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Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site
Categories: Parks, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
5000 Highway 28Incline Village, NV 89450
(775) 832-8750
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
2 reviews for Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site
Lake Tahoe has an eclectic history, one that's not readily apparent to the visitor seeking sun, snow and gaming excitement. That said, if you dig down a bit you can be readily rewarded with historical gems.
Thunderbird Lodge, on Tahoe's east shore just south of Sand Harbor, is easily one such treasure. Built by eccentric millionaire George Whittell Jr., this lodge was only opened to the public for tours in 2002. It's well worth the trip, which now costs around $40 and includes a shuttle from the Incline Village visitors center about 15 minutes up the road.
Besides indulging in a taste for tunnels and mahogany boats, Whittell also became one of the first (inadvertent) conservationists in the area, and learning about his land purchase in addition to his love of large animals and cards makes for an educational trip on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Thunderbird is only open during the summer into early autumn, with limited tours daily, so it's wise to reserve in advance.
Lake Tahoe is synonomous with skiing and snowboarding. But, the "lake" part of Lake Tahoe is quite breathtaking, and the Thurderbird Lodge offers a unique and majestic panorama. I recently attended an intimate (and quite romantic... loved the vows senyor and senyora gunderson) wedding on the grounds.
Prior to the wedding, we were treated to a guided tour of the establishment. As they say, you gotta see it to believe... but the backdrop is George Whittell Jr., an ecentric trust fund kid from the early 1900's, developed this spot into his recluse insulating him and his alternative lifestyle from the hoi polloi. Make sure your sampler includes stories about Mingo, Bill the Lion, and the mahogany speedboat. Oh, and this guy played high-stakes, up-all-night poker games long before Doyle Brunson took over the World Series of Poker.