Our Story
Tahoe Dave’s Skis & Boards began in 1977 with a dream, 15 pairs of skis, and a determination to build something special.
Founder Dave Wilderotter opened the original shop in two former motel units in the Henrikson Building in Tahoe City. At the time, snowboarding had not yet entered the scene, so the business was simply called Dave’s Ski Shop. The original shop consisted of little more than a workbench, a small rental fleet, and Dave’s famous desire to “have a good time and stay out of jail.”
Dave kept things simple and poured his resources into building the business. He converted part of the shop into a small loft and office where he lived and used the sauna showers at Granlibakken. That resourcefulness and determination helped lay the foundation for what would become one of Lake Tahoe’s most recognized locally owned ski and snowboard businesses.
As the business grew, Tahoe Dave’s evolved alongside the Tahoe community. After approximately two years in the Henrikson Building, the shop moved into the former Village Sports location. The company later expanded throughout the North Tahoe and Truckee region.
There were plenty of memorable chapters along the way. Dave’s one-year Cal-Neva experiment became affectionately known as “the mistake,” while Tahoe City’s snowboard operation evolved from the Shred Shed behind Olympic Bike Shop to an upstairs location, then to Dave’s Dog Pound Snowboards behind the old Naughty Dog, and eventually to its current home.
Tahoe Dave’s embraced snowboarding early and has maintained a longstanding relationship with Burton dating back to the sport’s formative years.
Tahoe Dave’s grew by taking chances, learning from experience, and staying focused on making skiing and snowboarding more convenient and fun. The company built its reputation through outstanding service, well-maintained equipment, trusted local knowledge, and the ability to rent at one shop and return or exchange equipment at another.
In 2024, after a few years of conversations with Dave about how they could continue his legacy, Truckee locals John and Autumn Lincoln purchased Tahoe Dave’s. Their goal was not to change what made Tahoe Dave’s special, but to preserve and build upon the culture, values, community relationships, and commitment to fun that Dave had cultivated over nearly five decades.
Today, Tahoe Dave’s operates six shops across Tahoe City, Truckee, Kings Beach, and Olympic Valley. Although the company has grown far beyond those original 15 pairs of skis, its purpose remains the same: helping people create unforgettable Lake Tahoe experiences through exceptional service, expert advice, and a genuine love for the mountains.
50 years later, we are still sharing the stoke, creating memories, and Specializing in FUN.
Our Mission
At Tahoe Dave’s, our mission is to make every customer’s Lake Tahoe experience fun, easy, and memorable through knowledgeable service, quality equipment, trusted local expertise, and a genuine commitment to our people and community.
We act with intention, share the stoke, continue learning and growing, and recognize the unique value each person brings. By living these values, we create positive experiences for our customers, coworkers, and the Tahoe/Truckee community we call home.
We have fun exceeding expectations and do whatever we can to help every customer make the most of their time in Lake Tahoe.
