In The News – Incline Village Main Street launches Sierra Giving Circle
October 21, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 10/21/2025, Staff Report
The Sierra Giving Circle is being launched to fund beautification projects in Incline Village. IVCBA’s Incline Village Main Street program spearheads these projects and partners with Incline Tahoe Foundation to accept charitable donations from the community to fund them. Beautification supports IVCBA’s mission of “building cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Its vision is of a “thriving community that supports and is supported by its agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and residents.”
An inaugural Roots to Revitalization dinner jump-started the campaign, raising over $200,000, which includes a 100% match from one of the donors. The goal is to raise $500,000 over the next two years. Incline Village Main Street is supported by Washoe County and collaborates with NDOT and other agencies as needed to implement beautification projects.
Incline Village Main Street’s premier project is improvements to the Gateway Roundabout, which was originally constructed in 2012. It is located at the intersection of Mt. Rose Highway and Highway 28 and is the “gateway to Lake Tahoe” from Reno, leading to Incline Village/east shore and Crystal Bay/north shore communities. Initial plans have been submitted to NDOT by project manager Lefrancois Engineering. Improvements will address safety and aesthetic issues with iconic granite boulders, vegetation, and a succession of perennial flowers supported by irrigation.
Incline Village Main Street Launches Dancing With Daffodils
October 21, 2025 | Linda Offerdahl
IVCBA is asking businesses and residents to help us cover Incline Village and Crystal Bay next spring with daffodils by planting bulbs this fall. It is part of Inclined to Bloom, the project that brought hanging flower baskets and terra cotta pots to Incline commercial areas last summer. IVCBA will supply FREE BULBS to participating businesses and landscapers.
“Our community deserves a revitalized look that reflects the natural beauty of our environment….Together we create a thriving community that benefits everyone.” Linda Offerdahl, Executive Director
Dancing with daffodils is what we will be doing next spring if we ALL plant bulbs this fall! This is a pilot project, a grassroots campaign to beautify Incline in the spring. Daffodils are the first flower (yellow) to peak out through the snow in April/May and are hardy enough to survive an unexpected snowstorm. Once the bulbs are planted, the flowers come back every year. And they multiply! Any business, group, or individuals willing to plant bulbs, reach out to Linda@IVCBA.org to receive free bulbs.
Inclined to Bloom and Dancing with Daffodils are part of the Incline Village Main Street Beautification campaign. Beautification supports IVCBA’s mission of “building cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Its vision is a “thriving community that supports and is supported by its agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and residents.”
Other beautification projects include Gateway Roundabout Improvements and Community-driven projects such as the “gathering place” below Crosbys at Christmas Tree Village. Businesses are encouraged to start their own projects that encourage walkability. Grants are available through Incline Village Main Street. Northern Lights holiday lighting is another IVCBA/Main Street beautification project.
The Sierra Giving Circle was established to help fund beautification projects. IVCBA partners with Incline Tahoe Foundation to accept charitable donations specifically for beautification.
Checks may be made out to Incline Tahoe Foundation and sent to 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451. Charitable donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law through our partner, Incline Tahoe Foundation, EIN 27-0823168.
About:
Incline Village Main Street is a revitalization and redevelopment program affiliated with Main Street Nevada as well as Main Street America. Its strategic priorities are economic vitality, civic engagement, and community initiatives. It is organized under the auspices of the IVCBA community and business association. Find more information at https://ivcba.org/programs/incline-village-main-street/.
“Our community deserves a revitalized look that reflects the natural beauty of our environment….Together we create a thriving community that benefits everyone.” Linda Offerdahl, Executive Director
The Sierra Giving Circlehas been launched to fund beautification projects. An inaugural dinner, Roots to Revitalization, jump-started the campaign, raising over $100,000 that was matched by one of the donors, for a total of $200,000+. This funding will be used for the Gateway Roundabout Improvements and community projects such as the “gathering place” at Crosbys.
A newsbrief about the Sierra Giving Circle will be released shortly, with a call for more donations from the community. Charitable donations are tax deductible as allowed by law through our partner Incline Tahoe Foundation, EIN 27-0823168.
Checks may be sent to Incline Tahoe Foundation, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451.
DANCING WITH DAFFODILS
Planting fall bulbs for early spring blooming is the latest project for Inclined to Bloom. Our goal is to plant 15,000 yellow daffodil bulbs. We will be reaching out to our network of property managers and landscapers, but residents are encouraged to buy bulbs and plant them themselves along some of our downtown streets that could use beautification. To volunteer to plant bulbs, please reach out to Linda@IVCBA.org. To help us buy 15,000 bulbs, donate at Incline Tahoe Foundation – Inclined to Bloom.
NORTHERN LIGHTS HOLIDAY LIGHTING
IVCBA installed holiday lighting along Tahoe Blvd in 2021 as part of Northern Lights, a month-long celebration in December. Now in our fifth year, we maintain these lights for Holiday Lighting and look for new lighting opportunities. A lighting contest encourages businesses and residents to decorate! To help us light up the Village, please donate to Incline Tahoe Foundation – Northern Lights
GATEWAY ROUNDABOUT IMPROVEMENTS
Gateway Roundabout Improvements project is moving forward with NDOT. Preliminary(30%completion) plans have met with only minor changes from NDOT!
WALKABILITY
A “gathering place”, complete with Adirondack chairs, has been created below Crosby’s in Christmas Tree Village, thanks to Russell Jones, owner of Crosby’s, Tony Robinson, property manager for Christmas Tree Village, and High Sierra Gardens.
Inclined to Bloom successfully beautified Incline with hanging baskets and terra cotta pots at the bus shelters(thanks to Rotary.)
I want to thank everyone for their support. When the agencies see community support like this, they want to be helpful. We garnered feedback and ideas for over a year before deciding to move forward with the Gateway Roundabout improvements. Businesses have been so cooperative with Inclined to Bloom; what Crosbys/Christmas Tree Village has done is inspiring others as well. Stay tuned!
Since taking ownership of the Cal Neva, the McWhinney team has advanced its commitment to revitalize and preserve the iconic property. To date, much of the team’s efforts have focused on stormwater infrastructure, grading, site utilities, structural enhancements, and Wellness center construction. These improvements are being made with the goal of honoring the site’s legacy, historic preservation, protecting environmental health, and investing for the long-term in this community.
“We’re focused on preserving the quality of the natural space, scenic views, as well as the historic architecture,” said Jason Newcomer, Senior Vice President of Hospitality Development with McWhinney.
McWhinney is no stranger to historic preservation in a hospitality setting. The company was a key partner in the award-winning redevelopment of Denver’s Union Station, a landmark transformed into a mixed-use transit hub featuring retail, dining, and the 112-room Crawford Hotel. Building on the legacy of thoughtful restoration and placemaking, McWhinney is channeling this generational perspective into Cal Neva’s successful restoration and longevity.
As part of the restoration, McWhinney has engaged Proper Hospitality, a luxury lifestyle hospitality company known for its locally inspired properties, as the operator. Operating acclaimed hotels from Santa Monica to San Francisco, the company’s emphasis on “uncommon luxury” makes for an ideal partner for Cal Neva’s next chapter.
Recently, Proper’s Jamie Mark, Vice President of Community Development and a project team member, even relocated to Incline Village and is now a full-time resident. Mark brings an extensive background in hospitality and a community-oriented approach to development. “It has been a wonderful experience meeting so many great people who have welcomed us here to Tahoe,” she added.
Together, McWhinney and Proper are working to begin the design process for modernizing the resort. The team aims to reopen in late 2027, celebrating more than 100 years of Cal Neva. While key aspects of the revitalization are still being finalized, the team continues to make plans to restore and enhance the resort’s most iconic features and gathering places, including upgrading and modernizing the existing 10-story hotel tower, the showroom, circle bar, historic lodge, theatre, three-meal dining, and meeting/event spaces. Plans also include restoring a portion of the original tunnels beneath the lodge. Along with maintaining its historic significance, the team is also exploring a world-class spa, wellness center, and upgraded outdoor lounge areas. The property will feature chef-driven dining, arts and culture programming, and amenities that reflect North Lake Tahoe’s character and charm.
The community’s enthusiasm has been a significant driver of decision-making on this project – the outpouring of support and the invaluable input have helped to inform how the project moves forward. Since purchasing the property, the team at McWhinney has engaged extensively and enthusiastically with the local community throughout the design process, hosting (literally) hundreds of meetings, conducting tours and open houses. Many people have shared their treasured memories about Cal Neva.
McWhinney has welcomed this local input and is working to bring back beloved events and traditions in the theater and social spaces. Plans for new lodging options are designed to support residents and visitors alike, offsetting the region’s recent loss of 400 hotel rooms and helping to reduce reliance on short-term rentals. A ’Park Once’ philosophy will encourage walkability and multi-modal transportation in and around the town center.
The revitalization is not only about preserving history—it’s also about supporting economic growth, making environmental improvements, and adding new amenities for both locals and visitors. The project is designed to contribute to the long-term vitality of the region, with a focus on sustainability, accessibility and community connection.
This is my favorite time of the year, when things start to quiet down but the weather is still nice and the lake is as warm as it’ll ever be before the snow starts to fall. It’s also the perfect time to catch up with friends at the farmers market, bike or hike along the East Shore Trail, or simply stroll around the streets of Incline taking in the public art.
As an art aficionado myself, I love that Incline Village has no shortage of public art and in recent years more has been coming on the scene. Therefore, now is the best time to check out these vibrant public art pieces scattered throughout town. Here are a few new and popular ones:
Highway 28/Highway 431 Roundabout Critters
Ten years ago, locals petitioned to fix the bottlenecks at highways 28 and 431, and then one of Nevada’s largest roundabouts was installed. To fill in the middle of the circle with something pleasing to look at, the Incline Roundabout Public Art nonprofit enlisted the help of June Towill Brown, a local sculptor. She created a bronze bear, deer, and coyote sculptures (donating about $250,000 of time and materials), which still stand today amongst the sagebrush and native plants.
“5 Kids in a Tree” at the Incline Village Library
If you can’t wait to crack open that book after you leave the library or are trying to finish one you’ve got, then the benches in front of the “5 Kids in a Tree” sculpture out front is a good place to relax and tuck into a novel. The detailed rambunctious bronze statue was created by Ken Ross and donated by longtime residents/book lovers Andrew Whyman and Barbara Perlman-Whyman.
“Buddha’s Eye” at UNR at Lake Tahoe
Originally established as a liberal arts college, 20 years ago, sculptor Robert Wick created and donated a bronze sculpture called “Buddha’s Eye” to the college. Wick’s public art sculptures reflect the union of land, architecture, and art, and this dynamic piece can be viewed in front of the Prim Library.
Trash to Treasure Painted Bear Boxes
Two years ago, Incline Middle School collaborated with the Incline Education Fund and UNR at Lake Tahoe to create a “Trash to Treasure” initiative, which involved promoting and participating in community cleanup days and then taking that collected trash and turning it into public art. This year, the school has expanded the effort, working with IVGID to paint bear boxes around town. The painted boxes represent a canvas for change and sustainability; a couple of them are at the softball fields and the Recreation Center.
New Tunnel Creek Café Mural and Signage
Those hiking or riding the Flume Trail above Tunnel Creek Cafe may notice a new forged metal sign and mural leading up to Flume Trail Bikes. Local artist Ryno had some paintings hanging up in Tunnel Creek Café, and the folks at Tunnel Creek worked with Flume Trail Bikes to hire Ryno to paint the mural.
The signs leading up there were recently created by Sustain Tahoe’s Jacquie Chandler and her partner to better direct people up to Flume Trail Bikes; the one at the entrance has a nice bench to sit under.
Around the same time that Ryno created the Flume Bike Trails mural, he also painted two colorful mountainscapes on the front of the Incline Storage buildings on Highway 28.
“I painted them both late last fall… it snowed a couple days right in the middle of each one which dragged it a little longer than expected. My inspiration came from old retro ski posters from the 70’s Everyone just wants either Tahoe landscapes or bears up here so I try to at least paint them differently than the normal since I’m rarely able to paint in my forte.”
Natural Grocers Community Mural
Last year when the new Natural Grocers opened, the Colorado-based company teamed up with Kings Beach artist Sara Smith, known for her intricate animal portraits, to paint a mural on the side of their new building facing Highway 28. With the help of some high scaffolding, she filled the top part near the roofline with an image of our crystal clear blue lake and Tahoe’s animals/pollinators, then invited the community to come out and leave their mark on the lower half. In late August of 2024, people picked out stencils and paint then got to work on their creations, filling in the blank wall. If you ever drive by, look at the wall and find the brown bunny sitting in the grass…it was created by yours truly.
Get Out and Find Some Art
There are a few other public art pieces in town, but these are some of the newer, more well-known ones. The best thing to do is to get out, walk around, and see how many you can find!
In The News – New interactive map makes exploring Incline Village and Crystal Bay easier for visitors and locals
August 27, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published with KUNR, 08/20/2025, Written by Maria Palma
If you’re planning a trip to North Lake Tahoe, there’s a new tool to help you get the most out of the Incline Village and Crystal Bay area.
The Incline Village Crystal Bay Community and Business Association (IVCBA) has launched an interactive digital map in partnership with Travel North Tahoe Nevada and Vibe Maps.
This mobile-friendly map highlights places including restaurants, shops, and scenic trails in Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
The map is about more than just directions, it’s a way for residents and visitors to connect with the heart of the community, said Kristin Derrin, IVCBA’s marketing and communications manager.
Spring and summer are glorious seasons at Lake Tahoe. Now that Memorial Day is over and June is right around the corner, planting and landscaping season are officially here. Many people supplement their perennials with annual flowers that provide continuous blooming and color. Incline commercial centers are no exception. IVCBA is launching a “planters and pots” project to assist with providing a cohesive look in those centers. Hanging planters are being installed in Christmas Tree Village and Village Center. Terra cotta pots with flowering plants will be placed by the bus shelters. All businesses are encouraged to participate by ordering a planter or a decorated terra cotta pot through Linda@IVCBA.org. Community members can help by donating to the Beautification Fund on Incline Tahoe Foundation’s website.
Main Street Beautification campaign
The campaign starts with cleanup, particularly with maintaining defensible space around properties. Neighborhoods can become a FAC, Firewise Action Community. Individuals, church groups, and other affiliations can start their own Tahoe Blue Crew. These efforts culminate in a village-wide “Incline Green Clean” sponsored by IVGID’s WasteNot on Saturday, June 7.
The Main Street Beautification committee has several components: Inclined to Bloom ‘Pots and Planters,’ Roundabout Redesign, and Public Art. These programs are all community-led initiatives to beautify Incline Village.
Perennials vs. Annuals
Some of these plants bloom once in the season, like daffodils and tulips. Others will have multiple blooms throughout the season. Lupines can be found along Incline Way and other parts of town. Often, people supplement perennials with annuals to add more consistent color. Although all plants benefit from good soil, fertilizer, and regular watering, plants should be chosen based on location and consideration for the environment. Many native plants are drought-resistant and can survive in the native desert soil. Contact one of IVCBA’s many landscapers for expertise: Incline Property Management, Canopy, Christine Karnofsky Plant Design, and Hoskins Landscape Contractors.
Where to shop
High Sierra Gardens is our local nursery that stocks trees and bushes in addition to flowers. You can spot their location on Tahoe Blvd by their plethora of blooming flowers along the boulevard. If it’s just annuals you are looking for, Grocery Outlet and Raleys are both convenient places.
SUPPORT INCLINED TO BLOOM
Not all of us have a green thumb or a garden. Please help us make Incline a flourishing flowering place to live by donating! You can Donate at Incline Tahoe Foundation.
Washoe Tahoe Academy Program Kick-Off – Learn More on Monday, November 18!
November 5, 2024 | Julie Malkin-Manning
Please join us for a free informational kick-off event in Incline Village on Monday, November 18 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the University of Nevada, Reno Lake Tahoe Campus Prim Library.
The Washoe Tahoe Academy will launch in May of 2025, featuring lessons in civic leadership and engagement with the goal of inspiring Incline Village and Crystal Bay residents to become involved in their community, with an eye on working collaboratively to find solutions to common problems. The three partner agencies putting the Academy together are Washoe County, University of Nevada, Reno’s Cooperative Extension, and Incline Village Crystal Bay Business Association (IVCBA).
This is a brand-new program created for Incline Village and Crystal Bay residents promoting knowledge of local government, inspiration and opportunities for civic engagement, and networking with fellow Washoe Tahoe residents. The Washoe Tahoe Academy will consist of five themed sessions, held monthly from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., each Thursday throughout the month of May 2025, at the UNR Lake Tahoe campus. The Academy will be treated as a cohort, with a graduating class occurring annually or possibly bi-annually in future years. This is a free program for those who are selected, capping at 25 participants. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and reside in Washoe Tahoe where they reside at least part time.
In its first year, Washoe County intends to improve relationships with residents in Washoe Tahoe, as well as build an understanding of what the various governing agencies in the area do, how they work together, how people can become more involved in these governing agencies, and inspiring collaboration to break down silos, both with fellow residents, as well as with tourists.
The five program sessions include:
Collaborate with Your Community –Themes include dignity dialogue, conflict resolution, and collaboration skills. The Lesson and group discussion will be led by Dr. Marlene Rebori from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Cooperative Extension.
Know Your Community: The acronyms can feel overwhelming… TTD, TRPA, TPC, TMT, IVGID, TNTNV, NTCA, IVGID, Clean Tahoe, Washoe County – what they do, what they don’t do, how they serve you, and how you can become involved?
Drive Your Community: Your Roadmap to Policy Change! Learn about Jurisdictions, Area Plans, how policies are made, and how you can influence policy and create real change in your community.
Love Your Community: Learn about opportunities for involvement on boards and committees in Washoe County, as well as local nonprofits, how to apply, and promote yourself for appointment and get engaged.
Sustain Your Community: What does it mean to be a good steward of the environment? Discuss Lake Stewardship and Dialogue with Tourism Agencies, environmental agencies, the sustainability Manager of Washoe County, and UC Davis TERC Science Center.
The May 2025 program will be limited to 25 participants and is free. Learn more about the Washoe Tahoe Academy and the application process at https://www.washoecounty.gov/WTA/
Please join us for a free informational kick-off event in Incline Village on Monday, November 18 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the University of Nevada, Reno Lake Tahoe Campus Prim Library.
