TAKE A STEP BACK INTO HISTORY
Gilmore Family at Spring, 1896 Glen Alpine Springs is a living museum of actual buildings and artifacts from one of the first leisure resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. The120-year-old resort is nestled in a Sierra Mountain canyon close to Fallen Leaf Lake in El Dorado County, California. It is a rustic and beautiful retreat that sits on the entrance to the U.S.Forest Service Desolation Valley Wilderness.
To help you locate Glen Alpine Springs, a MAP on another page shows directions how to get to Glen Alpine and other maps show the location of the buildings of 120 years ago and what survives today.
WARNING ABOUT ACCESS
Glen Alpine Springs is accessible only by foot.
See information at TOURS below.
Early photo of the Spring DISCOVERED 1863
The "Soda Spring" was discovered in 1863 by Nathan Gilmore who built the resort in 1884. Very popular from the late 1890s through the 1930s, families came to relax in the cool mountains and lakes of the region and enjoy the "curing" properties of the spring water.
Guests came by rail, steamboat, stagecoach or automobile. Living in the hotel, cabins, or tents, guests' meals were elegantly served on fine china and white linen tablecloths in dining rooms.
Fortunately besides the barn built in 1900, some of the existing buildings at Glen Alpine were designed in 1922 by the famous architect Bernard Maybeck, who created the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1915 World Exposition in San Francisco.

Left, a photo of the pagoda over the "Soda Spring" by Arthur Kinney, 1905.
THE RESORT TODAY
Glen Alpine Springs as a resort closed in 1967. However, the facility is available for tours and special events such as dinners, artist camps, weddings and other one-day social occasions. (Dates and tour information listed below.)
Located at the entrance of U.S. Forest Service Desolation Wilderness, hikers follow a trail that leads directly through Glen Alpine Springs.

The air is clean.
The flowers abundant.
The hills always glorious.
The Springs still bubble away.

 		Assembly Hall at Glen Alpine
Above, the Maybeck-designed Assembly Hall
doubles as an Interpretive Center today.
Dining Hall at Glen Alpine
Above, the Maybeck-designed Dining Hall.
Currently used for special events and tours.
ABOUT HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
The Historical Preservation of Glen Alpine Springs, Inc. is a tax deductible, charitable organization established under Section 501(c) (3), a California corporation and is responsible for maintenance and restoration activities of the buildings and facilities.
FUNDING
Funding for projects are through donations and fund raising activities. All work, maintenance and on-site personnel are performed by volunteers.
MISSION STATEMENT
A non-profit corporation working in conjunction with the United States Forest Service (USFS) to preserve, restore and interpret for educational purposes, the national and historical resources at Glen Alpine Springs, El Dorado County, California.
CORPORATION GOALS
It's the goal of the Historical Preservation of Glen Alpine organization to preserve what remains of the resort so that visitors and tourists can step back in time to experience the resort as it appeared years ago. Unfortunately the Maybeck-designed buildings need structural renovation and trails need to be re-found and cleared. A re-creation of tent cabins and exhibits of late 18th and early 19th century would ensure those who follow us can walk the same paths under those same trees and visit the still-bubbling spring.

Glen Alpine Springs is accessible only by foot!
Hikers must walk 2-miles on a very rocky road up another 350 feet in elevation to reach the old resort. It is strongly recommended visitors wear hiking shoes, bring their own water and food, mosquito repellent and a handy walking stick. Because Glen Alpine is within a National Forest, you are required to adhere to all the rules of the U.S. Forest Service.
WALK UP TOURS
The trail leading to Glen Alpine Springs and the U.S. Forest Service, Desolation WildernessTrail, begins at Lily Lake where all cars must park. All visitors to the Wilderness are required to register with the Forest Service. Glen Alpine Springs is generally available for visitors from mid June to the end of September under the care of on-sight docents. (Thebuildings are boarded up for the winter snows.) The Interpretive Center, manned by volunteers, is open from 10:30 to 3:30 daily. Guided tours of the grounds and buildings are available at 1 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday in the summer season (Mid June through September).


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