As the oldest settlement on Lake Tahoe, Glenbrook played a significant part of Nevada's statehood as the main supplier of timber to the
Comstock Lode and
Virginia City. The first settlers of the valley, which included Captain Augustus W. Pray, arrived in 1860. Pray built a sawmill in 1861. The community took its name from the former "Glenbrook House hotel", which in turn was named after two primary local geographic features — Glen, a secluded valley, and Brook, a small stream. From forested areas near the lake, logs were
driven down stream or barged to Glenbrook mills. In 1875, the town had four sawmills, a store, bowling alley and billiard hall, two hotels. After 1880, logging activity was in decline and was abandoned by the end of the century. ==Geography==