Leaving the city of South Lake Tahoe (El Dorado County) and the Golden State of California, eastbound U.S. 50 enters unincorporated Stateline, a community of Douglas County in the Silver State of Nevada. Greeting us along U.S. 50 east are a pair of casinos, both owned currently by Harrahs: Harvey's Casino on the left (north) side and Harrah's Lake Tahoe on the right (south) side. Photo taken 07/20/09.
A planned redevelopment project will move U.S. 50 from this alignment between the two casinos to Lake Parkway, which would enable the route to bypass the casinos to the south. Harvey's Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino and Harrah's Lake Tahoe have a bit of history at this location. Although these two casinos were built as competitors, today they are both owned by Harrah's. Harvey and Llewellyn Gross opened Harvey's in 1944, built the first high-rise tower in 1961, and were bought by Harrah's in 2001. The neighboring Harrah's opened in 1955, and its high-rise tower (with 18 stories with top-level restaurant with lake views) opened in 1973. Photo taken 07/20/09.
A left turn leads to Harveys parking garage, while a right connects to Harrahs parking garage. Photo taken 07/20/09.
Eastbound U.S. 50 approaches the Montbleu casino, which is located just east of Harrahs Lake Tahoe on the south side of U.S. 50. Photo taken 07/20/09.
The Montbleu casino marquee dominates the view of U.S. 50. Photo taken 07/08/07.
The next traffic signal along U.S. 50 east connects with Lake Parkway. Once U.S. 50 is realigned, it will follow Lake Parkway to the south and then west around the casinos. Photo taken 07/08/07.
Continuing east, U.S. 50 approaches the intersection with Nevada 207/Kingsbury Grade east to Minden and Gardnerville in the Carson Valley. Photo taken 07/08/07.
While Nevada 207 turns right to cross Daggett Pass en route to Carson Valley, U.S. 50 turns to the northeast to pass Zephyr Cove and Spooner Summit on its way to Nevada's capital, Carson City. Photos taken 07/08/07 and 07/23/09.
Eastbound U.S. 50 meets Nevada 207/Kingsbury Grade to Minden and Gardnerville at this signalized intersection. Photo taken 07/08/07.
Immediately thereafter, eastbound U.S. 50 meets Kahle Drive at this intersection. Between the state line and the Cave Rock Tunnels, U.S. 50 passes through the unincorporated community of Kingsbury (population of 2,624 as of the 2000 Census). Photo taken 07/24/09.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Zephyr Cove (three miles), Spooner Junction (Nevada 28, 12 miles), and Carson City (U.S. 395, 24 miles). Photo taken 07/24/09.
Eastbound U.S. 50 approaches Lake Village Drive. It is common in Nevada to see guide signs on state highways pointing the way to local schools. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Turning northeast, U.S. 50 proceeds along the southeastern shore of Lake Tahoe. The federal highway sees at least two lanes in each direction from the state line all the way to the U.S. 395 junction in Carson City. Photo taken 07/24/09.
The next intersection along U.S. 50 is Junction Nevada 760/Elks Point Road west to Nevada Beach. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Nevada Beach is a long (0.7-mile) strip of sand that features swimming, camping, and picnicking. Nevada 760 is a very short state highway that connects U.S. 50 with the campground and beach. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Eastbound U.S. 50 meets Nevada 760/Elks Point Road west to Nevada Beach and east for local access. The state route is unsigned from U.S. 50, but a Nevada 760 trailblazer is posted on westbound Elks Point Road. Photo taken 07/24/09.
The next left connects eastbound U.S. 50 with Round Hill Pines Beach. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Leaving the vicinity of Nevada Beach, eastbound U.S. 50 next approaches Zephyr Cove, another popular beach. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Eastbound U.S. 50 approaches Lakeview Drive (next right) and Lakeshore Drive (next left). These roads provide local and residential access. Photo taken 07/24/09.
After the Lakeshore Drive and Presbyterian Drive intersections, eastbound U.S. 50 sees a sharp curve with 30-mile-per-hour suggested speed. Photo taken 07/24/09.
The next traffic signal along U.S. 50 east is the entrance to Zephyr Cove. This is another popular swimming and camping area. In addition, Zephyr Cove has a cruise ship terminal for the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II; these two ships travel multiple times daily between Zephyr Cove and Emerald Bay. Limited lodging is also available at the resort. Photo taken 07/24/09.
The next right turn connects U.S. 50 to Warrior Way en route to Zephyr Cove Park and George Whittell High School. Photo taken 07/24/09.
This view looks northeast on U.S. 50 after the Warrior Way intersection. Photo taken 07/24/09.
This mileage sign along U.S. 50 east provides the distance to Glenbrook (four miles), Carson City (22 miles), and Reno (52 miles via U.S. 395 north). Photo taken 07/24/09.
The next left from eastbound U.S. 50 connects to Tahoe Drive, which serves a small residential community between U.S. 50 and the lake. Photo taken 07/24/09.
Passing through the unincorporated community of Glenbrook, eastbound U.S. 50 approaches Cave Rock Drive. Photo taken 07/09/07.
U.S. 50 approaches and passes through the Cave Rock Tunnels between Glenbrook and Zephyr Cove. The tunnels consists of two separate bores, one for eastbound and the other for westbound traffic. The original tunnel is the westbound tunnel, and it was built in 1931. The eastbound tunnel was built in 1957.1 Photos taken 07/09/07.
Leaving the Cave Rock Tunnels behind, eastbound U.S. 50 again sees an undivided expressway configuration. Northeast of the tunnels, U.S. 50 has limited development on the roadside. Photo taken 07/09/07.
U.S. 50 will retain this configuration (of four lanes with no center divider) for much of the way between Cave Rock and Spooner Summit. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Eastbound U.S. 50 approaches Junction Nevada 28 north to Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Nevada 28 will continue the loop tour around Lake Tahoe, connecting with California 28 and then ending at California 89 in Tahoe City. Photo taken 07/09/07.
A left turn connects eastbound U.S. 50 with Nevada 28 north to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and Incline Village. U.S. 50 again turns east to descend into Carson City. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Use Nevada 28 northwest to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Spooner Lake, and Sand Harbor. Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park prserves a significant section of Lake Tahoe shoreline between Spooner Junction and Incline Village. Photo taken 07/09/07.
U.S. 50 reaches Spooner Junction, elevation 7,146 feet above sea level. Immediately after this sign is a brake check vehicle before the steep descent into Carson City. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Leaving Spooner Junction, U.S. 50 starts a downhill trek between Spooner Summit and Carson City. The highway sees a fairly high rate of speed due to the steep grade toward Carson City. Watch for traffic congestion and slow downhill traffic. Photos taken 07/09/07.
Continuing downhill, U.S. 50 leaves Douglas County and enters the city and county of Carson City, the Nevada state capital (population 52,457 as of the 2000 Census, founded in 1858). Photos taken 07/09/07.
A runaway truck ramp is located along the way downhill for those vehicles unable to stop. The old alignment of U.S. 50 is found in Clear Creek Canyon south of U.S. 50. Photos taken 07/09/07.
This series of photos follows U.S. 50 east between Spooner Summit and Carson City in early 1999 prior to the installation of the median barriers. Photos taken 1/99.
U.S. 50 descends into Carson City. The next major intersection will be with U.S. 395/Carson Street. Photo taken 01/99.
Eastbound U.S. 50 approaches its junction with U.S. 395 south to Minden-Gardnerville and Business U.S. 395/Carson Street north to Carson City and Reno at the next traffic signal. Since the U.S. 50-395 (Interstate 580) Carson City Bypass was not complete at the time this picture was taken, the signage only shows U.S. 395. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Use U.S. 395 south to Genoa, Minden, Gardnerville, Topaz Lake, and Bishop. The federal highway is mostly expressway south into Minden, but it reverts to a two-lane rural highway south of Gardnerville. From there south into California, U.S. 395/Three Flags Highway follows the Eastern Sierra corridor to the Owens Valley, Mojave Desert, and eventually Southern California. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Eastbound U.S. 50 meets U.S. 395 at this traffic signal. When completed in 2014, Interstate 580/Carson City Bypass will connect to U.S. 50 and U.S. 395 at this point. It is likely that this intersection would become an interchange at that time. For now, through traffic on U.S. 50 should turn left here to follow Carson Street (Nevada 529) north into Carson City, then take William Street (Nevada 530) east toward Virginia City, Dayton, and Fallon. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Temporary U.S. 50 (Nevada 530)/William Street east
This view looks east from the intersection of Carson Street and William Street in downtown Carson City. U.S. 50 follows William Street straight ahead, leaving town en route to Dayton and Fallon. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Departing from the intersection with Carson Street (Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 529), eastbound U.S. 50/William Street (Nevada 530) sees this reference marker indicating the western mileage at the intersection. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Leaving downtown Carson City and approaching the bypass, eastbound U.S. 50/William Street (Nevada 530) approaches its junction with Interstate 580 and U.S. 395. While this photo shows the U.S. 395 south exit closed, it has since opened to traffic as far south as Fairview Drive. Photo taken 07/23/09.
U.S. 50 east
After the interchange with Interstate 580 and U.S. 395, this mileage sign provides the distance to Mound House (three miles), Junction Nevada 341 north (five miles), and Fallon (58 miles). Omitted is Dayton. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Nearing Mound House, U.S. 50 turns a bit to the northeast. The intersection with Nevada 341 is a short distance ahead. Photo taken 07/23/09.
U.S. 50 passes under the V&T (Virginia and Truckee) Railroad tracks, which are being restored for a tourist train between Carson City and Virginia City. Photo taken 07/23/09.
U.S. 50 enters the community of Mound House, which is located within Carson City. Photo taken 07/23/09.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Junction Nevada 341 north (two miles), Dayton (five miles), and Fallon (55 miles). Photo taken 07/23/09.
After leaving Carson City and entering Lyon County, eastbound U.S. 50/Lincoln Highway approaches the turnoff to Virginia City via Nevada 341 north. Continue east on U.S. 50 to Dayton, Silver Springs, and Fallon. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Skipping far ahead ... eastbound U.S. 50 approaches the unincorporated township of Eureka, the seat of Eureka County. The township sits at an elevation of 6,481 feet above sea level, was first settled in 1864, and had a population of 1,103 as of the 2000 Census. A "Loneliest Road" sign is posted as we approach Eureka. Photo taken 06/20/10 by Mark Galbreath.
A replica Lincoln Highway marker is posted on eastbound U.S. 50 prior to entering Eureka. Located in the Diamond Mountains, downtown Eureka has several historical structures, some of which date back to the 1800s. The economy of the area is based on mining. Photo taken 06/20/10 by Mark Galbreath.
East of Eureka, eastbound U.S. 50 passes through a valley as it approaches the distant Little Antelope Pass between Eureka and Ely. Even a valley vista provides a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape along the Loneliest Highway. Photo taken by Ian Yates, 11/01/04.
U.S. 6 and U.S. 50 east
U.S. 6 and U.S. 50 east; U.S. 93 south
After departing the city of Ely, eastbound U.S. 6-50 and southbound U.S. 93 plies through the scenic Great Basin near Connors Pass. Empty scenes such as this one are common, and traffic is minimal. The next town of significance along U.S. 6-50 is Baker, near Great Basin National Park. U.S. 93 will split from U.S. 6-50 at Majors Place, then follow the Great Basin Highway south toward Pioche in Lincoln County. Photo taken by Ian Yates, 11/01/04.
Eastbound U.S. 6-50 and U.S. 93 split here, at Majors Place. This photo, taken by Michael Summa, shows original Nevada signage that is no longer in use. Photo date unknown, presumably late 1970s.
U.S. 6 and U.S. 50 east
After the Nevada 487 intersection near Baker, U.S. 6-50 leave the state of Nevada and enter the state of Utah. Photo taken 07/01/10 by Mark Galbreath.
Sources:
City Concierge: Lake Tahoe, accessed 01/21/10 - "Cave Rock is still considered today a sacred site to the Washoe Indians. ... Much to the dismay of the Washoe tribe the first tunnel for Highway 50 was blasted through the rock in 1931. Prior to 1931 the original single lane roadway went around the outside of the rock. The stone foundation for the road, laid at great expense in 1865, is still easily visible clinging to the side of the rock. The second, easternmost tunnel was added in 1957."
