Zephyr Cove is kicking off summer with a Wild West Weekend, June 12-13, which will include a line-up of western-themed festivities. “This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Mark Twain, who significantly influenced the public’s perception of Lake Tahoe as the jewel of the Sierras in Northern California,” said Austin Sass, director of sales and marketing, Zephyr Cove Resort and Lake Tahoe Cruises. “The Wild West Weekend will be a fun, family-friendly event that takes our guests back to the days of the American Old West, while preserving the history of Mark Twain and the early years of Lake Tahoe among the younger generations.”

Zephyr Cove's Wild West Weekend kicks off with a Pie Eating Competition. For a $5.00 registration fee you could win great prizes and find out how many cherry pies can you eat in 20 minutes. Winners will be determined by an event manager and McAvoy Layne, the popular Mark Twain impressionist. The contest prizes include cabin stays at Zephyr Cove, snowmobile sleds, scenic day cruises and a dinner cruise.

Located on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe just four miles from Stateline, Nevada, Zephyr Cove Resort & Marina has been a historic recreational destination for more than a century, and today offers everything from camping and lakeside cabins to snowmobiling, boating and cruises to Emerald Bay. The Zephyr Cove Marina, which offers a host of boat and watercraft rentals, also serves as the departure point for the M.S. Dixie II, voted “Best of Tahoe,” and offering daily cruises ranging from the historic breakfast buffet, champagne brunch, sightseeing and dinner/dance cruise.

When not enjoying the resort's amenities or recreation activities, you can slip over and join the Chili Cook-Off that showcases the best of Tahoe’s amateur chefs as they compete for first, second and third place prizes, as well as an award for “Best Booth.” The top three prizes, which include cash and lodging at Zephyr Cove Resort, will be granted based on texture, flavor, consistency, spice and taste, aroma, color and people’s choice. The “Best Booth” award will be determined by popular vote and judged on the basis of its compliance with the festival’s overall western theme. Participants must pay a $15 fee per each chili dish entered.

Stick around for Mark Twain’s Wild West Bold-Faced Liars Contest that starts at 1:30 p.m.. Now is a chance for all fibbers, truth stretchers, and bold-faced liars to take the stage and see how far they can stretch the truth. The contest prizes include cabin stays at Zephyr Cove, snowmobile sleds, scenic day cruises and a dinner cruise. Later in the evening is the Mark Twain Lecture Dinner at the special events site at 6 p.m. Priced at $100 per person, the dinner includes a four-course meal and features guest speakers Robert Stewart, author of Aurora, Nevada’s Ghost City of Dawn, and Robert Hirst, general editor and official curator of the Mark Twain Project and Papers. Stewart will address Mark Twain’s route through Lake Tahoe and announce the arrival of Clemens Cove and Hirst will discuss the release of Mark Twain’s autobiography that had been withheld for the past 100 years. All proceeds from the two-and-a-half-hour event will benefit the preservation of Mark Twain’s history.

Other highlights of this festivities over the weekend include the High Noon Western Shoot Out, cowboy poetry reading, skits featuring a cast of vibrant characters from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and music from the Old West. Kids can enjoy the Kid’s Zone at the special events site, which will include a bounce house, a 22-foot slide and booths with jugglers, face painters, story-tellers and more. On Sunday, June 13, guests can cheer on either the M.S. Dixie II or Tahoe Queen in the annual Great Lake Tahoe Paddlewheeler Race, which begins at 10:15 a.m. on the lake. Zephyr Cove Resort will also host a kids’ triathlon to wrap up the weekend festivities.

Plan Your Trip

The event is free for the general public to attend, with the exception of the Mark Twain Lecture Dinner. Competitions require a minimal participation fee. To learn more about Zephyr Cove's other events and plan your trip visit http://www.zephyrcove.com/marktwain2010 or call (866) 761-6240.

To learn more about booking a getaway at Zephyr Cove Resort & Marina visit www.zephyrcove.com.

To learn more about current events, attractions, and plan your getaway to Reno-Tahoe visit the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority http://www.visitrenotahoe.com.

Visit the Nevada Commission on Tourism at http://travelnevada.com/ to view more getaway options across the state of Nevada.

 

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