7 Generations of Lake Tahoe
Family Legacy
Ancestors of the Ray family in Genoa, NV in mid to late 1800’s.
Ray family at the same family property in early 2000’s
The Ray family’s legacy at Lake Tahoe stretches across seven generations, deeply rooted in the pioneering spirit and enduring love for the region. Their story begins in the 1870s, when their ancestors first settled in Carson Valley’s historic town of Genoa—originally known as Mormon Station. Among them was Charles Young, the valley’s first doctor, who served settlers and the native Washoe people with unwavering dedication. Whether traveling on horseback or snowshoeing through deep Sierra snows, he made his way to the shores of Lake Tahoe to care for those in need, embodying the resilience and compassion that would define his family’s place in Tahoe history.
Charles Young’s daughter, Vida Young (Ray), carried forward this pioneering spirit when she and her brothers purchased land at Bijou. There, they established Young’s Bijou Lodge, Tahoe’s second hotel, located near what is now Lakeland Village. It was in this idyllic lakeside setting that Vida met William S. Ray, a visionary San Francisco industrialist and inventor of the Rayburner oil stove. William and his brother, Homer Ray—then California’s Poet Laureate—arrived at Lake Tahoe on a quest to collect bird eggs. An unexpected snowstorm stranded them at Bijou, creating a serendipitous moment that led to William and Vida’s enduring love story.
The Ray and Young families’ deep connection to Lake Tahoe only grew stronger with time. Long before Glenbrook became the exclusive enclave it is today, Vida Young (Ray) acquired a stretch of pristine, undeveloped land in the area, captivated by its rugged beauty. Her sons—Dick, Al, and Jack Ray—would later contribute to building some of Glenbrook’s most remarkable homes, particularly at Deadman’s Point, a secluded and breathtaking part of the shoreline at Tahoe’s edge. Today, the legacy of the Ray family lives on, their history woven into the fabric of Lake Tahoe’s storied past—a tale of adventure, perseverance, and an enduring love for one of the world’s most spectacular alpine landscapes.
