Historic Tahoe Trout Farm faced with off-site sign challenge

The year was 1946. The President was Harry S. Truman, "It's a Wonderful Life" was in the theaters and a stamp cost three cents. It was also the year the Tahoe Trout Farm opened in South Lake Tahoe.

This business, located off of Lake Tahoe Blvd on Blue Lake Avenue, was the topic of the South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission's meeting on August 13.

In an effort to "Clean Up Highway 50," the City's sign ordinance is meant to get rid of the blight and unattractive signage that visitors and locals see each day they travel the main artery through town.

Seeing the story about the sign ordinance and how local businesses should contact the Services Center to see if they comply to the rules, Jim Vallier did just that and called.

Vallier owns the Tahoe Trout Farm and it has not only a sign in front of the business, but a seasonal sign in front of the American Legion Hall where it has rested for decades. He was very surprised to find out that this sign was not in compliance and was told it had to go.

"My business would suffer if this sign were to go," said Vallier. "Many of my customers tell me that seeing this sign is how they found me."

During his appeal to the Planning Commission, Vallier said he'd redesign the sign to make it fit to what the City wanted, but it wasn't the design that they found fault with, it's the fact that it is off-site which is not allowed with the current code.

"None of us can't recall when it wasn't there," said Commissioner Dale Rise after his conversation with many long time locals.

Even though the City of South Lake Tahoe first made the original owner of the Tahoe Trout Farm take down the off-site sign after the city formed in 1965, they allowed it back a short time later. At that time the city was full of freeway sized billboard signs and the new leaders of the community wanted to clean up Highway 50. The trout farm's sign wasn't meant to be a victim of the new ordinance according to a long time local.

After Tuesday's City Council meeting though, it seems like Vallier might have a reprieve from the ordinance. They said they want to look at historical signage and come up with an allowance in the code that would allow signs such as Vallier's that have been in place for so long and have historical significance. They hope to have a chance to look at this addition to the ordinance before the next Planning Commission Meeting on September 10. That is the date they are supposed to vote on Jim Vallier's appeal of the original ruling on his sign.

The Tahoe Trout Farm is ranked up high on lists of family friendly things to do in South Lake Tahoe.

"I get people who come in with their grandkids and great-grandkids to let them experience the same thing they did as children," said Vallier.

Last week the owner of a Napa Valley Winery sent him four cases of wine as a thank you for giving his grandchildren such a great experience.

The 70-year-old Vallier said he even fished there as a 10-year-old.

A Las Vegas PBS show will be in town at the end of August to film the activity at Tahoe Trout Farm, part of a weekly backroad's series on what to do in Lake Tahoe.

During the Commission meeting, commissioner Craig Woodward told Vallier that many business owners would love the exposure the fishing hole gets during the once a week Farmer's Market and that he shouldn't need the sign on Highway 50.

"Farmer's Market is mostly locals, and most of my customers are tourists," Vallier told South Tahoe Now.

This year has been a busy one for the business because of the lack of fishing in many parts of California. On this Tuesday afternoon there were four families fishing, hoping to get some fresh fish for dinner. Local restaurants will help cook the trout up for clients too, in case they are in town without cooking facilities