Construction on the Gateway Roundabout improvements continues this week with the addition of granite boulders. Trees will be installed this week as well. A signature fir tree will be the focal point of the traffic circle, along with complementary aspen trees.
The boulders were generously supplied by Realberry and transported by SMC and SNC construction companies. FW Carson also donated boulders and the labor to place them. The bronze animals designed by June Brown in 2012 are being repositioned on the roundabout for safety and better visibility.
Incline Village Main Street, a program of IVCBA Community and Business Association, undertook this project to improve the safety and aesthetics of the roundabout. Thank you to the generosity of the Sierra Giving Circle donors, along with agency and building partners.
In The News – Incline Village roundabout planned for improvements
April 29, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 04/29/2026, Written by Katelyn Welsh
The Incline Village roundabout at the intersection of Mount Rose Highway and Tahoe Blvd will soon undergo improvements.
Known for its bronze animals, the talent of local artist June Brown, the roundabout was installed in 2012 as part of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s effort to improve roadways on the North Shore.
Over the years, invasive plants have overrun the roundabout and irrigation issues have prevented planted perennials from thriving. The sculptures and the traffic circle, with its low-mound design, have also been subject to car crashes.
Improvements focus on the safety and aesthetics of the roundabout, including raising the mound, adding irrigation, and incorporating elements that reflect the Tahoe East Shore’s natural beauty, such as granite boulders, fir and aspen trees, and a succession of perennials.
The project represents a public-private collaboration with strong community involvement and fundraising efforts to bring the vision to life.
FW Carson, the contractor, is raising the mound at the roundabout to make it more visible to drivers. The next step will be to add nature’s own art, with iconic granite boulders, as the focal point of the roundabout. The boulders are donated by Realberry, the owner of the Cal Neva (under revitalization), and SMC/SNC, the contractor moving the boulders to the roundabout. The boulder placement is scheduled for next week.
The original roundabout was installed by NDOT in 2014 with the bronze animals created by artist June Brown and paid for by various community members. The bronze animals will remain on the roundabout, but in a safer and more visible location. History of the Roundabout HERE
The new design will add irrigation to support a succession of blooming perennials from April to October. A fir tree and aspens, along with some shrubs, will also be installed.
This is arguably the biggest single event to bring community members together with students from all of the schools. It is an hour-long lip-syncing show that will have you wondering, “How can I be in it next year?” And it’s for a good cause. Thanks to Mary Danahey and Sharon Shrage at Incline Education Fund and Kathie Goldberg and the Follies board for making it all happen.
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Incline Village Main Street Secures Permits for Gateway Roundabout Improvements
April 15, 2026 | Linda Offerdahl
The gateway to Lake Tahoe from Reno begins at the intersection of Mt. Rose Highway and SR 28, where a traffic circle installed in 2012 directs visitors east to Incline Village and west to Crystal Bay. Washoe Tahoe is known as the “gem of Washoe County,” and the Gateway Roundabout is home to a collection of bronze animal sculptures created by renowned local artist June Brown.
Fourteen years later, enhancements are needed to improve both safety for visitors and the sculptures, as well as overall aesthetics. The Incline Village Main Street initiative is leading these improvements, with irrigation as a key component to support additional perennials and trees. Iconic granite boulders will be incorporated to reflect the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe’s east shore.
This project represents a true public-private collaboration, with strong community involvement, particularly in fundraising efforts, helping bring the vision to life.
History of the roundabout
In early 2007, the community was engaged in the Incline Visioning Process, where residents could share their ideas and plans for the future. Inspired by his cat Spumoni, resident Don Kanare envisioned a traffic circle as a means to solve the traffic problem at the intersection of Mt. Rose and Highway 28. The idea was supported by the Infrastructure Committee, consisting of IVGID General Manager Gene Brockman and residents Bill Landry and Jim Nowlin.
It took many years to bring the idea to fruition. After years of planning and hard work, the roundabout was constructed during the summer of 2012 as part of a major project by the Nevada Department of Transportation to improve roadways on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.
History of the Bronze Sculptures
“The Gateway Committee, consisting of Jim Clark, Jim Nowlin, and Don Kanare, worked with the Parasol Community Foundation to raise funds to complete the project’s public art display. Together, with the help of Incline Village residents Lee Weber Koch and Janet Pahl, the group raised $110,000. F.W. Carson Co., a family-based Incline Village business, donated all the rocks and boulders on which the bronze statues are mounted today.
The roundabout features a significant public art display of life-size bronze sculptures by world-renowned sculptor June Towill Brown, of Incline Village. Local residents donated funds for the bronzes in honor of beloved pets, such as Don Kanare’s cat Spumoni.
The most widely recognized bronzes are the black bear, the mule deer, and the bobcat. A coyote, raccoon, stellar jay, and squirrels inhabit the circle as well.
Native perennials were planted to complement the sculptures.
Maintenance of the roundabout was undertaken by its original founders and subsequently by various community groups, including the Good Neighbors Committee of the Incline Village Realtors and the two Rotary clubs. When it became infeasible for the original Gateway Committee to manage maintenance, IVCBA, the community and business association, was asked to take over. Incline Property Management now does the maintenance clean up every spring pro bono. IVCBA has responsibility for the bronzes.
Incline Village Main Street
In early 2022, IVCBA joined the national and state Main Street organization to establish the Incline Village Main Street program. Its goal is to create a stronger identity for Incline Village that instills pride in its residents in this place we call home. Placemaking and transformative strategies, beginning with beautification, will help revitalize the commercial areas of Incline Village.
Inclined to Bloom was its first beautification project, adding hanging baskets to shopping centers and terra cotta pots to the bus shelters. The Dancing with Daffodils campaign last fall resulted in volunteers and property managers planting 7000 daffodil bulbs in high-visibility commercial areas.
For the last three years, Incline Village Main Street has quietly worked on a larger project to improve the Gateway Roundabout. Over time, invasive plants have overrun the roundabout. Lack of irrigation prevented the flowers from fully reaching their potential for blooming. The low-mounding design of the roundabout led to cars accidentally crashing into it, making the bronze sculptures an “endangered species”. Hence, the need for improvements 14 years later.
Gateway Roundabout Improvements
Improving esthetics to reflect the natural beauty of the East Shore and safety are the goals of the planned improvements. Iconic granite boulders, fir and aspen trees, and a succession of perennials are part of the new design. Irrigation will be installed to support the new plantings. The entire traffic circle will be mounded higher to improve visibility. The bronze animal sculptures will be repositioned on the roundabout.
Community input was gathered through Main Street focus groups and stakeholder meetings. The Incline Village Main Street design team, led by Linda Offerdahl, Christine Karnofsky, and Steve Porten, coordinated public input for the initial sketch. Dale Smith of Smith Design Group and Larry Wodarski of IPM are also on the design team. LA Studio Landscape Architects provided the final design.
A critical step in the project was to bring Lefrancois Engineering on board as the Project Manager. Structural and engineering plans were developed by Mike Lefrancois. He has expertly steered those plans through NDOT, Washoe County, IVGID, and TRPA to secure permits for installation this spring.
The construction bid was awarded to FW Carson, a local building contractor with expertise working with NDOT on public property. FW Carson was involved with placing the bronzes on the roundabout in 2012. They are highly engaged in our community and have been very generous with their donations to the project, including the foregoing of their profit.
Washoe County and other agencies have worked hard and also made in-kind donations to the project.
Irrigation has been an important but troublesome component of the improvements. By working together, Washoe County and IVGID found a cost-effective way to deliver water to the roundabout for irrigation. Nevertheless, the project involves the contractor digging a trench to access the irrigation sleeve in place underneath the road. There is no need to open the road, thanks to NDOT’s foresight in 2012, when the roundabout was originally installed.
NDOT has been a partner in this project from the beginning. They have had input into the design, ensuring it addresses safety issues. Although these improvements are welcomed by NDOT, they were not enough to justify the cost of making this an NDOT project. However, at the recommendation of NDOT Chief Tracy Thomason, traffic control is being handled by NDOT as an in-kind donation.
Other community donations
Iconic granite boulders are a key feature of the new design. A call to the VP of Engineering of Realberry, owner of the Cal Neva, resulted in the donation of 7 boulders to the project. SMC and SNC contractors on the Cal Neva project are donating the transportation of these boulders to the roundabout. FW Carson is donating the labor to place these boulders.
SIERRA GIVING CIRCLE
Private donations are the key funding source for the Gateway Roundabout improvements and other beautification projects. Charitable donations are given through partner Incline Tahoe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. A Roots to Revitalization community dinner held last September raised over $230,000 for beautification projects in Incline Village Main Street. Subsequent donations have been considerable, but Main Street is seeking an additional $30,000 for the Gateway Roundabout. Go to the IVCBA mainstreet page to make a donation: https://ivcba.org/programs/incline-village-main-street/roots-for-revitalization/
I have exciting news to share. Incline Village Main Street has approval from NDOT to install the Gateway Roundabout improvements! IV Main Street is the IVCBA program that addresses revitalization in our community. Improving the roundabout enhances the entrance to both Incline Village and Crystal Bay, the gateway to Lake Tahoe from Reno. Beautification projects like this are what I call “low-hanging fruit”. It is a placemaking project that unites the community around a common cause.
This is the second time the community has rallied around the roundabout. The first time was in 2012 when NDOT installed the original roundabout. A traffic circle was needed, and the community supported it. Bronze animal sculptures designed by local artist June Brown were funded by key community members. Native perennials were planted to complement the sculptures. Over time, invasive plants have overrun the roundabout; the lack of irrigation has prevented the flowers from fully reaching their potential to bloom. The low-mounding design of the roundabout led to cars accidentally crashing into it, rendering the bronze sculptures an “endangered species”. Hence, the need for improvements 14 years later.
Gateway Roundabout Improvements
Improving esthetics to reflect the natural beauty of the East Shore and safety are the goals of the planned improvements. Iconic granite boulders, fir, and aspen trees, along with a succession of perennials, are part of the new design. Irrigation will be installed to support the new plantings. The entire traffic circle will be mounded higher to improve visibility. The bronze animal sculptures will be repositioned on the roundabout.
Community input was gathered through Main Street focus groups and stakeholder meetings. Incline Village Main Street design team, led by Steve Porten and Christine Karnofsky, coordinated public input for the initial sketch. Dale Smith, Smith Design Group, Larry Wodarski, IPM are also on the design team. LA Studio Landscape Architects provided the final design. Structural and engineering plans were developed by Lefrancois Engineering, which is also the project manager. Mike has worked closely with NDOT, Washoe County, IVGID, and TRPA to get the plans permitted for installation this spring.
I will be providing more information about Incline Village Main Street in subsequent Local Lens blogs.
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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot! If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help!JOIN HERE
Improvements to the Gateway Roundabout are the current project for Incline Village Main Street under the auspices of the IVCBA community and business association. The improvements enhance safety and aesthetic features, with irrigation as a primary component. The community was engaged in the original project implemented by NDOT and reflects the public-private collaboration in place now.
Since “The Gateway to Lake Tahoe’s” christening in October 2012, the roundabout has been the symbolic entrance to the north shore of Lake Tahoe and features a significant public art display of life-size bronze sculptures by world-renowned sculptor, June Towill Brown, of Incline Village.
It was early March 2007 when Don Kanare was sitting in a line of cars waiting to turn left from the Mt. Rose Highway onto Tahoe Boulevard. It dawned on him that there had to be a better way to make the traffic flow smoothly through this intersection.
He thought about how his cat, Spumoni, would run from room to room in a circle around the house, but if a door was closed, it was like a stop sign. Don thought if we had a roundabout that would fix the problem.
It was this moment of inspiration that led to the creation of the Incline Village roundabout, which he affectionately calls Spumoni Circle and is known as The Gateway to Lake Tahoe.
Coincidentally, in early 2007, the community was engaged in the Incline Visioning Process, where residents could share their ideas and plans for the future.
Kanare’s idea for the roundabout was initially supported by the Infrastructure Committee, consisting of Incline Village residents Gene Brockman, Bill Landry, and Jim Nowlin.
After years of planning and hard work, the roundabout was constructed during the summer of 2012 as part of a major project by the Nevada Department of Transportation to improve roadways on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.
The new roundabout immediately improved traffic flow, reduced air pollution by eliminating cars idling at the intersection, and created an aesthetically pleasing gateway for visitors and residents alike.
It was also an ideal location for one of the largest outdoor public art displays in the state.
“It was an honor to be selected by the Incline Village Roundabout Committee out of many submissions to create a monumental entrance to Lake Tahoe,” said June Towill Brown.
“This long project turned out to be a labor of love for me, starting with studying the habitat of local animals that the committee wanted to be incorporated in the roundabout. The vision was to celebrate Lake Tahoe‘s natural surroundings for all to share. It warms my heart that the inspiration and meaning of this Gateway to Lake Tahoe will be honored and cherished by generations to come.”
The Gateway Committee, consisting of Jim Clark, Jim Nowlin, and Don Kanare, worked with the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation to raise funds to complete the project’s public art display. Together, with the help of Incline Village residents Lee Weber Koch and Janet Pahl, the group raised $110,000. F.W. Carson Co., a family-based and Incline Village business, donated all the rocks and boulders on which the bronze statues are mounted today.
Black Bear: Funded by The Jerry Stewart Family
In memory of Lois Stewart: Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and community volunteer
Trout ~ within the Brown Bear Sculpture: Funded by Community Donations
Bobcat: Funded by Donald M. Kanare
In Memory of his cat, Spumoni, who provided the inspiration for the Roundabout
Mule Deer: Funded by the Ted Fuller Family
OTHER BRONZE STATUES:
Raccoon: Funded by Lynn & John Schiek
Squirrels: Funded by Harlan Braaten & the Margaret & Manny Sylvester Charitable Fund
Coyote: Funded by Community Donations
Stellar Jay: Funded by Nancy & Wade Hampton and Laurie Sweeting
In October 2012, a formal dedication ceremony was held to honor all the supporters of the Incline Village Roundabout project.
Today, the Gateway to Lake Tahoe is a spectacular landmark that greets over three million people each year as they travel along the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, while providing a much safer and memorable entrance to one of the most beautiful places in the world – and where we are proud to call home.
Lefrancois Engineering has sent out RFPs to contractors to bid on the work to improve the roundabout. Although we are still working through the permits, the project seems to be on track to start work this spring. The improvements include safety features recommended by NDOT and upgraded landscaping supported by irrigation. Christine Karnofsky, Garden Designer, led the volunteer work of the Incline Village Main Street Design Team. The improvements will include iconic granite boulders, fir and aspen trees, along with a succession of perennials throughout the blooming season. The popular bronze animal sculptures by June Brown will be repositioned on the roundabout.
Gateway Roundabout Funding and Agency Partners
Private funds have been donated for the roundabout and other beautification projects through the Sierra Giving Circle. IVCBA partners with Incline Tahoe Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, to manage charitable donations. Thank you to all of the Sierra Giving Circle donors! Agency partners include Washoe County, NDOT, TRPA, and IVGID. Agencies have been very cooperative! Local funding partners include the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline and several prominent local philanthropists.
Incline Village Main Street Project Manager
Steve Blaney has been hired as a part-time subcontractor to manage Inclined to Bloom and other beautification projects. His work will help establish the feasibility of short-term projects, such as trails that improve walkability, and long-term projects, such as installing lamp posts along Tahoe Blvd. Main Street is exploring ways to extend the placemaking features planned for the roundabout to our “main street” through Incline Village. Steve’s business is Wildlife Mitigation Consultants. He brings knowledge and experience in urban planning and landscaping to the job. Funding for these projects comes through the Sierra Giving Circle at Incline Tahoe Foundation.
2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Gateway Roundabout Improvements
● Established Design Team: Steve Porten, Christine Karnofsky, Dale Smith, and Larry Wodarski; utilized community input for initial design ● Hired Lefrancois Engineering as Project Manager ● LA studio completed landscape architecture drawings ● Successfully engaged agency partners ● Submitted preliminary plans to NDOT
Inclined to Bloom
● Hanging baskets in Village Center and Christmas Tree Village ● Railing planters and wooden planters in Raleys Incline Center ● Terra cotta pots at 3 bus shelters, watered by Rotary clubs
Community-driven Projects that promote Walkability
● Gathering Place below Crosby’s at Christmas Tree Village
Sierra Giving Circle partnership with Incline Tahoe Foundation
● Kick-off Roots to Revitalization Community Dinner in September ● Raised $230,000 for Beautification projects
Commercial Community Redevelopment Projects
● Hyatt Regency kicked off its project on the lakeside of the Hyatt property ● Revitalizing the Cal Neva is underway for its extensive remodel with plans to reopen in 2027
INCLINE VILLAGE MAIN STREET – 2025 Accomplishments
February 18, 2026 | Linda Offerdahl
Gateway Roundabout Improvements
Established Design Team: Steve Porten, Christine Karnofsky, Dale Smith and Larry Wodarski; utilized community input for initial design
Hired Lefrancois Engineering as Project Manager
LA studio completed landscape architecture drawings
Successfully engaged agency partners
Submitted preliminary plans to NDOT
Inclined to Bloom
Pots and Plants
Hanging baskets in Village Center and Christmas Tree Village
Railing planters and wooden planters in Raleys Incline Center
Terra cotta pots at 3 bus shelters, watered by Rotary club
Dancing with Daffodils
* Community planted 7,000 daffodil bulbs in high-visibility locations
Community-driven Projects that promote Walkability
Gathering Place below Crosby’s at Christmas Tree Village
Sierra Giving Circle partnership with Incline Tahoe Foundation
Kick-off Roots to Revitalization Community Dinner in September
Raised $230,000 for Beautification projects
2026 Plans:
STRATEGIC GOALS
Create a visually appealing town center (placemaking)
Revitalize commercial core
Align community around a common goal(beautification)
TRANSFORMATIVE STRATEGY: BEAUTIFICATION
2025 was a pivotal year for Main Street. The Gateway Roundabout project with aesthetic and safety improvements got underway, under the direction of Lefrancois Engineering and the Main Street design team. Inclined to Bloom pots and hanging baskets were installed. A Gathering Place was built below Crosby’s at Christmas Tree village driven by the center with a grant from Main Street. The Sierra Giving Circle was established with partner Incline Tahoe Foundation. $230,000 in private donations has been obtained for beautification projects.
Garden with Purpose: Fire-Adapted Landscaping & Community Resources
February 10, 2026 | Member Submitted
Below are events we received which might be of interest to you. We are seeking community members who would be able to attend the Fire Adapted Community Conference on February 23/24. (See the link below)
Check out our recent landscaping presentation with UCCE Master Gardeners and North Tahoe Fire- How to Select Appropriate Plants for Fire Adapted Landscapinghttps://youtu.be/Q0dlYzZeiSE?si=2hs2nUSnSjfRAu5t
Role of the IVCBA board relative to Incline Village Main Street
Provides legal entity, administrative tasks, and paid leadership (2026)
Final approval of all projects
Representation on the Executive Team and projects
Incline Village Main Street Committee strategic priorities:
Revitalization
Civic engagement
Goals:
Revitalize commercial core
Create a visually appealing town image
Align the community around a common goal
Components of Incline Village Main Street
Executive Team
Project leads
Stakeholders
Agency liaisons
EXECUTIVE TEAM: Project leads and IVCBA Executive Committee
Tasks:
Initiate new projects
Review community-driven projects
Funding
Grant distribution
Chair: Linda Offerdahl, staff
IVCBA Exec committee(Mike, Sheila, Jason)
Partner/ITF rep: Dolores Holets
Gateway Roundabout Improvements:Steve Porten
Inclined to Bloom: Christine Karnofsky
Public art: no lead identified
Stakeholders
Agency Liaisons
Washoe County: Asst Mgr Dave Solaro/Eric Crump/Commission Chair Hill
NDOT: John L’Etoile
IVGID: GM Bob Harrison/Board Chair Tonking and Engineering Director Kate Nelson
TRPA:
STANDING COMMITTEES/PROJECT LEADS
Gateway Roundabout improvements
Linda Offerdahl, staff
Steve Porten
Christine Karnofsky
Dale Smith
Larry Wodarski
Jason Jurss
IVCBA: Mike Young
Mike Lefrancois, Civil Engineering
Inclined to Bloom (pots and plants, daffodils)
Linda Offerdahl, staff
Christine Karnofsky
Christine Schoenthaler(ITF)
Larry Wodarski
Jason Jurss
Noon Rotary Club: Lu Sweeny
Morning Rotary club: Bryan Foertsch, Chris Slowinski, Harlan Rodriguez, Robert/Debbie Esser, Kay Lehr
Public Art Committee (no lead person identified yet)
Goal: Establish placemaking symbols and guidelines for public art and research opportunities like the Incline Library Art: teddy bear, and roundabout bronzes
Joe Atack (possible chair)
Rick Parsons, UNRLT
Sara Smith,Jacquie Chandler, David Colley, Amanda McPhaill, Marty Gollery,
Community-driven beautification projects:
Holiday lighting: Linda, Sheila(community tree)
Gathering Place at Christmas Tree Village: Russell Jones/Tony Robinson
Seasonal decor such as scarecrows, snowmen, and town mascot bears?
Bus shelters: Sheila Leijon
Incline Library: Outdoor education and trail (on hold): Amanda McPhaill
Future projects approved by the Executive Committee
Sierra Giving Circle through Incline Tahoe Foundation (partner MOU)
Goal: Raise funds through events and grants for Beautification projects
Roots to Revitalization Dinner Team: Linda Offerdahl, Sheila Leijon, Dolores Holets, Julene Hunter, Denise Menzies, and Simi Balter.
Community Stakeholders:
Washoe County: Alexis Hill and Dave Solaro
IVGID: Bob Harrison, Kate Nelson,
WCSO? Captain Cola
NLTFPD: Chief Sommers or representative
IVCHF: Louis Ward/Karli Bunnell
NDOT: John L’Toile
TNTNV: Andy Chapman/Greg Long
Casino resorts
Steve Tomkovicz, Incline Bowl
Greg Flanders(business and property owner, developer )
Gary Kasden (property owner)
Tim Kane(Canopy property manager)
Hoskins Landscape contractor and Jamie Lima
Tony Robinson
Russell Jones
Scott Dutcher
Elise Fett
Millie and John Szerman
Jeff Rosenbloom
Steve and Maren Ross (IV Enhancement Fund)
Steve Blaney(business owner, Incliner??)
Service clubs: Rotary/AAUW/Vets club: current president
