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The Thunderbird Lodge (also known as the George Whittell Estate) in Incline Village is a stunning masterpiece by Frederic J. DeLongchamps who was, perhaps, the most renowned architect of his time. DeLongchamps also served as Nevada’s State Architect. Several areas of the property are rumored to be haunted. Would you dare tour this impressive yet eerie haunted Nevada lodge? Take a look.
The Thunderbird Lodge is a wonderful example of architectural expertise as evidenced by its stone masonry, iron work, and wood work. In addition to the main house, there is a card house, caretaker's cottage, the cook/butler's house, an elephant barn, the admiral's house, the boathouse, and the gatehouse.
Construction of the Thunderbird Lodge began in 1936 by George Whittell, Jr. At the time, Whittell owned 20 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline and 40,000 acres. He first considered turning the property into a hotel/casino, ski resort, and summer properties; however, his love of privacy and his exotic animal collection led him to nix those plans.
Millionaire socialite George Whittell's best friend, Bill the lion. He was given the lion cub as a gift and Bill traveled with Whittell everywhere, including the lodge.
The cook/butler cottage (now renovated as a guest cottage) is also rumored to be haunted with guests having reported seeing ghostly apparitions, hearing whispers, and experiencing other strange occurrences.
The Thunderbird Lodge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This haunted Nevada lodge is open by appointment only and, in addition to public tours, may be rented for weddings, meetings, and events. The Thunderbird Yacht is also on the premise. This recognizable American wooden speedboat is also available for tours and charters. For more information, please call (775) 832-8750, check out its informative website, or visit its Facebook page.
Have you visited this gorgeous and allegedly haunted Nevada lodge? Please share your experiences below.
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