Description

At last the lake burst upon us-a noble sheet of blue water lifted six thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and walled in by a rim of snow-clad mountain peaks that towered aloft three thousand feet higher still. As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface, I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole world affords. Mark Twain 1861. On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to extend to you a very warm welcome to The Border House at Crystal Bay Casino.

The Border House has a vibrant history which stretches back to the 1920s. The Lodge was built in 1927 by Larry McElvy of Truckee and named La Vada Lodge later known as the Cal Vada Lodge. The elegant lodge consisted of two buildings and was frequented by many celebrities of the time. Later, the La Vada Lodge was sold to San Francisco businessman and band leader Tom Guerin along with, Andrew Desimone, Frank Grannis and Bernie Einstoss of the Riverside Hotel.

The Club was renamed Bal Taberin after Tom Guerins San Francisco Bal Taberin. At the time, Frank Gannis and Bernie Einstoss were leasing the restaurant, casino, and famous Skyroom at the Mapes Hotel in Reno. Liberace, Ted Lewis, Sophie Tucker, and the superstar Sammy Davis, Jr., all performed at the Skyroom and visited Tahoes beautiful North Shore. Mel Torme was the headliner at the Bal Taberin in Lake Tahoe.

It is rumored that the reason Charles Mapes bought out the last three years of the contract was because of Frank Gannis and Bernie Eintoss involvement with the Bal Taberin and the subsequent conflict of interest. Einstoss and his partners purchased the remainder of the Cal Vada Lodge, which is the present day Crystal View Plaza. The Bal Taberin at Tahoe was later sold to Meta and Lincoln Fitzgerald in 1959. It was operated during the summer of 1960 then permanently closed.

The building was later sold to the Nevada Lodge, now the Tahoe Biltmore.