Tahoe is an outdoor paradise but here and there, you’ll find indoor wonders too.
One such wonder is Thunderbird Lodge, a historic estate now open for public tours Spring through Fall. The lodge, built in the 1940s, was the home of eccentric millionaire George Whitell.
Whitell, who once owned hundreds of acres on Tahoe’s east shore, is basically the reason the Nevada said of Lake Tahoe is all parks and protected land. As a homeowner, he was very concerned about privacy, and didn’t want any development near his home. As a result, he owned most of the land, and sold or donated it to the park service as he aged. You could call him Tahoe’s most well known conservationist!
The tours run a few days a week a few times a day, and are lead by volunteers. They run about 90 minutes and include a tour of the home and a bit of life story on George Whitell. I don’t want to spoil anything, but on the tour you’ll get to walk through secret tunnels, learn how and where he kept his pet lion, and sneak a peak at the separate home he built just for an elephant. This is a great tour that offers fantastic views of the lake from one of the prettiest sites along it’s shores.
To take this tour, you’ll need to take a shuttle bus from the Incline Village Visitor’s Center.
Water features dot the lakeside property
This historic home isn’t short on charm
Yes, there’s a secret tunnel in here.
Who wouldn’t want this to be part of their house?
A lighthouse helped guide guests to the property
The Thunderbird Yacht is a piece of Tahoe history. In fact, it even had its own US Postage Stamp!
Old-timey details dot the property
Possibly the most lovely homesite in all of Tahoe
