Checking out Thunderbird Lodge

There is a hidden gem on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. The Thunderbird Lodge was built in the 1930s under the direction of George Whittell Jr., usually referred to as the "Captain." His original plan was for an upscale resort development with ski areas and a hotel-casino but his love for wild animals grew after he spent time traveling with the Barnum and Bailey Circus in the late 19th century. 

George was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never worked a day in his life. He also enjoyed going against the grain of the high society circles his family belonged to by balking at the idea of a formal education and marrying a chorus girl in 1903. When Whittell Sr. purchased an annulment of his son's marriage, George Jr. chose another dancer to marry but that marriage ended in divorce two years later.

After serving in the Army during World War I, George returned to the U.S. with his new bride, French-born Elia Pascal. Marriage didn't change his ways, though, and he continued living the party life through the 1920s.

A few months before the 1929 stock market crash, Whittell cashed in stocks valued at $50 million, taking the money out of California and moving to Nevada for the tax shelter benefits. There are those who believe that this may have been a contributing factor to the stock market crash.

His first order of business was to purchase nearly all of the Nevada shoreline along Lake Tahoe and then work began on his home, about a mile south of Sand Harbor. Hidden from view, it has a magnificent view of the Lake. 

To further guard his privacy, he built a 600-foot tunnel so he could go from the main home to the boathouse where he kept his 55-foot mahogany yacht, Thunderbird. The boat was mainly used for grocery and mail runs to the north shore. George feared the government would want the boat for its speed during World War II so he parked it in the boathouse after only 80 hours of use and never took it out again. He eventually sold it to William Harrah who referred to it as his 70-mile-per-hour cocktail lounge.

The home has a famous gambling room where Whittell was known for hosting high stakes poker games. In one of those games, he lost to a card shark named Joe King and as payment George gave him a stretch of land along the north shore. That parcel is known as Kings Beach today. George refused to develop any of the forest land (40,000 acres along 24 miles of shoreline). 

Tours can be arranged from June through September by calling 1-800-GO-TAHOE. It's a great way to spend a summer afternoon or evening.

Remember the Ruhenstroth Volunteer Fire Department Annual Bar-B-Q is July 11 from 4 p.m. to midnight. It is always fun to visit with neighbors, new and old friends, and of course to thank our firefighters for all they do. They are selling tickets at the mailboxes each afternoon. 

Have a safe and fun 4th of July.

Reach Gail Davis at RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or 265-1947.