Governor suits up for visitor center opening

It isn't every day that the governor of Nevada shows up at Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe on a blistering hot day (for Tahoe) in a dark suit, dress shirt, necktie, cuff links and polished cowboy boots.

But Friday was a special day at Sand Harbor as more than 100 invited guests attended the grand opening celebration of the Tahoe Nevada Visitor Center and the Harbor House Bistro (and Beach Goods), splendid Tahoe-style buildings just off the lakeside.

Guests were fed wine and snacks while waiting for the official ribbon cutting, standard at such affairs (no taxpayer money involved; the Bistro furnished it all).

Gov. Jim Gibbons began his brief address with a promise of retribution to the aide who suggested he wear a suit. He hailed the new center as "a great benefit and enjoyment for park visitors" and called it a "fine addition to Nevada's Parks" and Lake Tahoe the "gem of the park system."

McAvoy Lane, Nevada's unofficial modern Mark Twain, offered some Twainish wit before Dave Morrow of the Nevada Division of State Parks praised members of his department who had helped create the visitor center. Morrow listed the many sources of funding for the Visitor Center, which he said began in 1990.

After the speeches, Gibbons and officials moved to the entrance of the visitor center for the traditional ribbon cutting, with gold-painted hedge clippers, while kids jumping off rocks 50 yards away ignored the whole thing, as did most of those enjoying the beach.

Travel note: If you're going to Sand Harbor in the future, don't believe the signs that warn of waits of up to 20 minutes because of construction. Friday that turned out to be wildly optimistic.