Dear Editor,

Walker Lake

I bought my little piece of heaven in 1975 upon honorably discharging from the U.S. Coast Guard. It would become known as 823 W. Cottonwood Drive Walker Lake, NV 89415. Granted I wasn’t a full time Walker Lake-ean known as a lakey. Left for a few years to get hitched and work my way back as I’ve loved the area since seeing it for the first time.

I can remember getting hitched and calling my parents here at Walker Lake since I was wed in Santa Maria, Ca. I had to call the Cliffhouse Restaurant by the lake because they were the only business at Walker Lake with a working telephone. Call the Cliffhouse bar and ask for Ike or Marge? No they aren’t here but call back in a half hour and we’ll send someone up to gather them. The Cliffhouse Restaurant by the lake had a full 15-20 person bar looking out at our once beautiful lake. The restaurant was a destination restaurant, I can remember talking to a couple from Las Vegas that timed their trips in order to be able to dine at the statewide Walker Lake Cliffhouse Restaurant by the lake both coming and going! The Filet Mignon and Lobster were to die for! Literally melt in your mouth grub and the garlic bread was phenomenal! Back in those days the set of four matching cabins were always full, never a vacancy as were the 15 smaller cabins up the hill.

The old military barracks apartment building, full too. Oh when the boat races came to town yearly back in the days of Jack Roark and this team of race boat builders and mechanics for two boats, brought those races here along with international boaters worldwide as were the patrons and fans! The place was a mass of humanity gathered along the lakes edge with beer coolers in tow along with kids and sodas. But then again when Walker Lake could support wildlife from the fish to the loons, now long gone due to the high alkalinity of the lake due to upstream water use or abuse. The death of a healthy lake full of wildlife and fresh water attracted many people daily, some to fish, some to snack, some to dine, many to play in their water toys or just walk the shore line but beings now, all we hear from boaters and water toy users is how the alkaline fucks up their engines.

These days the lake is mainly good for its gorgeous pictures fooling anybody seeing them that it’s a lively normal lake, not a dead alkaline lake. Upon going into town, nearly EVERY business carried some sort of fishing gear, boating gear, partying gear, some carried bait and tackle and licensing. All gone now. I can remember pay days where the entire town crowded into the ElCap to cash their paychecks, pick up their free drink card and view the days caught proudly displayed in the El Cap entry for ALL ago see and enjoy, all gone now. Sadly, thanks to the mismanagement of water flow to our once beautiful fish-filled lake to the now dead near mud hole…

Lawrence Worthen

Walker Lake