Reconstructed Rocky Point chimney
Once you have arrived at the fish spawning ladder at the south end of Marlette Lake (elev. 7823 ft), a short walk along the unpaved road on the eastside of the lake will take you to the Rocky Point “peninsula.” From the junction with the Spooner-Marlette biking road (North Canyon Road) and the road leading up to the Tahoe Rim Trail and beyond to the Hobart Reservoir and the Red House, stroll down to Rocky Point.
Rocky Point is a scenic place. This is the site that James and Jessie Leonard—stockholders of the Virginia City Water Company—chose in the summer of 1933 to built a recreation cabin. All that remain are the stone fireplace and chinmney. In July 2007 a panel was unveiled in celebration of Hobart Leonard's 91st birthday. It summarizes the history of the cabin at Rocky Point. The summary is given below.
History of the Rock Point Cabin
Prior to the construction of the cabin at Rocky Point, the only structures at Marlette Lake were the caretaker's cabin located near the dam and a cabin for Nevada Fish and Game personnel at the south end of the lake.1933. James Mather Leonard and Jessie Hobart Leonard acquired the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Company, becoming the principal owners. The newly created Virginia City Water Company included Marlette Lake, the water supply for Virginia City. James and Jessie built a cabin at this site known as Rocky Point.
1934. The stone fireplace you see here today was added to the cabin to provide heat for the cool summer nights.
1940s and 1950s. James and Jessie's son Hobart, his wife Elizabeth, and their children and friends began staying at the cabin for several days at a time during the summer months. They described these days by the lake as carefree and idyllic.
1957. The carefree summer days came to an end for the Leonard family when the Curtis Wright Corporation purchased the Marlette Lake and Hobart Reservoir portion of the Virginia City Water Company. The level of the dam was raised and the lake rose 15 feet.
1963. The State of Navada purchased the water system.
Late 1960s. A crew was sent to Marlette Lake to tear down the caretaker's cabin near the dam because it was thought to be a safety hazard. Unfortunately, the crew demolished the Leonard cabin by mistake.
2005. The Chimney was restored.
2007. In July this panel was unveiled in celebration of Hobart Leonard's 91st birthday.
References and suggested reading
Claire McArthur: Beyond Big Blue: Other alpine lakes worth exploring near Tahoe. Tahoe Daily Tribune; August 7, 2022. URL: https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/beyond-big-blue-other-alpine-lakes-worth-exploring-near-tahoe/ (accessed: September 18, 2022).Kevin Knauss: Spooner to Marlette Lake Hike above Lake Tahoe. May 14, 2012. URL: https://insuremekevin.com/spooner-to-marlette-lake-hike-above-lake-tahoe/ (accessed: September 18, 2022).
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