0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica">Fannette Island lies off the southwestern shores of Lake Tahoe in the middle of Emerald Bay, a shallow inlet whose name is derived form its brilliant green waters. Picturesque Fannette is the only island in Lake Tahoe, a natural wonder of rocky terrain, centuries old pines and cedars and hundreds of native birds. Fannette, now part of Emerald Bay State Park, originally was part of the estate of Mrs. Lora Knight, a wealthy socialite in the Roaring '20s heyday of Lake Tahoe. Knight and her husband were philanthropists who made large gifts to youth groups and various charities in the Tahoe Basin. They also were major financial backers for Charles Lindbergh's historic Atlantic ocean crossing. The Knight summer home on the white sandy shores of Lake Tahoe was a 38-room mansion called Vikingsholm, built in 1929 as a replica of alpine castles found in the fjords of Norway. The only building ever constructed on Fannette Island was Mrs. Knight's stone teahouse perched atop the island's highest elevation, 150 feet of glacial rock that rose from the floor of the bay. Knight and her friends would row to the island for afternoon tea, conversation and relaxation, looking out over the bay at boaters and swimmer's enjoying the area's exquisite natural beauty. Prior to the era of Vikingsholm, Fannette was home to the Hermit of Emerald Bay, Captain Dick "Thems-my-toes" Barter from 1863-1873. Barter was a British sailor who got his nickname from showing his amputated toes to friends and strangers at every opportunity. He built a tomb on Fannette where he hoped to be buried, but unfortunately he died in a storm at sea and his body was never recovered. Fannette Island today is maintained as a Natural Natural Landmark by the U.S. Park Service. Boaters can pull ashore, hike the island and reach the ruins of Mrs. Knight's teahouse by footpath. Those seeking adventure can jump of rocks into the glistening green bay 6,378 feet above sea level.
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