See luxurious Lake Tahoe home with ties to Hollywood, Henry Kaiser: It’s $5.5 million
On the west shore of Lake Tahoe, a private luxury home in a gated community where scenes from “The Godfather Part II” were filmed has hit the market for $5.5 million.
Residence 20 in Fleur du Lac Estates offers four bedrooms and five baths in 4,222 square feet of living space. Off the foyer, a staircase with a mahogany banister takes visitors up to the four bedroom suites. A cupola above pours natural light onto the stairway and central hall. The lake is viewed through floor-to-ceiling windows in the master suite.
There’s a cozy media room/library with a fireplace. A pass-through door connects the primary living areas to the gourmet kitchen that is built for entertaining, with polished granite counters, sub-zero refrigeration, double ovens, a six-burner range and other amenities. There’s also a lakeside breakfast nook.
“This is one of the most exceptional homes within the Fleur du Lac community, just steps from the lake, with incredible views and tucked away on the side of the development for ultimate privacy,” said co-listing agent Craig Miller of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty. “It is rare to own a piece of California and Lake Tahoe history and we are pleased to have the opportunity to represent such a fine property.”
Fleur du Lac was developed in 1935 by shipbuilding magnate Henry Kaiser. A crew of 300 men worked eight-hour shifts around the clock to fulfill Kaiser’s ambitious goal of completing the estate in just 30 days. It’s located in the Homewood area of Lake Tahoe.
Within Fleur du Lac — a moniker meaning “Flower of the Lake” and named for Kaiser’s favorite hydroplane — were 17 residences, servants’ quarters, small cottages, and his own yacht club and boat house, both of which are still in use to this day.
Kaiser used the property for a celebration of the completion of his Hoover Dam project. He also wanted “to store his beloved boats at a place he adored, Lake Tahoe,” according to the news release. Kaiser threw lavish parties in the yacht club with decadent meals, followed by boat races in extravagant watercraft.
Fleur du Lac provided the backdrop to many scenes in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 mob film, including the first communion celebration Michael threw for his son, and Fredo’s death.
Kaiser sold the property in the 1960s. The place was revived in the ‘80s with the remodeling of existing structures and the building of 22 new lakefront chateaus.
Residence 20 hit the market two weeks ago. Another Fleur du Lac home, Residence 21, sold last year for $2.65 million after just two weeks, Sierra Sotheby listing agent Katherine Haug told The Bee.
There’s a good chance that the significantly larger Residence 20 will sell quickly, too, Haug said. Next door, Residence 19 sold for $4.65 million a few years ago.
“Each residence in Fleur du Lac is exceptionally striking and different from the next, with an unparalleled amenity and lifestyle offering. (There is) incredible desirability to reside within the estate,” Haug said.
The Sacramento Bee wrote about Residence 13 selling in 2018 for just under $3.3 million.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
