The Stanford connection with Fallen Leaf Lake started at the end of the 1800s. William Wrightman Price graduated in Stanford University’s second class, then went on to become a Stanford engineering professor. Price was a nature enthusiast and made his way to Fallen Leaf Lake in 1896. He built a boy’s camp upstream from Fallen Leaf Lake near Glen Alpine Springs. At the camp, the boys learned to fish, hunt and live in the outdoors. They climbed the mountains, measured the trails with bicycle wheels, and installed plaques at the top of the peaks so hikers could record their visits.
Heather Lake was a likely hiking destination for Price and the boys from his Camp
After Price married he brought his wife to camp, so family members of the boys thought it was a good idea and joined their campers. More and more guests visited the camp each summer. At nearby Glen Alpine Springs Resort, the proprietors were a bit unhappy that the campers’ relatives were staying at the camp and not their hotel. The story goes that one summer there were 75 visitors at the camp, so the resort owners informed Price that they would no longer carry milk and mail for a competitor.
Price then moved his ‘Housekeeping Camp’ to the south end of Fallen Leaf Lake where Stanford Sierra Camp is today.
The dock at the Price Housekeeping Camp
In 1905 Price built several tent cabins and a kitchen, then in 1907 with many families other than those of the camp boys visiting, Price built cabins which are now our staff cabins along “Rustic Row”.
A recent photo of some rustic row cabins
Thanks to Carol Thomsen, wife of former director Chris Thomsen, we have a record of the early years at Fallen Leaf Lake. Stay tuned, we’ll continue the history next month!
