Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe

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Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe's Castle-in-the-Sky is open for public and private tours, weddings, corporate functions, and school activities.

Peek into the 1930's lifestyle of a bygone era with a visit to Lake Tahoe's Castle-in-the-Sky--Thunderbird Lodge. The Lodge is the centerpiece of a grand estate built by the eccentric sportsman-conservationist, Captain George Whittell ... the one who saved Tahoe's east shore from development. Combined with Americas' iconic wooden speedboat, THUNDERBIRD Yacht, these national treasures are open each

summer for guided tours by appointment only. The Lodge is available a few times each year for weddings, corporate functions, group tours, and special events. THUNDERBIRD Yacht is available to charter for private excursions. All amounts paid fund the preservation and education projects of the non-profit Thunderbird Lake Tahoe, a Nevada non-profit having IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status as a public charity.

04/24/2026

The Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe crew were going before dawn to position docks, conduct man overboard and fire drills, calibrate instrumentation, and generally make ready for the summer boating season. It was a long day, but they squeezed in a fast trip to Tahoe City for fuel and to grab some lunch. Thanks to Captain Dan Corbett for snapping these pics.

04/17/2026

As we set out the patio furniture and prepare for summer visitors, our resident artist captures Thunderbird Lodge's naturally stunning beauty following the recent late season snowfall. Thank you, Katie!

03/22/2026

See the dot out there? That's our crew conducting sea trials aboard THUNDERBIRD yacht in March--can you believe it? Warmest Tahoe winter on record.

You can see this art deco beauty up close when public tours start on May 26th. For more info, monitor www.ThunderbirdTahoe.org or call Travel North Tahoe Nevada at 1-800-GO-TAHOE.

02/17/2026

First "real" snow of the '25-'26 season. Hard to believe the boat crew was cruising this past weekend. Ethereal views of Thunderbird Lodge and the Caretaker’s Cottage, home of Pappy Van Winkle. Driveway plowed, big Allison motors being serviced in the boathouse, lakeside office hummin', installing cabinets in the Museum. Just another day at Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe. News filled with businesses closed today, but tip o’ the hat to our T-Bird team working as usual. [photos by Resident Artist Katie]

08/27/2025

Among the angels flies a Thunderbird—bold, unyielding, and forever alive in the storm of our memories. Her lightning is a spark of inspiration, igniting passion with each beat of her heavenly heart. Soar free dear Bonnie, unshackled from the earthly bonds that bound you. We will always love you.
----
Bonnie J. Addario (1947 - 2025)
Thunderbird Lake Tahoe Director 2004 - 2005
Thunderbird Lake Tahoe Lifetime Director 2012 - 2025
Lung Cancer Survivor 2004 - 2025

The Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe crew extends its heartfelt condolences to Tony, Andrea, Danielle, Jared, and the entire Addario and Beltramo clans.

08/12/2025

The kids are back home!
In partnership with Travel North Tahoe Nevada and the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, we took young artists out on the lake aboard the legendary THUNDERBIRD yacht.

Each child submitted an art piece showing how they would help keep Lake Tahoe blue. We received some amazing entries, and these 10 talented winners enjoyed a cruise on Lake Tahoe’s most famous wooden boat.

07/27/2025

Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe has gone to the dogs. Handlers from the Bureau of Land Management, Reno Police Department, National Park Service, and Washoe County Sheriff's Office Incline Village Substation are on the Lodge grounds this week training their K9 deputies, rangers, and agents. Part and parcel to our community access and education initiatives, we facilitate law enforcement training for agencies from around the nation. Drug interdiction, search and rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, SWAT, protective detail, crowd control, forensics, and family support ... it all happens at Lake Tahoe's Castle-in-the-Sky.

Most fun was watching K9s transition from ship-to-shore and boat-to-boat and perform on the water.

07/15/2025

It's all birthday cake and ice cream here at Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe. This week, is celebrating 85 years of George Whittell Jr.'s "torpedo-shaped cruiser", as the newspapers often called her. She is one high-maintenance Lady ... costing more than one hundred fifty thousand shekels annually to keep her in the style to which she is accustomed. Plus she smokes, drinks like a fish, and is obnoxiously loud at parties and golf tournaments. That said, we love our gal dearly and hope she is around for another 8+ decades. www.ThunderbirdTahoe.org/donate

07/06/2025

Strong winds at the start of the July 4th weekend slowed things down a bit at Lake Tahoe, but didn't knock us out of the park. Daniele Russell captured property manager Evin Rueb raising the flag under stormy skies, while Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe prepared for an intimate Santa Maria BBQ for our valued supporters (using the restored mesquite-fired grill removed from Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino's recently demolished Lone Eagle Grille restaurant).

A typical summer weekend here at Lake Tahoe's only National Historic District. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office Incline Village Substation Marine 9 patrol boat returned home after a long day of keeping everyone safe out on the lake—plus the added duty of retrieving flotsam from the sinking Incline fireworks barge. Our gardeners readied the grounds for another week of public tours and educational programs, and our security volunteers kept watch over the estate and nearby beaches, protecting all from the inevitable holiday trespassers, vandals, and litterers.

Auspicious and inauspicious, we take it all in stride. We wouldn't trade these idyllic Tahoe summers for anything anywhere. Happy Birthday, America!

06/15/2025

A load off our shoulders -- parts installed, Jose Flores from https://vintagev12s.com/ arrived to assist, the Lake was calm, and THUNDERBIRD yacht's shakedown cruise today with Michael Peyton at the helm. Thank you Howard Golub and team.

Next step is the underway portion of the U. S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco inspection and THUNDERBIRD will soon be permitted to cruise in passenger service again.

06/02/2025

Our 25th year of public programming. Please join us for one of our celebrated "Castle Tours" now running through October 2025.

For tour information or reservations, visit www.ThunderbirdTahoe.org/tours or call 1-800-GO-TAHOE.

Thunderbird Lodge and Yacht - Lake Tahoe is a proud partner of Travel North Tahoe Nevada.

Address

5000 Highway 28
Incline Village, NV
89451

Telephone

+17758328750

Website

http://www.ThunderbirdTahoe.org/

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