The book benefits from the fresh and knowledgeable first-hand accounts by Vince Seck, whose family owned Lake Olympia, and the research and writing of a professional historian.

It embarks on something entirely new: the recreational history of Nevada County. Before it became a center for shopping, the Glenbrook Basin hosted a world-class racetrack and later a splendid resort with an artificial lake.

“Seck and Thorne have written a refreshing story guaranteed to put a smile one your face about how ordinary citizens enjoyed themselves over a 100-year period. This fabulously festive book provides a wonderful glimpse of a time when Glenbrook Basin was alive with relaxed and robust forms of recreation. The story is stimulating and the many photos, maps and other graphics are delightful.” Hank Meals, Noted Landscape Historian

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$40 for the soft back plus shipping $7. Total is $47

$55 for the hard back (available 9/20/24) plus shipping $10. Total is $65

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About the Authors

TANIS C. THORNE is a retired professor and member of the Nevada County Historical Society. Resident of Nevada City, on and off, since 1986, she enjoys the outdoors and doing research. In 2022, she published a book Nevada City Nisenan with Hank Meals.

The idea for this publication began when the authors met on at the Madeline Helling Library in Nevada City on November 29, 2006, when Vince did an inspiring presentation on Lake Olympia.

JOSEPH VINCENT SECK served Grass Valley as a police officer and five years as its police chief. After retiring, he was a docent at the Empire State Mine for twenty-three years, and now is a docent at the Northstar Mining Museum. He is a longtime member of the Nevada County Historical Society. Vince’s family owned and operated Lake Olympia from 1950 to 1958.

Photo above Vince Seck, ca. 2015, depicting mining engineer George Starr in 1930s dress. Living History Program, Empire Mine.

Lake Olympia and Glenbrook Park by Vince Seck and Tanis Thorne

Lake Olympia and Glenbrook Park by Vince Seck and Tanis Thorne. Photo curtesy of Searls Historical Library