around. Everyone was cooperative and seemed grateful to be able to access the lake front in these winter-like conditions. Nevertheless, we were criticized for opening the road in such a limited fashion.
Given the economic realities of Memorial Day weekends in general, and the frozen status of the lake, we have decided to discontinue plowing Echo Lakes Road in such conditions. In the future, when the lake is thawing we may decide to clear the road of some snow and debris in order to provide safe driving conditions. This will be a very limited, and much more cost-effective approach to starting our summer season(s).
PICTURES FROM 5-28-2010:
Fall storm 2010
On Sunday, October 24th we received 7.9 inches of rain accompanied by very strong winds. E.I.D. had previously lowered the lake to about 6 inches depth at the ramp. By 10/26 Lower Echo had risen to almost 4 feet, and, according to observers, Upper Echo had risen over the piers. Boats that were essentially sitting on lake bottom prior to the storm broke their tie lines, filled with water and debris and sustained some damage. Never a dull moment at Echo!
