1920s Tahoe Estate Is the Lakeside Chalet of Our Dreams

Dec 21, 2017

This home has a history as impressive as its views.

Most houses in this price range would appear pompous rather than homey—a property you'd gawk over but wouldn't dish out the big bucks for (even if you had them).

This abode, however, is entirely lacking in pretension. Though it covers a sprawling 11,000 square feet on 6.2 acres and has a private pier with 400 feet of lake frontage, it still maintains a cozy feel. Perhaps it's the architecture—high ceilings, arches, lots of woo—or that it's tucked away under a grove of trees right on the water. It feels like a vacation getaway that you'd return to year after year; and it in fact, does hold a notable history.

The six-plus acres was purchased in the 1920s by Stewart Edward White, a novelist who wrote tales about the American West. Back then, he had three yurts with canvas for walls and wood floors. It was a North Shore summer retreat to get some pen to paper. Appropriately, he named it Brushwood Estate after after Rudyard Kipling's "The Brushwood Boy," a story about a boy who loved to daydream and who would one day live a life of adventure; he felt the book echoed the enchanting nature of the property.

In 1927, Richard and Ruth Shainwald, San Francisco glitterati, purchased the estate and build the classic, rustic home that sits there now with high-beamed ceilings, large stone fireplaces, and picture windows. Known for holding extravagant parties, the couple's home was frequented by socialites and business moguls alike. Since then, the home has had only two other owners including the current owner, and has been amply maintained.

In addition to the main home, there is also a 2,293-square-foot guesthouse; this is the ideal home to entertain—take a boat out or sit in the hot tub overlooking old growth trees and the lake.