Summer Houses

While exploring around Lake Tahoe, we took a nice walk around the Tallac Historic Site. This area, right down on the lake front was the summer playground for the California wealthy. None of these homes were open for touring, yet (their summer season opens late May), but we enjoyed walking around and admiring the Estates.

The Heller estate was built in 1923. Named Valhalla, this estate consisted of a number of guest cottages as well as this main house.

These ‘twin cabins’ are just two of the guest cabins on the Pope Estate. The Pope House was built in 1894 by George Tallant. This estate was sold to George Pope in 1923.

This is the ‘Honeymoon’ cabin on the Pope Estate. I loved the wood work on the front of this cabin. All of the construction seemed to fit so well in the beautiful lake front setting.

This is the Baldwin Estate, built in 1921. All of these estates had multiple guest cabins……

And gazebos. And all had an amazing access to the lake.

This was one of my favorites, the Ehrman Mansion. Pine Lodge, as this home was named, was built in 1902. I really loved the round turrets and the stonework.

This wide porch faces the lake……I could picture myself sitting on this porch, looking out to the lake.

And this is the view from the porch. I would really love to have lived here! Can you just imagine what life would have been like…..Family and friends all staying in guest cottages, and idling away the summer, boating or swimming, or just sitting by the lake.    Such was the life of the very rich…….