David Gemme

I arrived at Lake Tahoe in a Toyota pick up truck, riding with my best friend and our two dogs. I was twenty-four years old at the time, and we came with one purpose on our minds; “Ride the snow for a solid week on my last Christmas Break from College.” It was December 1996 and we checked my aunt’s home in Truckee, affectionately known as “Hotel Tahoe”.

We headed straight for Squaw Valley. They had received four feet of snow in a single afternoon, and the Alaskan Allusion Low was hammering the West coast with record precipitation from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe. With a little luck and a little planning, we arrived in the middle of the storm. The first two days were epic! The second two days were great! The next day was New Year’s Eve, and All Hell Broke Loose! Torrential downpours started that evening, melting snow at unprecedented rates.

All major arteries in and out of the Truckee/Tahoe area were closed, or clogged at best. I decided to walk home from the North Star ski area, since the traffic we were in had not moved for over an hour. While crossing the Truckee River on the Highway 267 Bridge, I peered over the edge only to see a 300 gallon propane tank bobbing up and down on the downstream side of the bridge, followed by a full tree, including the gnarled root structure exposed in the surface waters. The river looked like a blended latte; brown and murky with a thick foam. I was blown away by what happened next; two kayakers came up to the bridge, rolled over, went under water to clear the bridge, then rolled up down stream, laughed, and kept paddling. The wild faces of nature had left their permanent mark; I was hooked on adventure sports. That was then and this is now.

I came to Truckee with the intent to further develop my skills at skiing, kayaking, riding and running. In the process of working with a contractor building lakefront homes, and managing a multi-unit complex in Truckee, I developed a keen interest in the real estate business. Today, I am still writing the continuing chapters in this book on a daily basis. I strive to work only with qualified people who have risen to the top of their respective profession, so as to provide the very best real estate services to my customers.

I have been around the world and in 38 different states, and I have never seen anywhere like Lake Tahoe. My wife Jamie and I have decided to live and raise our family. My father lives less than 30 minutes away in Reno, who by the way has been extremely active in Reno/Nevada real estate many years. (Hence we can also handle any Nevada real estate interest and needs you may have.)

The Tahoe-Truckee communities are a land of wealth and opportunity. Some of the common factors drawing people to our area are the drive for a healthy life-style, which includes participating in many outdoor sports. Tahoe, with its many ski areas and varied winter sports, and unparalleled high-altitude lake- based activities available in the summer, which include sailing, water skiing, fishing, or just sunbathing on a white-sand beach, is among the nobility of resort and residence locations in the world. The land has continued to be valuable and the water is pristine. It is a playground for royalty, and is accessible for all.

Tahoe enjoys as many “blue-bird” powder days as any ski destination in the country. Recent growth in our mountain community has also brought with it an increase in cultural activities, which include summer music-in-the-park series, academic lectures on a variety of topics hosted by various institutions, 4th of July celebrations at multiple locations around the lake, and a new planned community college in Truckee.

With Tahoe’s colorful history dating back to before the turn of the century, it is indeed one of the “Founding Fathers of Resort Life-Styles” The Lake Tahoe-Truckee land is exclusive, and I take pride in owning, listing, marketing, and selling it. Every parcel has a story and a future, you can (or may already be) a part of the continuing Saga of Lake Tahoe. My philosophy is simple: Work hard and Play hard.

dgemme@tahoeriverfrontrealty.com