Incline Village in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, February 28, 2008

1. The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada Marker

Inscription. Located on the mountain above are the remnants of the "Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Completed in 1880, this 4,000 foot long lift was constructed by the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company. A unique steam-powered cable railway carried cordwood and lumber up 1,800 feet to a V flume which carried the lumber down to Washoe Valley where it was loaded on wagons for use in the mines of the Comstock. Driven by an engine on the summit, 8,000 continuous feet of wire cable, wrapped around massive bull wheels pulled canted cars up a double track tramline. This engineering feat would transport up to 300 cords a day from the mill located in what is now Mill Creek.

Erected by Nevada Division of Historical Preservation & Archeology and Incline Village Rotary Club. (Marker Number 246.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West, and the Rotary International series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 39° 14.203′ N, 119° 55.725′ W.

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Marker is in Incline Village, Nevada, in Washoe County. It is on Tahoe Boulevard (Nevada Route 28) 0.2 miles north of Ponderosa Ranch Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Incline Village NV 89451, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada,

in the Lake Tahoe Basin,

and in Greater Reno Area.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Fairest Picture (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sand Harbor (approx. 2½ miles away); Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe - Two Men Stake a Timber Claim (approx. 4.4 miles away in California); Franktown (approx. 5.3 miles away); Rusty Relics (approx. 5.7 miles away); Horses to Horsepower (approx. 5.7 miles away); Bowers Mansion (approx. 5.7 miles away); History in the Making (approx. 5.7 miles away).

Also see . . . Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company.

Former location of of "The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, February 28, 2008

2. Former location of of "The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada" Marker

An article by Gordon Richards detailing the history of the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Company. (Submitted on May 7, 2016.)

Marker Relocated image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 22, 2022

3. Marker Relocated

Sometime between 2008 and 2022, the marker was moved from private property to the public right-of-way.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 1,656 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 3. submitted on November 5, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.