Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society

THUNDERBIRD LODGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Yesterday - A Splendid and Unique History

One of the most stunning pieces of Lake Tahoe's history is the secluded Thunderbird Lodge. The eccentric San Francisco real estate magnate, George Whittell, built this magnificent Tudor Revival summer estate between 1936 and 1939. Located on Nevada's eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, the property consists of a main lodge surrounded by three cottages, a card house, a boathouse, an elephant house, a lighthouse, three garages, and a gatehouse all nestled in a high desert pine forest.

George Whittell was born in 1881 in San Francisco. Numerous legends surround Whittell's activities at his Lake Tahoe estate, including colorful parties and high-stakes gambling in the card house. The eccentric Whittell collected a veritable zoo of wild animals that made guest appearances at the Thunderbird Lodge each summer. Whittell's interest in new technology such as automobiles and airplanes catered to his desire for high speed and risk taking. Lake Tahoe was selected as the site of Whittell's new home because of the natural beauty and remote character of this alpine basin. George purchased vast amounts of east shore property in the 1930s. Though his original intention was large-scale development, when he finished building his estate, Whittell changed his mind and decided to enjoy his privacy. Here he was able to indulge any appetite his active imagination could conceive. The resulting Thunderbird Lodge includes elaborate tree and granite boulder filled grounds with fountains, waterfalls, staircases, and paths. A 600-foot tunnel carved through solid granite connects the main lodge with the card house and the boathouse, home to his famous yacht, Thunderbird.

George Whittell owned the Thunderbird Lodge estate until his death in 1969. Before he died, Whittell sold a portion of his immense Tahoe land holdings to Crystal Bay Development, the State of Nevada, and the National Forest Service. Whittell had held onto this land for 3 crucial decades which greatly aided in and slowed down development efforts on this side of the Lake. In 1972, the Lodge came under the ownership of New York financier, Jack Dreyfus who built an addition to the main lodge on the garage footprints in 1985. The legacy of this remarkable place remains a testimony to his idiosyncrasies, to his era, and to the genius of those who designed and built it.

The public has never had access to this pristine property - until now. The Thunderbird Lodge is in the hands of the not-for-profit Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society, which is dedicated to the environmental, cultural, educational and historical values associated with Lake Tahoe.

Today - A Solid Mission

The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society was conceived as part of a complicated land swap between the U.S. Forest Service and the Del Webb Corporation. In 1998, the Del Webb Corporation purchased the Thunderbird Lodge and surrounding 140 acres on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. In 1999, Del Webb negotiated a land-swap deal with the U.S. Forest Service which allowed Del Webb to acquire development land in Clark County. The Forest Service did not wish to own or operate the Thunderbird Lodge and asked that the University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) take over the historic property. The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society was formed and, along with the University of Nevada, assumed the debt for the purchase of the Thunderbird Lodge buildings and a 54-acre parcel. The property was acquired for the preservation and use of the Thunderbird Lodge as a National historic site and to support charitable, community, educational, scientific, and historic preservation programs and environmental monitoring efforts at Lake Tahoe. A reservation for a portion of the land was granted to the Society and UNR by the Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture in 1999.

The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society received 501(c)(3) status in 2000. In 2002, UNR and the Society terminated their relationship. The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society's Board expressed their gratitude to President Lilley for assisting the Society in fulfilling its mission statement. "I felt that university's participation was no longer needed," UNR President John Lilley said. "The lodge is being well managed and we were able to successfully play a part in preserving it for the public."

The mission of the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society is three-fold:

(a) to preserve and protect the Thunderbird Lodge as a historic site with National significance; (b) promote public appreciation and education regarding the unique historical, cultural, and architectural significance of the Thunderbird Lodge; and (c) assist and participate in the important region-wide efforts and programs committed to the study and preservation of the fragile Lake Tahoe environment.

Beginning in 2001, the Society has cooperated with various environmental monitoring agencies such as the Tahoe Regional Planning District and the Davis Research Institute to collect and monitor wind, weather, humidity, wave action, and lake levels. The Thunderbird Lodge is integrated into the Tahoe Environmental Science System. This cooperation is happening without any modification to the historic elements of the estate, honoring its historic integrity.

In the summer of 2002, the Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site opened its doors for guided tours of the estate. Over 10,000 guests visited the property between May and October 2002. Also in 2002, a membership program was initiated to provide support for the operations of the Society. Additionally, a rental program was created which enable weddings and special events to take place at the Lodge. In 2003, a museum store was developed in one of the small cottages.

Over the past three years since the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society has had ownership of the property, thousands of dollars have been spent to ready the estate for tours and events. Immediate deferred maintenance, preservation and restoration issues have been addressed at the site. The Boathouse has been painted and re-roofed and the Thunderbird Yacht brought home (during the Summer months). About 10% of the original masonry work on the site has been re-pointed and repaired. A state-of-the-art water treatment plant was installed on the property to draw, purify, and distribute lake water throughout the buildings on the property. Fiber optic lines were added to the property so the Society could offer a teleconferencing and the latest technology at the Lodge for future opportunities. In addition a network was installed to maximize business potential.

The Society has been working since 2001 on the restoration and rehabilitation of the natural landscape surrounding the Estate. Ever conscious of water conservation measures, the Society has only added plant material which can adapt to a dry environment. The historic waterfalls have been cleared of overgrown brush and debris and have been brought back to their original condition.

Tomorrow - Diverse Opportunities

The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society will continue to provide public access to the historic site and upgrade our interpretation at the site by instituting a program of scheduled docent-led tours which will be thematic and involve the following themes: Thunderbird Lodge architecture, Whittell family history, environmental education, and historic landscape history. The goal of the interpretive tours is to create within the visitor a cultural stewardship ethic. In addition, the Society will develop educational outreach programs incorporating historical, cultural, artistic and environmental aspects.

A Master Plan for the site will be developed which will act as the guiding document for the Society's future preservation, interpretation, and operations of the Lodge property. Over three million dollars in needed preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation work have been identified to-date for the Thunderbird Lodge in order to properly preserve and interpret this unique museum facility to the identified period of significance: 1936 - 1940.

The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society is committed to reviving the estate to become a first class museum facility and conferencing center. The Society will continue to explore partnerships with other non-profit, private and public agencies to realize our vision at the site.

The opportunities are rich for participation in this unique project now. We appreciate any involvement you may wish to consider that assists our efforts in supporting this exciting and beautiful Lake Tahoe treasure.