Crystal Bay
 (6,400')

The communities along magnificent Lake Tahoe are synonomous around the world, almost as much as the lake itself, but Crystal Bay is an exception. This tiny border town is an easily forgotten batch of community just west of the more populous and posh city of Incline Village. Crystal Bay might've never made the map if wasn't for Frank Sinatra and his "Ratpack," which brought light to the town by his operations at the Cal-Neva Lodge. Frank actually owned the Cal-Neva in the 1960s up until he was permanently banned from all casinos in the state. Other Hollywood celebs made their way here to escape the city life during this golden era, including Marilyn Monroe.

  • Welcome to Crystal Bay, Nevada
  • The famous Cal-Neva Lodge in Crystal Bay.

Crystal Bay is technically located in two states, although the California portion of Crystal Bay is called "Brockway." A few residential streets cross over into the Golden State, but what makes Crystal Bay popular is its famous Stateline Pool at the Cal-Neva Lodge where you can swim in two states at once! You might consider it as just another state line, resort burg, but the U.S. census considers Crystal Bay as a full-fledged community because of its mostly residential populace. Here's an interesting fun fact: along with its neighbor community of Incline Village, in the 1980s Crystal Bay expressed interest in seceding from Nevada to become communities of the Golden State. Relocating a state line is a tiresome (and nearly impossibe) feat for Congress and the ideas was abandoned a short time later.


Status: Unincorporated Town
Founded: 1921
Population: 305 (2012)
Zip Code: 89402

     

Distance in miles from ...
Kings Beach, CA -- 2
Tahoe City, CA -- 15
Stateline -- 28
Carson City -- 29
Reno -- 39
Nixon (Pyramid Lake) -- 72
Fallon -- 91
Ely -- 355
Las Vegas -- 458