San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Unrivaled views of Lake Tahoe
Lakeside home with a history of famous guests
Hotel and casino magnate William F. Harrah had plenty of choices when it came time to build his personal home in the early ’60s.
Harrah, founder of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino, selected a lakefront lot on the northern edge of a peninsula jutting from the eastern side of Lake Tahoe and proceeded to erect an indulgent trilevel offering more than 20,000 square feet of living space and indomitable views of the water and mountains.
“When you enter the front door, it usually takes about 15 minutes to leave the living room because you are simply mesmerized by the scale of the home and the expansive views. The views are just that incredible,” said David Bellings of Compass, who is co-listing the lakefront eight-bedroom at 1028 Skyland Drive in Zephyr Cove, Nev., with Jamison Blair of Compass, Team Blair Tahoe for $25.75 million. “There really weren’t any homes out there at the time, and the location he picked is one of a kind.”
The current owners purchased the property in December 2012, and in 2014 began an extensive renovation that took almost three years and an undisclosed amount of money.
With its vaulted, beamed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows and floating fireplace, the living room represents the level of indulgence one can expect from the mansion that includes a home theater, Himalayan salt cave and indoor Jacuzzi. Outside, the waterfront home known as Villa Harrah boasts multiple view terraces, its own pier and a private beach.
A wealth of high-end finishes accent the interior. Walnut and gray elm cabinetry, Brazilian stone, European fumed oak floors, leathered and steel stair railings, horse hair murals and
custom concrete sinks account for some of the sophisticated details within the sprawling residence.
Fifty miles from the RenoTahoe International Airport and a dozen miles from the Lake Tahoe Airport, the estate built in 1963 is conveniently close for Bay Area denizens who don’t mind a short flight to reach their personal paradise.
Seven of the eight bedrooms include en-suite bathrooms, in addition to the home’s seven powder rooms. The owner’s suite enjoys sweeping views of the lake, as well as a private terrace and a spa bathroom with a walk-in shower and freestanding soaking tub basking in panoramic views of the water.
Every bedroom features lake views, including a bunk room that sleeps 12. Over the years Harrah hosted luminaries like Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, as well as Judy Garland, Wayne Newton, Steve Martin and Tom Jones.
“If these walls could talk, they would share some incredible stories,” Bellings said. “And the celebrities accessed the home through a secret tunnel that runs the length of the property so as to conceal their arrival.”
Stagers nodded to the home’s celebrity guests by hanging artwork of Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin in the living room.
Blair noted that the current residents took care to preserve and enhance this secretive feature during their remodel.
“In keeping with the theme of the old house, there are a few secret rooms connected by hidden doors, one of which connects two guest suites,” Blair said.
Location always reigns supreme in real estate, and Blair said there are two things in particular about the home’s setting that make it unique and irreplacable.
“First, the long rock jetty protects the pier from the prevailing winds, which is very advantageous for buyers with classic wooden boats,” Blair said. “Second is the home’s proximity to the lake. It’s built directly above the high water mark, which makes for the best possible views.”
A home in this location could never be possible in 2019 because of rules and regulations put in place since the 1960s, Blair said.
“This was built before the Tahoe Regional Planning Association existed,” he said. “Newer homes have a much larger set back requirement. In other words, this wouldn’t be allowed now.”
Recently updated, the home includes a full spa with a steam room, cold plunge pool, hair and nail salon, sauna, jetted tub and a Himalayan salt cave. For those who want to swim but don’t want to take a dip in the lake, Villa Harrah includes a lakeside pool.
But the heartbeat of the home resides in the great room, which offers an oversize seating area, floating fireplace, expansive dining area, billiard table and retro-style wet bar that pays homage to the home’s classical heritage.
“The great room is the ultimate centerpiece for Tahoe glamour and unforgettable entertaining,” Bellings said.
See more at www.harrahslakefront.com.