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Historic Mansions of Lake Tahoe: A Glimpse of the Past That Shaped Tahoe’s Future

by Jen Peng

Since the late 19th century, Lake Tahoe has been attracting wealthy families to its scenic shores. They built opulent summer estates at prime locations along the water, some of which are still standing today. Maintained by federal, state, and non-profit organizations, these historic mansions are open for tours to the public during portions of the year.

Beyond giving a glimpse into the lifestyles of yesteryear’s rich and famous, these iconic mansions are also a reflection of some of the best, and even visionary, design and craftsmanship of the time. Their owners also helped shape the Tahoe we see today, from preserving old-growth trees to entire portions of the landscape from development.   

Here are four historic mansions to visit on your next trip to Lake Tahoe. All four are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here are four historic mansions to visit on your next trip to Lake Tahoe

Thunderbird lodge.

Situated on Tahoe’s largely undeveloped east shore, Thunderbird Lodge is one of Tahoe’s most famous estates. It was the summer home of eccentric millionaire George Whittell, Jr. A larger than life character, Captain as he was known, is a big reason Tahoe’s east shore looks the way it does.

The scion of a wealthy San Francisco family, Whittell lived a fast and wild life. He ran away to join the circus, had highly publicized love affairs and enjoyed fast cars, planes and boats. Whittell never did join the family real estate business, though he did manage to liquidate $50 million in stock holdings before the 1929 crash and became one of California’s wealthiest men as a result. Like many wealthy Californians before him (and since then), he moved his residency to Nevada for tax reasons, and ended up purchasing more than 40,000 acres, including 27 miles of lakefront, on Lake Tahoe’s east shore, paying just $6 per shorefront acre and $3 per mountainside acre. Whittell originally had grand development plans, including a massive hotel, ski resort, casino and housing developments, but decided later on that he valued his privacy more and left the property virtually untouched.   

Whittell hired famed architect Frederic J. DeLongchamps to design his “Castle in the Sky,” a chateau in the Tudor Revival style. Completed in 1939, it features a main lodge surrounded by three cottages, along with a card house, elephant house, lighthouse, gatehouse, garages and a boathouse, which housed the 55-foot, John Hacker designed Thunderbird , one of the world’s most famous, and arguably valuable, wooden boats—with dual aircraft engines, it was also the fastest boat on Lake Tahoe. A 600-foot underground tunnel cut into the rock connects the main lodge to an opium den, card house and the boathouse, and allowed Whittell to access different parts of his property without being seen.

Famous Guests of the Thunderbird

Guests included the likes of Ty Cobbs, Jack Dempsey and Howard Hughes, with nocturnal visits by showgirls from the Cal-Neva casino and elsewhere. Whittell enjoyed gambling and the stakes were often large. According to one tale, Joe King won the money he used to purchase Kings Beach from one such high-stakes game.

From his time in the circus, Whittell developed a love for animals and he frequently had his pet lion, Bill, and elephant, Mingo, with him at Thunderbird Lodge. Bill would ride in Whittell’s Duesenbergs (he had six), and may have terrorized at least one inebriated guest who ended up in the den off the underground tunnel where Bill retreated to cool off from the summer heat.

Perched on a rocky point, Thunderbird Lodge very much looks like a castle in the sky. Around the estate are waterfalls, fountains, lagoons and elegant gardens, in addition to breathtaking views of the lake and mountains.

How to Visit: The Thunderbird Lodge Lake Tahoe

Thunderbird Lodge can only be visited on a guided tour or private event , with numerous options available over the summer and fall. Cruise Tahoe offers 5-hour guided tours on their 1950s classic woody, Tahoe , Tuesdays through Saturdays. Leaving from Round Hill Pines, enjoy snacks and a cash bar onboard, and glimpses of other lavish lakeside estates and attractions on the ride up, and a picnic lunch on the estate grounds. A more active option is to paddle 1.5 miles from Sand Harbor on guided kayak tours with the Tahoe Adventure Company on Tuesdays. Guided tours by land leave from the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitor Center on Tuesdays and Friday mornings. Afternoon tours offer more time on the grounds and include a wine and cheese reception. Private and group tours are also available.

Private cruises on the Thunderbird are also available, and is the best way to experience the one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Private dinners are available for Thunderbird members and the estate is also open for private events.

Vikingsholm

Emerald Bay is known for its stunning vistas, and is one of the most visited spots around Lake Tahoe. It’s also home to one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States: Vikingsholm.

Lora J. Knight was a wealthy widow and divorcee who initially moved to Reno to get her divorce. For years, she had a summer home at what would become Dollar Point, but where she really wanted to be was Emerald Bay. In 1928, she was able to convince the Armstrong Family to sell 239 acres at the head of Emerald Bay to her for $250,000.

Emerald Bay had reminded Mrs. Knight of the fjords of Scandinavia and she wanted her summer home to reflect that. And so she commissioned her nephew-in-law, Swedish architect, Lennart Palme, to build her a grand Scandinavian castle, and they went to Scandinavia to conduct detailed research. She hired 200 local workers to build the castle, which took just five months (and $125,000) to complete in 1929, with materials sourced from the Tahoe Basin. Mrs. Knight insisted that no trees be cut down in Emerald Bay, so lumber was brought in from the North Shore, while granite was quarried from Emerald Bay.

The 38-room mansion spans three floors around a courtyard, and includes a mix of Scandinavian building styles, including the stone and timber construction from castles, carvings from medieval churches and the sod roof found on farmhouses. The interior featured six Nordic fireplaces, two carved dragon beams in the living room and intricate paintings on the ceilings and walls. Furnishings also carried the Scandinavian motif. Where antiques and originals could not be purchased, Mrs. Knight had them reproduced in detail, flaws and all. All of the metal fixtures were hand forged.

Mrs. Knight also had a stone teahouse constructed on Fannette Island, the only island in all of Lake Tahoe. She and her guest would occasionally enjoy tea out at the island, perhaps once or twice a summer. Mrs. Knight spent 15 summers at Vikingsholm, and often had guests stay with her, sometimes all summer.

After Mrs. Knight’s death (in Vikingsholm, in 1945), the estate was sold to Nevada rancher Lawrence Holland, who then sold it to California lumberman Harvey West. West turned down offers from a large hotel chain and instead sold the land and estate to the State of California in 1953, preserving the historic estate for future generations. Today, around 90% of the interior is original furnishing dating from the 1930s.

HOW TO VISIT: Vikingsholm

Tours of Vikingsholm are available daily over the summer and fall, from 11 am to 4pm. Tours last 30 minutes. The grounds are free to explore year-round. Vikingsholm is accessible via a steep (400 feet) 1-mile trail from the (paid) parking area on Highway 89, or a less steep 1.5-mile trail from Eagle Point Campground. ADA assistance, private tours, and special events are also available.  

A fun (and easy) way to visit Vikingsholm is by boat. Cruise Tahoe offers an Emerald Bay Cruise and Vikingsholm Tour from Round Hill Pines from Sunday to Wednesday afternoons. Actions Water Sports also offers an Emerald Bay Cruise and Vikingsholm Tour from Camp Richardson daily in the morning and afternoon. Tours do not include Fannette Island, but you can rent a kayak from the beach and paddle over to the island.

Tallac Historic Site / Pope-Baldwin-Heller

Spanning 74 acres, the Tallac Historic Site on Tahoe’s south shore was once home to the “Grandest Resort in the World,” as well as the summer estates for three wealthy and socially prominent San Francisco families: Baldwin, Pope and Heller. Today, around 20 historic structures remain on the site, spanning family homes, servants quarters, boathouses and more.

Baldwin Estate

Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin was known for his luck when it came to real estate investments. On a visit to Lake Tahoe, he decided to purchase 2,000 acres of land with one mile of lakefront after walking through one of the last remaining stands of old-growth forest. His reasoning was simple, “My land acquisition will save this vast forest from the beauty-destroying ax of the woodsman so that the magnificent pines and cedars may be admired for generations to come.” When Baldwin sold lots of land to friends, he included restrictions in the title that no trees were to be cut down, preserving the beauty of the area for generations to come.

Baldwin then began building “The Grandest Resort in the World,” which included two hotels and a waterfront casino. He built a modest, one-story cottage for himself around two old-growth pines (and where the trees grew through the roof, literally). Baldwin’s daughter, Anita, shut down the resort in 1919 and had the buildings demolished due to environmental concerns. In 1922, Anita’s daughter, Dextra Baldwin, built a cedar-log home. Designed in the rustic style popular at the time, it’s a large u-shaped building, with rooms around a stone courtyard and wishing well. The 5,000-square-foot house had three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and butler’s pantry, and featured hand-hewn walls and exposed rafters. Also on-site are the cabins that Anita and Dextra lived in while their larger summer home was being built.

Lucky Baldwin initially sold a lot of land near his Tallac Hotel to a friend, banker George Tallant, who built a house in 1893. It was later acquired by banker Lloyd Tevis and eventually by shipping magnate George Pope for $100,000. In a play on his surname, Pope named the estate “Vatican Lodge.”

It featured a main building and numerous cabins and outbuildings behind it. The grounds included a waterfall and trout pond, which was originally fed by water that had been diverted from Taylor Creek (named for Pope’s wife, Edith Taylor Pope).

Rudolph Valentino was a friend of the family and frequent guest at the estate and had his own cabin—the Pope family’s boat (which was later donated to the Navy during WWII for coastal California patrol) was named The Sheik after one of Valentino’s movies. After Pope’s death in 1942, his son would hold weekend polo matches on the estate with ponies trucked in from the Bay Area.

Walter Heller and his family were frequent visitors to Tallac House. When it closed down, Heller purchased land and built a 4,000-square-foot “summer cabin” where his family would spend the entire summer. Valhalla was constructed in 1923 for Claire Heller and her husband (and when they divorced in 1936, they would use the house on alternate weekends until it was sold in 1955).

The grand hall features vaulted ceilings, a horseshoe balcony and a massive arched 20-foot stone fireplace made from river rock on the great room’s east wall. French doors opened to a wraparound porch, and a lawn that leads to a boathouse.

HOW TO VISIT: Valhalla

The Baldwin Estate now houses the Tallac Museum, featuring historical exhibits of the resort and the Washoe Tribe. Open Thursdays to Sundays over the summer, the museum is free of charge.

The Pope House is open for guided tours Thursdays to Sundays over the summer. The 1-hour tour starts at the Baldwin House courtyard and takes you through the gardens on the Baldwin Estate, Arboretum and pond, and through the Pope House, including main room, dining room, servants kitchen and butler’s pantry, as well as through the landscaped grounds and outbuildings. An extended Estates Tour lasts 2.5 hours. Visitors can also take a self-guided interpretive walk or on their mobile device . The grounds are open year-round and free to wander.

Valhalla Grand Hall and the Boathouse Theatre hosts concerts, live performances and art exhibits over the summer. It’s also home to the Cultural Arts Gift Store and the site of the Valhalla Art, Music and Theatre Festival over the summer.

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion / Pine Lodge

Located in Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, also known as Pine Lodge, was the family summer estate of Isaias W. Hellman, a German immigrant who made his fortune in banking, eventually becoming the President of Wells Fargo Bank. In 1897, Hellman started purchasing land at Sugar Pine Point on the west shore, eventually acquiring nearly 2,000 acres and nearly 2 miles of lake front by 1913. Hellman hired Walter Danforth Bliss (who also designed the Tahoe Tavern in Tahoe City) to design the house. Most of the building materials were local, including granite from Meeks Bay and lumber from Hobart Mills, north of Truckee, and brought in by boat, since a road that went around Lake Tahoe did not yet exist.

Spanning 11,703 square feet over three floors, the Queen Anne-style home was built in 1903 and includes eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms (not including the third floor staff quarters). Additional buildings include a caretaker’s cabin, the children’s house, maids’ quarters, butler’s cabin, ice house, coach house, power house, pump house, two boat houses (for boats Comet and Cherokee) and boatman’s cabin.

The house and estate featured modern utility systems ahead of its time, including electric lights and indoor plumbing, which made the estate self-sufficient in the early years. A steam generator provided power until 1927, when commercial power became available. Water came from either General Creek or Lake Tahoe. Ice from the creek was used in the icehouse.

The mansion is largely decorated with period furniture, though the chandeliers, leaded glass cabinets and hardwood floors are original. Uniquely, the dining room walls are covered in strips of woven redwood and woven grass, which gives it a natural and warm look. Decorations included ornate Navajo rugs and Indian baskets. The kitchen included wood stoves and icebox until 1945 (when a refrigerator and commercial gas range was installed).

Upon Hellman’s death in 1920, the house passed to his youngest daughter, Florence Ehrman. After Ehrman’s death in 1964, her daughter Esther Ehrman Lazard sold the estate to California State Parks in 1965.

HOW TO VISIT:  Hellman-Ehrman Mansion / Pine Lodge

Tours are available over the summer through the Sierra State Parks Foundations . Tours run Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, on the half hour, and last 45 minutes.

Special events are held throughout summer and private experiences are also available, including Breakfast on the Porch (a continental breakfast for four plus a private tour) and Dinner in the Mansion (for eight). Contact [email protected] for more information.

Guests can also walk around the grounds. Enjoy a picnic on the grassy area or relax on the small beach and dock area.

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Vikingsholm

Tahoe's Hidden Castle

Located in Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, this magnificent "castle" is a unique blend of nature's spectacular beauty and man's architectural ingenuity.

Emerald Bay provided the setting for one of the first summer homes at Lake Tahoe. Ben Holiday, stagecoach magnate and early-day transportation king, constructed a home there in the late 1860s. His land was eventually sold to Paul Kirby in 1880. The Kirbys built a number of cabins, intended for resort use, on the parcel of land where Vikingsholm now stands. The William Henry Armstrong family acquired the property in 1892 and they used the cabins as their summer residence for over 32 years. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought the Armstrong’s land with the desire to build a summer home that would compliment the magnificent natural surroundings. Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the home. Vikingsholm was completed in the fall of 1929. The exceptional summer home was enjoyed by Mrs. Knight and her guests, for 15 gratifying summers, until Mrs. Knight’s death at the age of 82 in 1945.

The estate was sold to Lawrence Holland, a rancher from Nevada. He subsequently sold it to Harvey West, a lumberman from Placerville, California. In the early 1950s, Mr. West, a noted philanthropist, negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate one-half of the appraised value of the land and the Vikingsholm outright, if the State would pay him the other half of the land value. These terms were agreed upon, and in 1953 the house and property were acquired the the state.

Vikingsholm is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. It is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. The house is open for tours during the summer months and the magnificent scenery may be enjoyed all year around by those wishing to visit this beautiful setting.

Emerald Bay and Fannette Island

Lora J. Knight

Many people assume that Mrs. Knight was of Scandinavian origin because of her decision to build Vikingsholm but she was actually of English decent. She was born Lora Josephine Small in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 - one of a family of four daughters and one son. Her father Edward A. Small, was a corporate lawyer who accepted two brothers, James and William Moore, into his law firm. These young men eventually grained controlling interests in a number of large companies, including National Biscuit, Continental Can, Diamond Match, Union Pacific, and Rock Island Railroad. In the 1880s Lora married James and her sister, Ada, married William.

Lora and James Moore had one son, Nathaniel, who married Helen Fargo of the family of Wells Fargo fame. During most of the Moore’s married life, James and Lora lived in Chicago, Illinois and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They also traveled extensively, making many trips to California as well as abroad. In 1915, they purchased a home in Santa Barbara, but had little time to enjoy it together since Mr. Moore died in 1916.

In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. This marriage was not successful and they were divorced prior to the building of Vikingsholm. Mrs. Knight is probably known best for the building of Vikingsholm, but many still remember her because of her generous contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada and the provision of educational opportunities for young people who otherwise could not have afforded them. She also was a major benefactor to the Christian Science churches in Santa Barbara, Reno, and South Lake Tahoe. She and Mr. Knight actively promoted Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic and were the prime financial backers of that flight.

Mrs. Knight

Mrs. Knight and guests at Eagle Waterfalls

Dinner honoring Charles Lindbergh

Planning Vikingsholm

When Mrs. Knight purchased the land at Emerald Bay, where Vikingsholm would be located, she was not a newcomer to the Tahoe area. For 16 years she had enjoyed her summer home Wychwood, at Observatory Point, on the North Shore. This property was later sold to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr. and is now known as Dollar Point. Through church affiliations Mrs. Knight had become acquainted with the William Henry Armstrong family, who owned 239 acres at the head of Emerald Bay. In 1928, she purchased the property from them for $250,000.

Mrs. Knight commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect and her nephew by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. She had been impressed by the Nordic architecture of the home that Palme had designed for himself in Rye, New York. Because of her admiration of Palme’s home and the fjord-like location of Emerald Bay, she decided to have her summer home built in a Scandinavian design.

Mrs. Knight and the Palmes traveled to Scandinavia in the summer of 1928 to gather ideas for the construction of the house at Emerald Bay. They visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. They were inspired by viewing many ancient building such as wooden churches and homes in Norway and stone castles in Sweden. Photographs taken on that trip show how faithfully Mr. Palme reproduced specific features of these Scandinavian buildings in the design of Vikingsholm.

Mrs. Knight (right) with Lennart Palme and family

Rustic Scandinavian home

Roof detail on Vikingsholm

Construction

The foundation was laid in the summer of 1928. In the spring of 1929, more than 200 highly-skilled workmen were brought to Emerald Bay and housed in temporary barracks on the property. They worked diligently throughout the summer and by the end of the season the house was completed. During these months of 1929, the timbers were hand hewn, the exterior wall boards were planed, intricate wood carvings were executed, and metal fixtures, such as fireplace screens, hinges and latches, were hand forged.

Outstanding features of the Vikingsholm exterior include: granite boulders embedded in mortar, typical of Swedish stone churches and castles built in the 11th century, massive hand hewn timbers, characteristic of those used by the early Norsemen, carvings around the doors adapted from those bordering old church entrances; carvings extending along roof ridges with dragon heads crossing at roof peaks, and a sod roof with wildflowers.

The interior of the house also exemplifies the Scandinavian motif, with delicate paintings on the ceilings and walls, Nordic fireplaces throughout, and two intricately carved dragon beams hanging from the ceiling in the living room.

Furnishings were carefully chosen by Mrs. Knight to enhance and carry out the Scandinavian theme. “Selma” the clock, one of the most striking pieces, stands in the hallway. Many antiques were purchased abroad for the home. Mrs. Knight greatly admired some pieces seen in Norwegian and Swedish museums, which were not available for purchase. When she encountered such situations she hired craftsmen to make copies of the museum pieces. They were reproduced in exact detail, including aging of the wood and duplication of scratches found on the originals. The brightly painted bridal table, which stands in the living room, represents the quality of these outstanding reproductions. Fortunately many of Mrs. Knight’s original furnishings remain in the home today.

Vikingsholm in 1932, soon after construction

Window detail

The Round Room wing

Upstairs writing room

Life at Vikingsholm

Vikingsholm is noted for its outstanding architecture and scenic location. It also represents an era from the past of lavish but gracious living. A relaxed, unhurried atmosphere typified the style of life one experienced when visiting the home. Mrs. Knight would arrive for the summer in the middle of June and stay until the middle of September. She usually had a staff at Vikingsholm of approximately 15. A caretaker and his family lived on the property year around and four or five yardmen were hired locally each season to care for the grounds. The rest of the staff was brought from Mrs. Knight’s winter home in Santa Barbara and consisted of her private secretary, personal maid, cook, assistant cook, upstairs and downstairs maids, chauffeur, assistant chauffeur and laundry women.

Mrs. Knight enjoyed entertaining and invited many friends and family members to visit during the summer months. Visitors varied in age from young children to the very elderly. The length of guest’s visits ranged from a one night stay to an entire summer. Meals were sumptuous and occupied a good part of each day. Everyone gathered in the dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tea was served in the afternoon on the terrace or in the library, and occasionally at the tea house on the island. During the day guests enjoyed swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and trips around the lake, by boat or car, planned by Mrs. Knight.

Gracious hospitality was extended at all times to guests. For example, guests' cars were always washed, serviced, and filled with gas shortly upon arrival, even if the cars were only used for short trips during a stay.

Vikingsholm provided a calm, quiet, relaxed way of life combined with an elegance that is rarely found today. This way of life seemed to compliment the serenity and exquisite beauty of the Emerald Bay setting.

Mrs. Knight with Vikingsholm guests

Living Room

Dining Room

Visiting Vikingsholm

Vikingsholm is located at the head of Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed spots in the United States. This magnificent structure, now a national and California landmark, is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture outside of the Nordic countries. The property on which Vikingsholm is built includes 232 acres of Tahoe’s most beautiful vistas, the only island in Lake Tahoe, and the only waterfall that flows directly into the lake. It is a great destination for a day of sightseeing, hiking, boating, and swimming.

Vikingsholm can be reached by walking a one-mile trail from the parking lot on Highway 89, or by boat. The home is open daily for tours in the summer months from June to September. These tours are conducted by guides employed by the Sierra State Parks Foundation. A visitor's center adjacent to the main building is available for further information and the sale of tour tickets and other items.

For the latest information on tour schedules, parking, special events, and directions to Vikingsholm, please visit: Vikingsholm Tour Information

Vikingsholm courtyard

Vikingsholm tour

Boating in Emerald Bay

Eagle Waterfalls

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Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tours

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tours: 

Take a step back in time and enjoy a tour of the histroic grounds and The Mansion located in the day use side of the park.  Constructed in 1903, the property is one of the finest examples of a by-gone era of summer retreats found along the shores of Lake Tahoe.  The house was built by San Francisco financier, I.W. Hellman, for his beloved family to enjoy the clean air and refreshing waters of Lake Tahoe. The property, containing the estate and 2,000 acres, was sold to the State of California in 1965.  This National and State landmark is now open to the public for tours during the summer months by the Sierra State Parks Foundation.  All proceeds, from the tours, benefit the restoration and interpretation of this very unique piece of California heritage.  Purchase tickets at the Nature Center. ADA accommodations available. 

TOUR DATES:   May 23-September 30, 2016

TOUR HOURS:  June 21-September 5, 2016: Daily 10:30 am-3:30pm on the half hour

                              May 23-June 20 and September 6-30, 2016:  Weekends 10:30 am-3:30 pm  ON HALF THE HOUR  

                                                                                                    Weekdays: 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm

PRIVATE AND SCHOOL GROUP TOURS:    Private and school group tours can be arranged by calling the Sierra State Park Foundation office at 530.583.9911.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

TOUR FEES:      Adults: $10             Students 7-17 or with college ID: $8                 Kids 6 and under: FREE             

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Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion is located at Sugar Pine Point State Park just south of Tahoma on Highway 89. The land was purchased in the late 1800s by well-known west coast banker Isaias W. Hellman. Architect Walter Danforth Bliss was hired to design this summer home that was made largely out of local, natural materials, and was completed in 1903. Sugar Pine Point State Park and the mansion represent the opulent post-mining period when wealthy businessmen built elegant summer homes at Lake Tahoe.

Originally called Pine Lodge, the grand yet informal summer home was considered to be one of the finest in the High Sierras in its heyday. After Hellman’s death, one of his daughters went on to take care of the mansion. She eventually married Sidney Ehrman. The Ehrman family took care of the property until 1965 when it was sold to the State of California to become apart of Sugar Pine Point State Park . The Hellman-Ehrman Mansion is a great example of the opulent tradition in Lake Tahoe summer homes. Take a trip back in time while experiencing a beautiful afternoon on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

TOUR INFORMATION: For tour information call 530-525-9507 (Summer Only) 530-525-9528

Parking Fees: $10

PRIVATE TOURS AND SCHOOL GROUP TOURS: Private and school group tours can be arranged by calling the Sierra State Park Foundation office at 530.583.9911 or [email protected]

Weddings and Special Events Hellman-Ehrman Mansion is a popular venue for weddings at Lake Tahoe . The beautiful setting and historical buildings make for a magical backdrop for any special event. Book your wedding, school/family reunion, or corporate dinner well in advance to ensure you get your special day reserved. Special Events Office: 530-525-5060

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Explore historic Thunderbird Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe’s magical Castle-in-the-Sky and the world famous  Thunderbird  Yacht. Docent-guided tours take visitors on a 75 minute walk through the stone mansion and grounds to reveal the mystery and legacy of the enigmatic George Whittell, Jr.

Legend springs to life as you discover the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, the servant's quarters with original kitchen, as well as the 600' underground tunnel leading to the cavernous Boathouse. In the Boathouse resides the legendary wooden speedboat,  Thunderbird , built for Whittell in 1939 and powered by twin Allison V12 1150hp engines from vintage WWII fighter aircraft. Walk along the serpentine Dragon's Tail path to the enchanting Card House with its celebrated poker stories. Your tour offers breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, the nearby mountain ranges, elegant gardens, lagoons, waterfalls and fountains. Discover the magic of Thunderbird Lake Tahoe ~ the history, the architecture, and the men and women of Lake Tahoe’s gilded age.

Exclusive morning guided tours let you explore the magic and mystery of the historic Thunderbird Lodge and Whittell Estate grounds. Learn about Captain Whittell’s contributions to conserving Lake Tahoe’s Nevada shoreline and see his world-famous mansion including secret tunnels, card house, and the legendary Thunderbird yacht (when available).

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The historically registered Pope-Baldwin Estates at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe are a must see for locals and visitors to the area. The summer estates are open daily during the summer month’s, the public is free to wander throughout the estates; stroll through the gardens, visit the Tallac Museum, view our Vintage Clothing Exhibit,  view inside outbuildings used to house servants and guests, watch the Blacksmith in action. The Tallac Museum Gift Shop is filled with cheerful Lake Tahoe seasonal and period-inspired merchandise, clothing, unique gifts and books. Our friendly staff and volunteers in the Gift Shop are happy to help you with your purchases and while you are shopping, be sure to visit with our Museum Docents. These specially-trained volunteers can help you with questions about the historic estates, programs, tours, demonstrations, upcoming special events and area information.

Tahoe Heritage Foundation, non-profit partners with the USFS, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to offer programs, tours, and special events. For more information please see calendar of events below and explore this year’s Lake of the Sky Journal available at the Tallac Historic Site and many other locations throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Interested in bringing a group to the site?

You can schedule a group tour by emailing   [email protected] or by calling the Tahoe Heritage Foundation Group Tour Coordinator at our office (530) 544-7383 year-round or (530)-541-5227 Tallac Museum May – September 10am-4pm.

Group tours must be scheduled at least two weeks prior to the requested tour date.

Walking Tour

This tour leads guests on a trip through time, learning about the history of the Tallac Resort and all three historic estates.

Cost: $10 per person, children under 12 Free

Pope House Tour

Explore the Pope House and learn about the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy families who came to Lake Tahoe in the 1920s. Discover the beauty of the house’s architecture and learn about its restoration. Groups of 12 or fewer can be scheduled directly at 11:00am / 12:30pm / 2:00pm directly through our Tallac Museum Gift Shop. Groups of 12-24 (+) can be scheduled through our Group Tour Coordinator at 530-541-5227 May – September / 530-544-7383 October – April *Groups of fewer than 12, we cannot guarantee a private tour.

Cost: $10 per guest

Combined Walking/Pope House Tour

available depending on availability of Volunteer Docents and number of guests. Want a tailor-made tour or a specific  a specific area of interest you would like to learn about, please let us know!

All fees are used by the Tahoe Heritage Foundation to further the historic Pope-Baldwin Estates programs and restorations. Thank you!

Thunderbird Lodge - Tahoe's Castle in the Sky

The thunderbird lodge is one of the best examples of a great residential estate on lake tahoe. built in 1939, it was designed to blend harmoniously with its surroundings..

Explore the historic Thunderbird Lodge: Learn about Lake Tahoe's magical Castle-in-the-Sky and the world-famous Thunderbird Yacht.  The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the best examples of a great residential estate on Lake Tahoe. Built in 1939, it was designed to blend harmoniously with its surroundings.

Tours are available by reservation only. Exclusive guided tours let you explore the magic and mystery of the historic Thunderbird Lodge and Whittell Estate grounds. Learn about Captain Whittell’s contributions to conserving Lake Tahoe’s Nevada shoreline and see his world-famous mansion including secret tunnels, card house, and the legendary Thunderbird yacht (when available).

To upgrade to a special Wine & Cheese tour, click  here .

Please be aware, children under 6 years old are not permitted. You will catch a shuttle to the Thunderbird Lodge Estate at the North Tahoe Nevada Welcome Center, 969 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village NV 89451 . There's no parking at the Thunderbird Estate.

No commercial photography/videography is allowed.

Times: Tuesday & Friday - 9:30am, 11am and 12:30pm

Ticket Prices: $75.00

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Cancellations must be completed 48 hours prior to scheduled activity unless otherwise indicated. All refunds will be charged a 10% processing fee on the order total.

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Ehrman Mansion

North & west shore (ca).

• Type Museums & Historical Sites
• Region North & West Shore (CA)

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Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe Is The 1903 Historical Estate Of A Wealthy San Franciscan.

Features: Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe has well-maintained grounds for guests to explore. Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tahoe City gives visitors fun guided tours of the home during summer months.

* Terms & Conditions: Offers, promotions and rates subject to change and may vary based upon date, length of stay and other factors. Some offers do not include taxes and fees. All offers based on availability and are subject to change without notice.

Why We Go: Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe is a beautiful home with lots of history.

• The History : Keep that noggin intellectually stimulated by learning utterly fascinating tidbits about Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe.
• The Views : Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe will make your pupils widen so that they can take in as much of the beautiful sights around you as possible.
• The Trails : It's so much fun to walk around on Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tahoe City's surrounding trails. Get exercise while ingesting the freshest air.

Inside Knowledge

Inside Knowledge: Ehrman Mansion Wedding Receptions offers lovebirds an exceptional location for getting married. Historical, charming and romantic, the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tahoe City can host lakeside weddings with up to 200 guests or receptions in the garden for up to 125 guests. Ehrman Mansion Wedding Receptions gives lovebirds an outdoor setting for having a wedding that's off the beaten path.

Do's and Don'ts

Do's and Don'ts:

• Do Call Before Stopping By : Give yourself the sweetest peace of mind by calling the park for operating hours and tour times on the specific day that you plan to come.
• Do Bring Your Mini-Me's : Even your youngsters may find themselves utterly awestruck by the cool house here. Kids under 6 can come along with you on the guided tour for free!
• Don't Rush Yourself : With an entire 45 minutes on the guided tour, this wonderfully interesting and information-packed adventure through the house gives you time to savor all the sights.
• Don't Skip Your Workout : The fun trails around Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe provide an easy workout that will give you energy galore.

Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe

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Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe Information

Hours: Mon.- Sun. 11am- 4pm

When to Go: Summer

Age Restriction: None

Phone: 530.525.7982

Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=991

Quick Facts

• Ehrman Mansion Lake Tahoe is a historical landmark.
• Hellman-Ehrman Mansion Tahoe City was built in 1903 by a wealthy San Franciscan named I. W. Hellman.
• Ehrman Mansion Tahoe offers guided tours during the summer.

Address: 7595 West Lake Boulevard Tahoma, CA 96142 View Map

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Watch CBS News

Guide to Former Mansions of Wealthy Lake Tahoe Visitors

August 27, 2011 / 12:00 AM PDT / CBS Sacramento

Lake Tahoe first attracted vacationing millionaires in the late 19th century. Several former summer mansions, elegant with a rustic veneer, are open for tours. Maintained by state, Federal or non-profit organizations all, with the exception of Thunderbird Lodge, are reached by turning at roadside signs off Highway 89 along the West Shore. Wearing flat comfortable shoes is a must. Walkways are often uneven and steep.

Baldwin and Pope Estates Three estates, at Tallac Historic Site Three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89 (530) 541-4975 Hours: Tours at various times Price: Free http://www.fawnridgewine.com/index.htm

Lucky Baldwin's moneymaking skills were as vast as his romantic scandals and ability to offer the wealthy pine-scented Tahoe relaxation. His granddaughter Dextra's Scandinavian styled U-shape "Baldwin House" serves as a treasure trove of Tahoe's recreational past. Garden pathways lead to the Pope Estate. Often "Mrs. Pope" leads tours of the home where lush, yet casual furnishings, make it easy to imagine frequent guest Rudolph Valentino vacationing here.

Vikingsholm Highway 89 by Emerald Bay (530) 525-9530 Hours: Half-hours tours occur Memorial Day to late September from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Price: Parking Lot $8.00 fee Tickets are $8.00 adults/$5.00 for children 6 – 12 years of age/Free for children under 6. Grounds are free to visit. http://www.vikingsholm.org/ Any Norseman's longboat sailing into Emerald Bay would find Vikingsholm the perfect place to drop anchor. Built in the late 1920s from owner's Lora Josephine Knight's inspiring Norwegian travels Vikingsholm was constructed from local granite and hand-hewn timbers.

When her money could not buy original Scandinavian antiques it could hire craftsmen to recreate intricate carvings for doorways, roof ridges and the living room's dragon beams. The mythical Viking symbol is repeatedly found both inside and out. Other motifs include interior painted wildflowers while real ones grow on the sod roof.

"Selma" welcomes visitors in a colorful and timely manner. A steep one-mile trek is required from the parking lot down to Vikingsholm. The high altitude trail is well defined. The local joke is "one mile down and two miles back up." Arrange special needs access by calling the office with at least 48 hours notice.

Hellman-Ehrmann Mansion Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park Highway 89 (between Meeks Bay and Tahoma) Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. mid June through Labor Day. Tours $8 for adults, $5 children 6-17 years. Children under 6 free Parking lot $8.00 fee Grounds are free to visit. http://greenfamilywinery.com/

Designed in the California Craftsman style the 98-year-old Pine Lodge took its name from the surrounding sugar pines trees. Built by Wells Fargo bank President I.W. Hellman the first floor reflects when prewar graciousness ruled.

Overstuffed chairs, in both the living room and on the front porch, invited guests to contemplate nature with its stunning vistas of the lake.

Hellman's daughter, Florence Ehrmann, inherited the house and upstairs her family's love of history and sports is displayed with scattered Navajo rugs and equipment like wooden tennis rackets left on beds.

The upstairs/downstairs guides tour includes servants' quarters and 1940s' kitchen.

An aluminum and classic wooden boat, recalling Tahoe's bygone era, are kept at the two boathouses.

Thunderbird Lodge Shuttle from Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitor's Center 969 Tahoe Boulevard Incline Village, NV (800) 468-2463 Hours: Four tours are available Tuesday – Saturday June – October starting at 10 a.m. Price: $39.00 adults/$19.00 children 6 – 12 years old Children under 6 not permitted http://www.wisevillawinery.com/ Captain George Whittell, Jr. was known for his eccentricities and his beloved Thunderbird Lodge, built during the Great Depression, reflects many of them.

His pet lion, Bill would prowl along the Main Lodge's underground 600-ft tunnel stopping occasionally to lick occupants of the then legal opium den. The tunnel connected to the Card House through the bathroom. Here Whittell and his cronies, including baseball great Ty Cobb, would signal nearby casinos to send showgirl companionship.

The 71-year-old yacht Thunderbird, still resplendent in mahogany and brushed stainless, resides in the Boathouse.

Waterfalls, lagoons and Mingo, the elephant's house, can also be seen.

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Tours & Attractions

Pope House Tour at the Tallac Historic Site

This Location:

Pope house tour.

This engaging, signature tour starts at the Tallac Museum courtyard, strolls through the gardens on the Baldwin Estate, Arboretum and pond, then takes you through the historic home that once welcomed Rudolph Valentino as a guest of the Pope family. See the elegant sitting and dining rooms, the servants’ kitchen, the butler’s pantry and more. Learn about the history behind the architecture, the culture, and the people who made this place a home.

The Pope House turns 129 years old in 2023!

Schedule Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Through September.

$16 Adult Suggested Donation. $8 Children 6-12 and Children 4 and under are free. Tickets are available in advance in person at the Baldwin Museum or by phone at 530-541-5227. Hwy 89 past Camp Richardson (530) 541-5227. More information here.

The Great Basin Institute supports a variety of preservation, restoration, and education projects and programs in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Landmark Tallac Historic Site Open Daily Memorial Day Weekend to October 3.

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