A Summer Home Constructed In 1935 By George Whittell That Was The Center Of Lavish Parties And Amplified Tales
Nestled in the rocks of Lake Tahoe's shore, the Thunderbird Lodge's majestic rock and stone walls almost blend in with the serene environment, a beautiful mansion that now acts as a national historic site, preserving Lake Tahoe's rich history in mining, lumber and conservation. Now seen as a gathering place for cultural activities, community events and student programs, the history of this non-profit corporation is rich in gambling, newspaper headlines and pink elephants.
Thunderbird Lodge was constructed in 1935 by George Whittell, Junior, who owned approximately 40,000 acres and 20 miles of Nevada shoreline at Lake Tahoe at the time. Commonly referred to as “Captain,” Whittell - who had a permanent home in Woodside, California – used the Thunderbird Lodge as a summer home. But while most people think of summer homes on the lake as a way to relax and enjoy some quiet time, the Thunderbird Lodge became a source of very extravagant, often outrageous, headlines.
“The wealthy elite of the time enjoyed playing the role of Gatsby,” said Bill Watson, Chief Executive and Curator of the Thunderbird Lodge. “It was a sparring contest among the gentry at the time. Who could make the newspapers write the most outlandish headlines? It was a cocktail party game. He relished in these tales and fabrications. He loved the amplified tales about himself.”
Lavish parties, gambling... It was said Whittell had certain colored lights on signifying that his third wife was out of town (while a green light was a signal to bring over prostitutes). This was mixed in with tales of underground tunnels and affiliations with the mafia. A lion named Bill was said to have roamed these tunnels underneath the lodge and even greet party guests in the morning with a lick on the cheek, [pin what was called] “a sure cure for a hangover.” The crazy antics noted in the papers may have been embellished, but Watson insisted that the real Whittell was just as fascinating, maybe even more so, than the stories.
“George actually had a lion cub, Bill, from his second wife,” said Watson. “He was very much into big game animals. Bill accompanied him everywhere. While Bill himself was never at Thunderbird Lodge, there was a lion's cage at Whittell’s Woodside estate, where he had a zoo. There are films [showing them]. We do know for a fact that [George] would ride down Highway 1 with Bill in the passenger seat.”
Whittell's love for “girls, giraffes, gambling and gadgets” is what made him such an interesting person. During his various expeditions to Africa, Whittell collected big game animals to populate many of America's biggest zoos. He also was the largest purchaser of Duesenberg automobiles, one of the most valuable of the collector cars today. One of his cars was recently sold at auction for $10.3 million. He had a yacht that could go up to 70 miles per hour. Whittell never did anything halfway.
“Collections like this cannot be duplicated today,” noted Watson. Whittell was born into a rich family in 1881. His grandparents had made their fortune exploiting Gold Rush opportunities. Then the family got their hands into mining and land ownership. When Whittell's father died in 1922, the 40 year old was left with an inheritance worth around $30 million.
“He expanded on this family fortune,” continued Watson. “One of his greatest acts of foresight was in 1929 when he liquidated about $50 million in stock holdings, saving his family from the great crash during the Great Depression. Following that collapse, he was one of the wealthiest men in California.”
When Whittell originally acquired the 40,000 acres of Nevada land he planned several large developments along Lake Tahoe, including casinos. But around that time, the “sociable practical jokester” (he once dyed an elephant pink) was beginning to value privacy more and more. He let stories be told about him and never corrected them.
“When you have that kind of wealth everyone is after you,” Watson noted. “You tend to withdraw when you always have people doing that, suing you at every opportunity. He became cynical…reclusive.”
For selfish, personal reasons or not, Whittell's “real legacy” came from all of the land he conserved, which visually envelopes all of the open space on Lake Tahoe's east shore. After deciding against the casino, he went through great efforts to conserve land, donating large parcels to the University of Nevada and granting land for community parks and schools.
Once a crazy poker hang-out, the rich history and culture around Lake Tahoe is now preserved in the Thunderbird Lodge. “This is where all of the history comes together,” continues Watson. “It's a window into our past. You can look through that window into the past and see what things were like earlier in time.”
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Fallen Leaf Campground, situated on the north shore of Fallen Leaf Lake and adjacent to Taylor Creek. The campground features 206 sites that include 6 yurts and standard tent and RV sites.