- Fannette Island
Fannette Island is the only island in
Lake Tahoe ,California /Nevada ,United States . It lies withinEmerald Bay . Over a long period of time, it was called many different names, including Coquette, Fanette, Baranoff, Dead Man's, Hermit's, and Emerald Isle. The island contains what is left of "Tea House", a building built by the owner ofVikingsholm , Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. Fannette Island, along with Vikingsholm and Emerald Bay, is a part ofEmerald Bay State Park . It is accessible only by boat.Captain Dick Barter, the Hermit of Emerald Bay
Fannette Island was the home of Captain Dick "Them's my toes" Barter from 1863-1873. The eccentric captain had moved over from England and built his own tomb and chapel on the island. He enjoyed sailing and earned his nickname from his penchant of showing his self-amputated toes to guests. Ironically, he would never be interred into the chapel he built. He died in a storm and his body was never recovered.
References
* [http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/hiking/eagle_falls.htm More information about Fannette Island, Emerald Bay, and Vikingsholm, including link to a topographical map of the site, from AboutLakeTahoe.com]
* [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=1158 California State Parks Emerald Bay State Park page]
* [http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/stories/hermit.html Hermit of Emerald Bay]
* [http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/fannette_island.htm AboutLakeTahoe.com, Fannette Island]
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