Sugar Pine Point Light, Lighthouse at Lake Tahoe, California, United States.
Sugar Pine Point Light is a small post light on a steel mast on the western shore of Lake Tahoe, within Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. The original tower no longer stands; the present beacon has a focal height of 4.5 m and gives one white flash every 4 seconds, running on solar power.
In 1921 commercial interests lobbied to move the light from Rubicon Point to Sugar Pine Point, proposing a small frame tower like Rubicon's with the same characteristic light. The light was built but discontinued in 1935, then relit the next year at a cost of $590.52. Since 1985 a simple beacon on a steel mast, solar-powered, has marked the site.
The light's name comes from the surrounding Sugar Pine Point, and the site lies within Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. The original wooden tower took over the light from Rubicon Point when that station was deactivated in 1921, so the same characteristic light continued to guide lake traffic from a new spot.
The beacon is visible from the adjacent state park and easiest to reach from the water or nearby viewpoints on shore. The best time to visit is from June through September when the lake is clear and trails around the area are accessible.
The light sat at over 6,200 feet above sea level, making it the highest lighthouse in the United States. It was discontinued in 1935, then relit the following year at a cost of $590.52. Since 1985 a simple beacon on a steel mast has marked the site.
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