History

Located between Chambers Landing and Tahoma is Moana Circle, a small lakefront subdivision where, more than a century ago, was a resort known as Moana Villa.

Ralph L. Colwell, who also operated Rubicon Springs Resort, was the developer of Moana  Villa, and as for the unlikely name of the enterprise, an item in a 1907 issue of the Sacramento Union explained, “Moana Villa was named by a party of Hawaiian guests who spent the summer there a number of years ago, and were so delighted with the surroundings that they called it after a beautiful spot in their own sea islands.”

Two future Tahoe hotelkeepers got their respective starts at Moana Villa: Frank Pomin, who went on to built Pomin’s Hotel at the south end of Tahoma in 1913, leased Moana Villa from Colwell for half a dozen or more seasons beginning about 1904. Carl A. Bechdolt operated Moana Villa for at least one season in the mid-1920s before he and two partners purchased the Tahoe Inn in Tahoe City in 1929.  

In November 1932, Dave Chambers, owner of neighboring Chambers Lodge, bought Moana Villa from the Colwell Estate and thereafter used the resort for his overflow guests. In the 1960s, the property was subdivided to form the small, secluded development that its residents treasure today.