Private Lighthouse Crumbling
By Sue Clark on Jul 31, 2008 in The Light Side 
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A private lighthouse at a lodge on Lake Tahoe is in danger of crumbling from last winter’s waves and ice, and if not fixed will probably tumble off its damaged foundation into the lake. The Thunderbird Cove Beacon light is owned by the lodge, which is housed in a former mansion known as the Whittell mansion, and was formerly used to house the mansion’s security and lighting system.
According to various stories around the web, the American Lighthouse Foundation once referred to it as America’s highest lighthouse, due to its elevation of 6300 feet above sea level. The lighthouse is part of a garage, and did actually function, along with a working foghorn. The story linked above is quite a fascinating tale about the family, and is worth a read.
Repairs to the beacon will run around $40,000, of which half that amount has been raised. A special Winemaker’s dinner and fundraiser ($250 per person) has been held to raise the rest. However, there appears to be a further problem regarding removing a $5 million dollar lien on the property. Michigan-based Pulte Homes apparently had given them a deadline of early July to raise the money. So who knows which way that money will go…to the lighthouse or to the lien.
Photo credit: Thunderbird Lodge Lighthouse by Hey Jim on Flickr. All rights reserved.
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