Spooner Lake State Park to close Monday for new construction

Work on a new visitor center and amphitheater at Spooner Lake will require the parking lot and main entrance to close until early September.

“A temporary park closure is necessary to protect the safety of park visitors due to the presence of open trenches and heavy equipment operations,” state parks officials said Thursday.

Spooner Lake is located in far northwestern Douglas County.

The main entrance, parking areas and front country will be closed to public access beginning Monday and are anticipated to re-open in early September.

The Spooner backcountry and trails will not be affected and will remain open.

“However, park visitors are advised that there is no trailhead access, parking or facilities available at Spooner Lake,” officials said.

The new Visitor Center and Amphitheater at Spooner Lake will serve as the heart of Spooner's natural and cultural history programs and ranger-led hikes and tours, as well as provide an immersive environmental education and science venue for students. “The project will also serve as a major portal to the expansive and spectacular non-motorized primitive wilderness within the Lake Tahoe Basin,” officials said.

This project is part of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program and is a public-private collaboration between the Nevada Division of State Parks, the Nevada Division of State Lands, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, the Washoe Tribe, and the Tahoe Fund. It is made possible by public bond funds, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Nevada Lake Tahoe License Plate Program, as well as the generous donations made through the Tahoe Fund by individuals and foundations who want to help ensure a sustainable Lake Tahoe for future generations.

Visit parks.nv.gov for more information about the Spooner Lake and Backcountry portion of the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.