Polaris was a historic ice farming community located nearly 3 miles east of Truckee, approximately at the intersection of modern day Glenshire Drive and Quail Lane.

The community was named after Polaris, the north star, either by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1867, or by the National Ice Company in 1901 in anticipation of the establishment of a post office.

[4] In 1886, a group of business people formed the Tahoe Ice Company at Winsted.

They added infrastructure such as roads, stables and a large warehouse, 290' by 130', for the harvested ice.

[11] On November 1, 1901, Dysart applied to establish a post office to be located 250 feet from the south side of the railroad station.

The area around Polaris became a center for recreation, including fishing, camping and ice skating.