Aside from being one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe also has a unique and fascinating history. It is one that local musician and storyteller Darin Talbot hopes to share with visitors and locals in his latest production, “Around Tahoe.”

The two-disc album features 19 stories about the lake’s history, 22 original songs and eight tracks called “Cool Spots” that tell listeners about places to eat and shop, or things to see off the beaten path.

Talbot said the album was inspired by his love and knowledge of the lake.

“It sort of happened by chance,” he said. “I didn’t really plan on making this, although it doesn’t surprise me that I thought of it because my love for Lake Tahoe is sort of an obsession,” he said.

The idea came while he was working on the Tahoe Queen six times a week, telling stories and singing songs for its patrons.

“Tahoe is the most beautiful lake in the world and so that means that the history is compelling because it’s so pretty, that it’s such a magnet and a draw, that we have these great stories,” he said.

Some of the more fascinating stories involve the eccentric and not so eccentric people who have made the lake a home, Talbot said.

“It’s unreal what a magnet the lake has been for famous people, people who became famous or infamous for the way they lived here,” he said.

Some of his favorite tales involve historical people like the Hermit of Emerald Bay — Captain Dick Barter. Barter is said to have been the first resident of Emerald bay. Barter, aka “Captain Dick,” was an Englishman who moved to Emerald Bay in 1863 and worked for the Overland Stage Company as an undertaker. He made his home on the shores of Emerald Bay and lived there for 10 years. Talbot said Captain Dick was known for his visits off Fannette Island for whiskey. He lived alone and died in 1873.

Another one of Talbot’s favorite stories involves Snowshoe Thompson — John A. Thompson — an early resident of the Sierra Nevada of Nevada and California. Between 1856 and 1876, he delivered mail between Placerville, Calif. and Genoa, Nev. and later Virginia City, Nev. He traveled with 10-foot skis, and a single sturdy pole generally held in both hands at once. Despite his 20 years of service, he was never paid for delivering the mail.

Talbot said there was plenty of material for the discs.

“It’s not hard figuring out what to put in it but what to leave out,” he said.

The tour works in time as you drive around the lake and there is an informative tour map that you follow inside the CD case.



Talbot said to get the timing of the discs right, he drove around the lake about a dozen times. He continuously edited the disc to make sure the information fit in time with the drive.

Traffic and construction were two things that Talbot also took into consideration when timing the disc.

“They say that Tahoe has two seasons — winter and construction,” Talbot said.

Talbot said he also tried to drive the lake as a visitor would.

“I tried to drive the lake as a tourist would drive it,” he said. “I tried to drive it slowly and I tried very hard to keep my average speed around 40 miles per hour.”

He also wanted to make sure that the album was something people would keep with them after they listened to it the first time.

“Rather than it being just a guy saying ‘now you’re going to see this and now you’re going to see that,’ I wanted it to be something that would entertain and educate people,” Talbot said. “I wanted them to be really proud of the product.”

But even though Talbot kept visitors in mind when designing the album, he thinks that locals will also enjoy the many stories and songs it has to offer.

“I have no doubt that any local is going to learn something they didn’t know about the lake,” he said.

The driving tour guide is the first in a trilogy of history based tour guides.

Talbot said he is busy at work designing the second tour guide that focuses on the history of skiing in Tahoe as well as boating. The skiing tour guide will be out by the end of November and the boating is set for the summer of 2009.

“Around Tahoe” can be purchased at many locations around the lake including: South Lake Tahoe’s Village Wear-Ski Run Marina, Montbleu Gift Shop, and True Value; Incline Village’s Seven-11, Chevron, Village Square Family, Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors Center, Grog & Grist, and Harbor House at Sand Harbor; Zephyr Cove’s Zephyr Cove Gift Shop; Crystal Bay’s Made in Tahoe and Cal Neva Resort; and Tahoe Vista’s Captain Jon’s Restaurant.

Talbot said the disc will be coming soon to Raley’s in Incline Village.