Featuring the work of artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet, the mural celebrates outdoor recreation and inspires people to take care of Lake Tahoe

Visitors to Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar will now be greeted by a new mural designed to encourage everyone to get outside and help take care of Lake Tahoe. The large-scale exterior piece, painted by artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet and commissioned by the Tahoe Fund, captures and celebrates the beauty and essence of Tahoe’s natural environment. 

The mural and bike racks were made possible by the generous support of Tahoe Fund donors, as part of the organization’s efforts to make it easier to get around, enjoy, and take care of Lake Tahoe. 

“This mural is such a wonderful example of what can happen when we invest in our community and give artists a place to shine,” said Deb Howard, Tahoe Fund board member and longtime South Lake Tahoe resident. “It brings color, creativity and a real sense of place to a building where our community gathers, and is a beautiful reminder that through the power of philanthropy, we can foster greater stewardship and pride in Tahoe while creating the connections and sense of community that make this place so special.”

After issuing a call for artists this spring and receiving over 20 submissions, the Tahoe Fund, Cascade Kitchens, and a panel of reviewers from the local art community selected Anne-Sophie Gaudet’s mural design. In her piece, A Tahoe Day, Gaudet plays off of the bike racks, turning them into a starting point of a winding bike trail that leads viewers into a vibrant Tahoe landscape, inviting viewers to explore the lake, forests, and mountains through the artwork. 

“As a muralist deeply inspired by nature, I was thrilled to design a mural for Cascade Kitchens that captures Tahoe’s outdoor identity while also highlighting the important conservation work of the Tahoe Fund,” said Gaudet. “I hope that this piece will move people to action — whether that’s riding a bike, snapping a photo with the mural, or taking better care of this very special place.” 

Gaudet taught visual art in Palo Alto for seven years before leaving the classroom to start a mural business. Based in the Bay Area, her work focuses on large-scale, nature-inspired designs that bring color and character to public and private spaces. She has created murals across California and beyond, including two in Canada and one in Gerlach, Nevada. Her art celebrates the beauty of the outdoors, often featuring desert landscapes and wildlife. Learn more at www.annesophiegaudet.com. 

Although this one-of-a-kind food hall and community gathering space has only been open for a year, it has quickly become a South Lake staple. With a variety of food, drinks, and entertainment, Cascade Kitchens is more than just a place to eat—it’s a space to gather, graze, and celebrate what makes Tahoe special. Join the Cascade Kitchens community for their first anniversary party on Sunday, September 6th. Learn more at cascadekitchenstahoe.com. 

Paint for the mural was generously supplied by Kelly Brothers Painting. 

Every donation will be matched up to $75,000!

This summer, the Tahoe Fund is teaming up with the California Tahoe Conservancy to support major accessibility improvements at Waterman’s Landing beach in Carnelian Bay. Thanks to the generosity of a Tahoe Fund donor, every donation to the campaign will be matched up to $75,000 to help make this popular recreation site a more accessible place for all people to enjoy Lake Tahoe. 

“Everyone deserves the chance to experience the magic of Lake Tahoe, and now you can help make this a reality for so many, especially those with mobility challenges,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “This amazing matching opportunity means that your donation will go twice as far to transform this beloved beach into an accessible hub for summer activities.” 

Patton Landing Beach, often referred to as Waterman’s Landing, is one of the most visited beaches on Tahoe’s North Shore. It’s a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and is home to adaptive paddling programs run by the Tahoe Waterman Foundation. As part of this project, the California Tahoe Conservancy will be installing a new boardwalk and picnic area, and making upgrades to the facilities. 

“Not enough opportunities exist at Lake Tahoe for people with disabilities to access the water and experience paddling on the Lake,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the Conservancy. “With the Tahoe Waterman Foundation running adaptive paddling programs from this beach, we know that the improvements we make are going to directly benefit this community and make it easier and safer for everyone to enjoy time out on Lake Tahoe.” 

In addition to doubling every donation, the Tahoe Fund is also offering a limited number of engraved bears for a $25,000 donation, and every gift of $1,000 or more will be recognized on site.

Rendering of proposed bear plaques at Waterman’s Landing

Donate today at tahoefund.org/watermanslanding.

250 donors can help unlock a $25,000 matching gift from Barton Health for the Upper Truckee Marsh

The Tahoe Fund and Barton Health have launched an exciting new fundraising campaign to help restore the Upper Truckee Marsh South in South Lake Tahoe—the former site of the Motel 6 property. If 250 community members donate $50 or more to the Match for the Marsh campaign by June 30, Barton Health will unlock an incredible $25,000 matching gift. Every donation will help bring this marsh back to life.

“For years, our partners at Barton Health have worked with us to support projects that improve our local environment,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The public agencies have told us how critical local support is to securing the public funds we need. We hope everyone will jump at the chance to help unlock this generous gift from Barton, because it will have a major impact on one of the most important lake clarity projects in Tahoe.” 

This new opportunity builds on the Tahoe Fund’s recent “Million for the Marsh” campaign, which brought in the first million dollars of private funding to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to restore the marsh. After meeting that million dollar goal in under three months, this new campaign provides another chance for the local community to demonstrate how much this project matters to Tahoe. In addition to having a major impact on lake clarity, these restoration efforts will also improve the natural habitat and enhance public access and recreation opportunities.

“At Barton Health, we know a healthy community is directly tied to a healthy environment, and that’s why we care deeply about being good stewards of Lake Tahoe,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, president and CEO of Barton Health. “Restoring this marsh will not only have important benefits to lake clarity, it will also be a space where our local community members can get outside and enjoy Vitamin Nature.” 

Learn more about the benefits of restoring the Upper Truckee Marsh and contribute to the Match for the Marsh campaign today at tahoefund.org/bartonmatch.

Shuttle service to begin mid-June and run daily through Labor Day

With summer right around the corner, Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), in partnership with public transit provider Via, is bringing back the Emerald Bay Shuttle for an expanded second season. Building on a successful 2025 pilot, this service will once again give visitors and residents a safe, affordable way to reach one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular destinations while reducing traffic congestion and protecting the basin’s natural environment.

“The Emerald Bay Shuttle is a key step toward improving access while protecting one of Tahoe’s most visited destinations,” Jim Marino, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “By providing an easy alternative to driving, we’re helping ease traffic, enhance safety, and preserve the natural experience for everyone.”

The shuttle will run daily from mid-June (start date TBD) through September 7 along two routes. Riders coming from the North or West Shores can pick up the shuttle at Sugar Pine Point Campground. Riders on the South Shore can pick up the shuttle at the South Tahoe Y Transit Center or get on at Camp Richardson. Both routes stop at the Eagle Falls Trailhead in Emerald Bay. Weekend service begins at 8 a.m., with weekday trips starting at 9 a.m. All routes run until 5 p.m.

Rides are $5 one way or $10 roundtrip. Reduced fares of $2.50 one way and $5 roundtrip are available for children under 12, adults ages 65 and older, veterans, riders with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders.

Parking enforcement will be in place during the duration of the shuttle season. TTD will install nearly 400 feet of temporary barriers to restrict access to illegal and unsafe roadside parking, and California Highway Patrol (CHP) is strictly enforcing parking restrictions throughout the Emerald Bay corridor. During last year’s shuttle season, CHP wrote 248 citations, issued 13 moving violations, and had 10 vehicles towed for illegal parking. 

Both of the Emerald Bay Shuttle’s routes connect with public transit service, making more of Tahoe accessible through lake-friendly, car-free travel. Riders can reach the shuttle from the Stateline casino corridor and much of Tahoe’s South Shore by connecting with Tahoe Transportation District Bus Route 50 at the South Tahoe Y Transit Center. On the West Shore, Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit’s (TART) Mainline Bus Route, as well as on-demand microtransit from TART Connect, link with the shuttle at Sugar Pine Point Campground. Biking — or using a shared e-scooter on the South Shore — is a great way to get to a shuttle stop or connecting bus stop.

Riders will be able to reserve their seats at: www.emeraldbayshuttle.com

Walk-up seats may be available depending on excess capacity.

Th Emerald Bay Shuttle is supported by a project team consisting of transportation planning and implementation experts, local government officials, agencies and organizations including: Keep Tahoe Blue, Tahoe Fund, El Dorado County, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, Placer County, Tahoe Transportation District, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, City of South Lake Tahoe, Sierra State Parks Foundation, South Shore Transportation Management Association, and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

Key Service Details

Emerald Bay Shuttle

• Season: anticipated to start mid-June – September 7, 2026
• Weekday hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)
• Weekend and holiday hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Friday – Sunday)
• Fare: $5 one way / $10 roundtrip
• Reduced fare: $2.50 one way / $5 roundtrip for children under 12, adults ages 65+, veterans, riders with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders
• Routes: West Shore Route (from Sugar Pine Point); South Shore Route (from Y Transit Center, with a stop at Camp Richardson)
• Transit connections: TTD Bus Route 50 at the South Y Transit Center. TART Mainline Bus Route and TART Connect Microtransit service at Sugar Pine Point State Park
• Other connections: Bike or ride a shared e-scooter to the South Y Transit Center or Camp Richardson on the South Shore. Bike or walk to the Tahoe City Transit Center or Homewood to catch the TART Mainline.
• Parking: On the South Shore, keep your car parked where you are staying or park at a paid lot along Lake Tahoe Boulevard, at Lake Tahoe Community College, or Camp Richardson. On the north or west shore, park at the Tahoe City Transit Center, Homewood, or Sugar Pine State Park Campground.
• How to book: Reservations will be available at: www.emeraldbayshuttle.com